PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 07, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002939 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 07, 2009 Summary: U.S. Defense Secretary Gates' statement that "U.S. would not pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan" dominated headlines in Urdu language newspapers on Monday. However, English language dailies highlighted his acknowledgment that "U.S. lost track of Usama years ago." Several major dailies quoted U.S. National Security Advisor Jones as saying that the "U.S. will launch a new effort to capture or kill Usama Bin Laden." "The Nation" front-paged a report that "U.S. experts will impart counter-terror training to NWFP Police." The Sunday editions of several dailies ran the U.S. Embassy's statement condemning the terror attack in Rawalpindi on Friday.Interior Minister Malik's remarks that "drone attacks in FATA are fueling militancy in the country" were also displayed prominently. Terming the drone attacks "beneficial for Pakistan's sovereignty," "Daily Times," noted that "they are successful in knocking out militants who pose a danger to Pakistan's security." All newspapers reported remarks of India's Minister of State for External Affairs Tharoor that "Pakistan's nuclear weapons are safe." All TV networks reported a bomb explosion in Peshawar on Monday afternoon that killed five people and wounded twenty. End Summary. TOP STORIES News Story: We Won't Pursue Taliban Leaders In Pakistan: Gates: Troop Surge To Force Taliban To Talks: U.S. "Daily Times" (12/07) "President Barack Obama's decision to bolster the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan is aimed in part at bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table on U.S. terms, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday. Gates also said the U.S. would not pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan and that it was up to Islamabad to address the threat posed by the terrorists to its territory." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: U.S. Lost Track Of Osama Years Ago: Gates "Dawn" (12/07) "U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that the United States had had no information about Osama bin Laden in years and still did not know where he was hiding. In an interview to ABC News on Sunday, Mr. Gates said he could not confirm reports this week that a detainee might have seen Bin Laden in Afghanistan earlier this year." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: U.S. To Launch New Effort To Capture Osama: Jones "Daily Times" (12/07) "The U.S. will launch a new effort to capture or kill Osama Bin �00A;Laden, who is believed to be hiding along the mountainous borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones said on Sunday. Asked in an interview if the administration planned a fresh attempt to go after Al Qaeda's leader, Jones said, 'I think so.'" News Story: U.S. To Train Cops For Counter-Terror "The Nation" (12/07) "NWFP Police have acquired a big tract for establishment of the country's biggest police training centre where American experts would impart training to police staff ranging from constables to DSPs. Advanced anti-terrorist training course is said to be the area is which foreigners have demonstrated extra interest." News Story: U.S. Condemns Mosque Attack In Rawalpindi "Daily Times," "The Nation," "Pakistan Observer," "Express," "Khabrain," "Pakistan," "Ausaf," "Jinnah" (12/06) "The U.S. on Saturday condemned Friday's deadly attack on a mosque in Rawalpindi, saying it highlighted the need for Washington to support Islamabad in fighting a 'common' enemy. 'These attacks highlight the vicious and inhuman nature of this enemy whose true target is the democratically elected government of Pakistan and the security of all Pakistanis,' State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters." News Story: Drones Fuelling Militancy: Malik "The Nation" (12/07) "Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said that all Ulema will be consulted in the ongoing war on terror and that the U.S. drone attacks in FATA are fuelling militancy in the country." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: Pakistani Nukes Safe, Says Indian Minister "Dawn" 12/07) "Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday that Pakistan's nuclear weapons were safe. 'We do not have first-hand information on that. Certainly, those who are very close to Pakistan seem to be convinced that there is nothing to be worried about,' he told the CNN-IBN TV channel. (Story also covered in all newspapers) TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Five Killed In Suicide Attack In Peshawar "Dawn" (12/07) "Five people have been killed on Monday (today) in a suicide attack which took place near the Sessions Court in Peshawar, according to SSP Operations, Karim Khan. Twenty people were also injured in the attack." News Story: Mosque Attack Reflects Threat To Pakistan: U.S. "Dawn" (12/07) "Senior U.S. officials and lawmakers warned on Sunday that the attack on the Parade Lane mosque in Rawalpindi last week indicated that the insurgents were trying to destabilize the Pakistani state. 'They just blew up a mosque in Rawalpindi, which is frequently (sic) by members of the military,' U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an American television channel on Sunday." News Story: Musharraf Alone Took Decision To Let U.S. Use Airports "Dawn" (12/07) "The decision to allow US forces to use Pakistani airports and other facilities for operations against Taliban in Afghanistan was taken by former president Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf unilaterally without taking Corps Commanders into confidence. This has been revealed by former Chief of General Staff and Corps Commander Lt. Gen. (Retd) Shahid Aziz in an interview with 'Dawn.'" News Story: 17 Taliban Killed In Military Operation "Daily Times" (12/07) "Security forces on Sunday killed at least 17 terrorists at Dangram Garasa area in Mingora and apprehended several others in operations against the terrorists, official sources told 'Daily Times.'" News Story: Commander Among Five Militants Killed In Swat "The News" (12/07) "Five militants, including local commander Gul Maula, were killed in a clash with security forces in the Dangram area in the suburbs of Mingora city while six suspects were arrested elsewhere in the district on Sunday, sources said." