PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 01, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002885

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 01, 2009

Summary: A Washington Post's report that U.S. President Obama
"offered Pakistan an enhanced strategic partnership," but warning to
"take action against militants along border if Islamabad fails"
dominated headlines in several major newspapers on Tuesday.
However, daily "The News," and its mass-circulation sister Urdu
paper, "Jang," quoted U.S. media reports as claiming that the Obama
administration fears the collapse of President Zardari's government.
It was widely reported that President Obama will announce his
Afghan strategy today (Tuesday). All newspapers highlighted the
U.S. Senate's report that "Usama Bin Laden was 'within the grasp' of
the U.S. forces in late 2001, but escaped because then-Defense
Secretary Rumsfeld rejected calls for reinforcement." British Prime
Minister Brown's remarks that "Pakistanis know whereabouts of Usama
and Zawahiri" and Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani's rejoinder that
"UBL (is) not in Pakistan, and that Islamabad would act if the U.K.
and U.S. share actionable information about his whereabouts"
received prominent display. Commenting on the subject, "The
Nation," advised the Pakistani authorities to "take serious
exception to the British Premier Brown who has been haranguing them
for their failure to capture Usama and his deputy Zawahiri..." End
Summary.


TOP STORIES

News Story: U.S. Offers Enhanced Strategic Ties To Pakistan "Dawn"
(12/01)

"U.S. President Barack Obama has reportedly offered Pakistan an
enhanced strategic partnership, including additional cooperation in
military and economic fields, the U.S. media reported on Monday.
Obama made the offer in a two-page letter to President Asif Ali
Zardari as a move to ease tension between Islamabad and Washington.
U.S. National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones, who delivered the
letter to Zardari in Islamabad last week, warned the Pakistanis
'with unusual bluntness' that their 'use of insurgent groups to
pursue policy goals cannot continue', The Washington Post reported."
(Story also covered in all newspapers)

News Story: U.S. Fears Zardari's Collapse "The News" (12/01)

"The Obama administration is seriously worried about the fast
weakening grip of President Asif Zardari in Pakistan and on Monday
two top U.S. newspapers predicted, in powerful reports by seven
leading writers and correspondents that the Zardari regime seemed to
be near collapse. The New York Times in a report filed by five
correspondents said: 'The problems in Afghanistan have only been
compounded by the fragility of Mr. Obama's partner in Pakistan,
President Asif Ali Zardari, who is so weak that his government seems
near collapse.' The Washington Post in a report by two
correspondents said: 'Zardari's political weakness is an additional
hazard for a new bilateral relationship. The administration expects
Zardari's position to continue to weaken, leaving him as a largely
ceremonial president even if he manages to survive in office.'"
(Story also covered in all newspapers)

News Story: Obama Briefs Allies On New Afghan Strategy "The News"
(12/01)

"President Barack Obama on Monday was prepared to announce he will
deploy about 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan as part of a new
strategy that will stress a U.S. intention to ultimately exit the
country. After three months of deliberations, Obama is to outline
his plans in an address to the American people on Tuesday. Obama
told U.S. military commanders on Sunday that he had settled on a new
plan and issued them the orders to carry it out, the White House
said. He also held a meeting to inform top advisers of his
decision." (Story also covered in all newspapers)

News Story: War Strategy: Obama Calls Zardari, World Leaders "Dawn"
(12/01)

"President Asif Ali Zardari is among a handful of world leaders U.S.
President Barack Obama telephoned on Monday, a day before launching
his much-awaited policy for the Pak-Afghan region. The first person
Mr. Obama called was French President Nicolas Sarkozy, followed by
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown. In South Asia, the U.S. President spoke with Mr. Zardari and
his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai. White House Press Secretary
Robert Gibbs, while confirming that Mr. Obama spoke to these
leaders, said the U.S. President only discussed a broad outline of
his policy with them. He was 'not overly specific.'"