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: 366 Killed In 7 Attacks Targeting Mosques in '09 "The News" (12/07) "At least 366 innocent Pakistanis have been killed and 901 injured in the first 11 months of the year 2009 in seven bloody attacks on mosques across Pakistan, targeting the worshippers with suicide bombers and explosive-laden vehicles." News Story: Jamaat Leader Says U.S., India Behind Terror Acts 'The News" (12/07) "Vowing to observe December 14-16 as black days, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Liaqat Baloch Sunday blamed the pro-U.S. polices behind the growing incidents of terrorism in the country. 'There are proofs (sic) of U.S. and Indian involvements in terrors activities in the country but the rulers are bent on killing their own countrymen,' he told reporters after speaking at a convention of the party in Mansehra." News Story: 2 Foreigners Held In Khyber "The News" (12/07) "Official sources said the law enforcement agencies arrested two foreigners, identified as Mrs. Nicol Tin, an American woman, and Mithas Otnum, a Swiss national, while crossing the Torkham border illegally on Sunday." News Story: "NATO Oil Tanker Attacked "The Nation" (12/07) "An oil tanker, supplying fuel to NATO and U.S. forces in Afghanistan, was attacked in Mastung district (Quetta) on Sunday. However, the attacked reportedly caused no loss of life and damage to the vehicle. The assailants managed to escape from the scene after firing." MISCELLANEOUS News Story: U.S. Embassy Again Causes Chaos For Locals "The Nation" (12/07) "As the U.S. Embassy's security related project is nearing completion stage, vehicular traffic on a portion of the Kashmir Highway passing yards away from the Embassy and outside the diplomatic enclave, has come to a grinding halt causing great inconvenience to local travelers.... Well-placed sources told 'The Nation' on Sunday that this has been done on the pressure of the U.S. Embassy which was working day and night to complete its expansion program envisaging a huge security related project over 28 acres of land, which may also include an airfield. Sources further said that the project was nearing its completion, with security related equipment shipped to Karachi for onward journey to Islamabad under the security of U.S. private security company DynCorp, which was providing dedicated logistic services in its handling and transportation to the Embassy." News Story: U.S. Seeking Way Out Of Afghanistan "The Nation" (12/07) "America's new Afghan policy is more realistic and opposite than that of Bush administration. Perhaps the US has realized that defeat is its destiny and now it seeks way out to flee from Afghanistan after facing results of war. These views were expressed by former Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, former Secretary Foreign Affairs, former Ambassador Iqbal Ahmed Khan and former Ambassador Javed Hussain while addressing a program 'American's New Afghan Policy and its impact on Pakistan' arranged by 'The Nation,' 'Nawa-i-Waqt' and 'Waqt TV' at the Hamid Nizami Hall in Lahore on Sunday. The speakers said that the U.S. wanted face saving and we must offer them the opportunity in this regard instead of insisting it to stay in Afghanistan." News Story: Karzai Urges U.S. To Back Talks With Taliban "The News" (12/07) "Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged the U.S. on Sunday to back talks with Taliban leader Mullah Omar, saying there was an "urgent need" for a negotiated approach to the conflict. "Alone, we can't do it," Karzai said in an interview with the CNN. Karzai acknowledged that there was no support from his U.S. partners for the talks with Mullah Omar, but reaffirmed his longstanding view that it would be useful to engage the Taliban leader in negotiations." News Story: 9,236 U.S. Nationals Issued Pakistani Visas Over 4 Months "Daily Times" (12/07) "The Pakistani mission in Washington and consulates in the U.S. issued visas to 9,236 American nationals - including 234 from the U.S. armed forces and 628 U. S. diplomats - over the four months from July to October, according to a report, prepared by the Foreign Ministry and of which is available with 'Daily Times.'" News Story: Action Against Terrorism: India Asks Russia To Influence Pakistan's Policy "Dawn" (12/07) "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Russia to use its influence with Pakistan to rein in terror groups it says are operating from across the border against New Delhi. In remarks released before his departure on Sunday for Moscow for a bilateral meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Dr. Singh told Russian journalists." Editorial: Drone Attacks In Balochistan, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/07) "Whenever there is a drone attack inside the country, everyone starts talking about how Pakistan's sovereignty has been violated. It must be pointed out that Pakistan has already surrendered its sovereignty in many ways throughout its history. Starting from the Cold War when we helped the U.S. counter communism, we have remained a dependent country. Our economic as well as military funding is dependent on the goodwill of the sole superpower. As for drone attacks, some time ago, a Google Earth image of the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan was uncovered. It showed that the U.S. was secretly flying unmanned drones from there. Though both the Americans and the Pakistanis have denied that Washington ever used Pakistani bases for drone attacks, the image - which was later removed - clearly demonstrated that the U.S. was operating a drone base from Pakistan itself. The hue and cry about sovereignty is just for public consumption. The Americans could not have built a drone base on Pakistani soil without the knowledge of those in power. The drone attacks cannot be carried out from within the country without the complicity of the authorities.... If truth be told, these drone attacks are beneficial for Pakistan's sovereignty as they are successful in knocking out militants who pose a danger to Pakistan's security.... The drone attacks are a necessary evil, but a word of caution to the Americans may be in order." Editorial: Mind The Gap, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/07) "America and the western coalition in Afghanistan has just presided over one of the most corrupt elections in the history of democratic process; and kept in power a man long-past his sell-by date and hostage to the deeply conflicted tribal forces that bind him. The entire country is mired in corruption and if anybody believes that 30,000 troops are going to do anything transformative