News Story: Rumsfeld Decision Allowed Usama To Escape "Dawn" (12/01)


"Usama bin Laden was 'within the grasp' of U.S. forces in late 2001
but escaped because then defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld rejected
calls for reinforcements, a U.S. Senate report says. Dated for
release on Monday, the hard-hitting study comes as President Barack
Obama prepares to announce a major escalation of the Afghan
conflict, now in its ninth year, with the expected deployment of
some 34,000 more U.S. troops." (Story also covered in all
newspapers)

TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES

News Story: Pakistanis Know Whereabouts Of Usama, Zawahri: Brown
"Daily Times" (12/01)

"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called on Pakistan to take
tougher action against Al Qaeda and step up its efforts to track
down the group's leader, and hinted that people in Pakistan are
aware of the whereabouts of Usama Bin Laden and his
second-in-command, Ayman Al-Zawahri. 'Brown ... [has] expressed
support for what Pakistani forces are doing against the Taliban, but
... [he] wants to see tougher action against the leadership of Al
Qaeda,' said a British official."

News Story: Usama Not In Pakistan: Gilani "The News" (12/01)

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has rejected reports about
presence of Usama bin Laden in Pakistan, saying Islamabad would act
if the U.K. and the U.S. share actionable intelligence information
about his whereabouts, he said while talking to newsmen on board his
special plane from Islamabad to Berlin on Monday." (Story also
covered in all newspapers)

News Story: Don't Make Statements On Usama's Location "Daily Times"
(12/01)

"The Foreign Office called on the international community -
especially the U.K. not to make statements on the whereabouts of
Usama Bin Laden, and instead share credible intelligence, if any, on
the location of the Al Qaeda leader. Commenting on a statement by
the U.K. Prime Minister, FO spokesman Abdul Basit told a private TV
channel that nobody should doubt Pakistan's efforts to eliminate
terrorism."

News Story: Army, Air Chiefs Visit Wana "The News" (12/01)

"Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited
Makeen and Wana to celebrate Eid with troops engaged in operations
in South Waziristan. Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar
Suleman also accompanied the COAS. During informal interaction with
troops the COAS appreciated their morale and congratulated them on
successful conduct of operations. He also lauded the cooperation and
support extended by Pakistan Air Force in this regard. The COAS said
that the sacrifices being made by army personnel reflected their
resolve and commitment to rid the country of the menace of
terrorism." (Story also covered in all newspapers)

News Story: 13 Militants Killed In Kurram, SWA "The News" (12/01)

"Thirteen militants were killed and 14 others sustained injuries in
fighting between the security forces and militants in Kurram and
South Waziristan tribal regions on Monday, military officials in
Kurram Agency said."

News Story: Army Says Operation To Be Extended To Kurram "The News"
(12/01)

"The ongoing operation in Khyber and Orakzai tribal regions will be
extended to neighboring Kurram Agency to crush militants and
miscreants. Briefing reporters about the operation 'Khwakh Ba De
Sham' (I will fix you) at Fort Salop camp on Monday, Sector
Commander Brigadier Fayyaz Mehmood said that 61 militants had been
killed and 87 arrested while 27 vehicles owned by insurgents were
destroyed during the ongoing operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber
tribal region so far."

News Story: 12 Suspects Released In Swat "The News" (12/01)

"The security forces released 12 suspected persons, picked up from
different areas of Swat district, on the occasion of Eidul Azha.
Sources said that dozens of suspects were released after security
forces interrogated and cleared them. The names of the suspects were
not disclosed to the media."

Editorial: The Haranguing Brown, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/01)

"As the misnamed war on terror has brought home to the people of
this region and beyond, Britain is never found wanting in toeing the
American line, unquestionably. It was precisely for his studious
pursuit of the policies that George W. Bush adopted, that Tony Blair
was termed as his poodle by his own people. In a similar fashion,
the Pakistan authorities ought to take serious exception to the
present U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown who has been haranguing
them for their failure to capture Usama bin Laden and his deputy
Ayman Al-Zawahiri.... Mr. Brown should be listening to Shadow
Defence Secretary Liam Fox who counseled the international community
to give Pakistan a lot of help because it 'does not really have the
capabilities for the sort of anti-terrorist measures that we
want.'"

Editorial: British Prime Minister's Statement About Pakistan And
Ground Realities, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language
daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (12/01)

"With a view to conceal their military defeat in Afghanistan, the
Britain and the United States have, once again, started baseless
propaganda against Pakistan. When will this continual demand for 'do
more' from Washington and its NATO allies be stopped? We think that
it is right time for our rulers to review their policies in order to
protect the national prestige, security and sovereignty of
Pakistan."

Editorial: America, Britain Should Improve Performance In
Afghanistan" an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right
Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (12/01)

"Following the footsteps of former U.S. President Bush and his
successor Obama the British Prime Minister Brown has called upon
Pakistan to do more for arresting Usama bin Laden and his
accomplices.... Prime Minister Brown has also said that AMERICA did
not do anything to get a clue of Usama in the last eight years....
How Pakistan could be blamed for America's failure to locate its
enemies."

Editorial: Gordon Brown Further Humiliates Britons, an editorial in
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (12/01)

"The demand of Gordon Brown from Pakistan to do more is in direct
conflict with the ground realities and the emerging scenario.
Britain has long been holding dialogue with Taliban and now there
are confirmed reports that the United States too was engaged in
secret talks with Taliban in a bid to find a way out. Then why to
ask Pakistan, which has already contributed over one hundred
thousand troops and has rendered more sacrifices than the combined
losses of the allied forces, to do more. Similarly, if the United
States and Britain could not locate Usama and his men during the
last eight years despite possession of the globe's latest technology
and gadgets, then how can Pakistan do the job with rudimentary
technology and equipment?"

Editorial: Beginning of A New Drama Against Pakistan, an editorial
in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir.
15,000) (12/01)

"Instead of accepting defeat in Afghanistan, the U.S. Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs, in its latest report, has observed
that Usama Bin Laden is hiding in the tribal areas of Pakistan.
Under these circumstances, Pakistan must make it clear to the entire
world that it will no longer succumb to unwarranted pressure and
insult. It is the need of the hour for us to review our policies of
cooperating with U.S. and other allied countries, and depending upon
them for financial assistance."

Editorial: Afghan Dilemma, an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/01)

"The Prime Minister has suggested in an interview that an increase
in U.S. troop numbers in Afghanistan could bring problems for
Pakistan because militants may escape across the border into the
country.... The war should not be a question of driving the
militants away but of ensuring they are defeated wherever they are
based. At present, there is little doubt in the eyes of the world
that it is in Pakistan and Afghanistan that the headquarters of
militancy lie. There is a great deal to gain from altering this
perception. To achieve this Afghanistan and Pakistan need to work
together.... There have, from time to time, been accusations and
counter-accusations. But both countries must realize that the need
for combating terror must take precedence over all else."

Editorial: Formulate U.S.-Afghan Policy After Debate in Public,
Parliament, an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist,
often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (12/01)

"Despite the incessant failures of the NATO forces, and the gradual
rise in the Taliban's influence, the Obama administration has
decided to send more troops to Afghanistan which would directly and
adversely affect the stability of Pakistan. We think that the
government should formulate a comprehensive national policy on the
Afghan issue after open debates in universities, Parliament and
other forums."

Editorial: Time To Begin Dialogue, an editorial in the
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (12/01)

"According to reports, Washington has started negotiations with the
Taliban whom it has had declared terrorists. It means that every
issue can be resolved through dialogue. The U.S. does not feel any
qualms in talking to its enemies therefore Pakistan, which is the
greatest victim of the Afghan war, should also hold negotiations
with its own."

Opinion: Look At Gordon Brown, an op-ed by Azam Khalil in the
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(12/01)

"The British Prime Minister Mr. Gordon Brown is not even a
reflection of glory of his predecessor Tony Blair.... The latest
example of poor British diplomacy came in the shape of an outburst
by the British prime minister when he demanded that Pakistan should
do more to break Al Qaeda and try to capture its leader Mr. Usama
bin Laden.... These remarks of the British Prime Minister have come
at a time when a Congressional Committee of the United States has
released the report admitting that it was the failure on the part of
the United States of not apprehending or killing Usama bin Laden in
the year 2001 when he (Usama) left the caves of Tora Bora in
Afghanistan. Perhaps Mr. Gordon Brown wants to pull out his troops
from Afghanistan where their performance has been classified as poor
by the concerned commanders and in doing so the British Prime
Minister wants to blame Pakistan for the failure of his army to
discharge their duties for which they were sent to Afghanistan as a
part of NATO forces.... Therefore, keeping in view the ground
realities of the present insurgency and the attitude of both the
British and American administrations, it is extremely unfair for the
British Prime Minister to demand from Pakistan that it should commit
more forces against elements of Al Qaeda."

Opinion: Blackwater: Another Aspect, an op-ed by Huma Yusuf in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (12/01)

"Until now, Pakistani ire against Blackwater has mostly been
ensconced in anti-America rhetoric. But by exclusively framing the
problem as such, we're neglecting to consider one dimension of the
mercenary business that could have profound implications on how
Pakistan conducts its war against terrorism.... In the absence of a
robust legal framework that can deal justly and proportionately with
terrorists, extrajudicial killings will remain an attractive option
for stakeholders in the war against terrorism. In that event,
Blackwater operatives, or the employees of other private security
firms, working with the U.S. and/or Pakistani militaries and
intelligence agencies, will have cause to launch secret programs in
Pakistan. And as long as that happens, Taliban spokesmen will
continue to find a scapegoat for their heinous attacks, winning
public sympathy while pinning their crimes on other 'non-state
actors.'"
MISCELLANEOUS

News Story: India Not Sincere About Talks, Says Gilani "Dawn"
(12/01)

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Berlin on Monday
that India was not sincere in resuming composite dialogue with
Pakistan, adding that attempts by Pakistan to normalize relations
between the two countries were being stalled. 'India is stalling the
dialogue process and the European Union must play its role to bring
it back to the negotiating table for resolving all outstanding
issues, including the core issue of Kashmir, between the two
countries,' Prime Minister Gilani said during a meeting with German
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, soon after arriving on a two-day
visit." (Story also covered in all newspapers)

Editorial: Iran-America Dispute And Regional Peace, an editorial in
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (12/01)

"Although Iran had been flexible vis-`-vis its nuclear policy, it is
also true that Iran's recent statements on enhancing its nuclear
program has increased the tension and further fueled the fire....
In order to improve the situation Iran should avoid issuing
unnecessary statements and AMERICA and its allies should avoid
putting unnecessary pressure on Iran by talking of more economic
sanctions against the country."

Editorial: Nuclear Hazards, an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(12/01)

"The recent incident in Karnataka, India, where 50 workers were
exposed to radiation at a nuclear power plant is an instance of how
hazardous nuclear power can be. The Indian authorities have
downplayed last week's happening as "mischief" and not an accident.
But that hardly detracts from the dangers of nuclear power.... What
needs to be noted is that each of the three accidents occurred in a
developed country where precautionary measures are supposed to be
stringent. Yet they could not escape the dangers posed by mechanical
failures and carelessness in following safety protocols."

Opinion: Obama in China, an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (12/01)

"If there were any doubts that the global economic and political
order was being reshaped they were set aside by the outcome of
President Barack Obama's recently concluded three-day visit to
China. That was the high point of the nine-day trip to Asia. It has
great significance in terms of charting a new course for American
diplomacy not only in Asia but in the world. By moving to grant
China an equal status, President Obama moved light years away from
the approach adopted by President George W. Bush, his predecessor."


Opinion: Pomp And Substance, an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (12/01)

"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Washington did not
produce any big-ticket agreement or show-stopping announcement. But
it reinforced the growing strategic relationship between the two
countries.... Islamabad will also have to weigh the likely impact on
regional stability of U.S. military sales to India, especially in
the context of aggressive pronouncements by Indian military leaders
about 'cold start' and 'limited war' doctrines. The Singh visit may
not have yielded all that the Indians wanted from it because of
their unrealistic set of expectations. But several aspects of
solidifying U.S.-India ties have ramifications for Pakistan that
will need to be carefully evaluated. A hard-headed appraisal must be
conducted in the context of renewed American requests for
Islamabad's cooperation to implement Obama's new strategy in
Afghanistan. It must also be undertaken from the perspective of the
country's broader strategic vision, especially future relations with
its abiding strategic partner, China."

POLITICAL ISSUES

News Story: What Led To Change Of N-Command? "The News" (12/01)

"The change of hands in controlling the National Command Authority
(NCA) of Pakistan's vital strategic assets on the day when the
notorious National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) operation ceased
to exist for good will have far-reaching implications on the power
structure of the country. It is a demonstration of complete mistrust
in the hands from which the authority has been withdrawn and
expression of confidence in the person who has assumed it. It is a
first reshuffle in Pakistan's commandant control authority of the
strategic assets ever since its inception nine years ago. The
authority that deals with domestic system of Pakistan's invaluable
strategic assets has the most obvious external dimensions."

News Story: President To Give Up Powers Within Weeks "The News"
(12/01)

"President Asif Zardari has finally made up his mind to become a
titular head, or in common parlance a Rafiq Tarar, by also
relinquishing even the most vital discretionary power to appoint
services chiefs and the joint chiefs of staff committee chairman,
his close aides say. Federal ministers, who frequently interact with
him, say the president has left no doubt in discussions with us that
he is ready to give up the discretionary authority to nominate
services chiefs and dissolve the National Assembly and dismiss the
government under Article 58(2)b of the Constitution in favor of the
Prime Minister."

News Story: Zardari Not To Re-Promulgate NRO: Spokesman "Dawn"
(12/01)

"President's spokesman Farhatullah Babar confirms President Asif
Zardari will not re-promulgate the NRO after it lapsed on Nov 28.
Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira says that its the court's
call now and that the government will accept whatever the verdict.
Kaira said during the reign of former President Pervaiz Musharraf,
PPP had demanded the return of the exile leaders and lifting the ban
on becoming prime minister for the third time." (Story also covered
in all newspapers)

Editorial: NCA Chairmanship, an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(12/01)

"We do not know what prompted the president to tinker with the
National Command Authority (NCA). Perhaps because it has no real
impact on the de facto nuclear power structure (the CJCSC, Director
General of the Strategic Plans Division and Chief of Army Staff
(COAS) are believed to be the decision-making linchpins in the NCA),
the president considered it politically beneficial to 'give away'
some of his powers. But it is an impulse he should have resisted.
What the country really needs is a reversion to the parliamentary
and federal character of the original constitution, and that's where
the president's energies should be directed."

Editorial: Not Enough, an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/01)

"It seems quite evident that the decision to give up control of the
National Command Authority is rooted in the need to release some of
the mounting pressure. The President will be hoping his action will
appease the forces alienated from him - and at least buy him some
time. It is unlikely this will happen. Too much time has gone by;
too much has happened through the past weeks and months. Gestures
are no longer enough. People seek genuine change and patience is
fast running out. An immediate undoing of the 17th Amendment would
make some impact. Merely fiddling with existing legislation means
nothing. After all, command of the National Command Authority (NCA),
beyond a symbol of authority, means little in practical terms.
However, the action on the eve of Eid does show us that the
president is possibly panicking. The mounting pressure seems then to
be taking its toll. Mr. Zardari appears desperate to save himself.
But unfortunately he still seems not to have realized that concrete
measures will be required to do so. Flimsy, half-hearted actions
will lead us nowhere at all."

Editorial: Presidency & NCA, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/01)

"Ironically, the pressure from all quarters has been for the
Presidency to return the political powers grabbed from the Prime
Minister by the previous dictatorial dispensation. So the question
now is whether the President has made a beginning with the
relinquishing of the National Command Authority (NCA) chairmanship
and will move to give up on the political powers and rectify
constitutional distortions, or whether he is using the NCA issue as
a diversion, while holding on to those political powers? Strange
dichotomies are being created within our democratic structures as
well as in our sensitive organizations - purely because of one
individual's obduracy."

Editorial: Transfer of Command and Control Authority to Prime
Minister, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (12/01)

"This is a welcome development that progress has been made towards
strengthening of democratic system, in line with the Charter of
Democracy, and the President has given up the powers of the Command
and Control Authority.... Now that President Asif Ali Zardari has
relinquished the Command and Control Authority in favor of the Prime
Minister, he should also repeal dictatorial constitutional
provisions including 58-2 (B)."

ECON/BUSINESS

News Story: Pakistan Gets Only $345m of $1.61bn World Bank Pledge
"Dawn" (12/01)

"Pakistan has received only $345 million of the $1.61 billion
commitments made by two agencies of the World Bank for 2009. Also,
of the total commitment of $6.266 billion for 2004-09, an amount of
$1.456 billion in net terms was transferred to Pakistan, according
to the annual report of the World Bank for 2009."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson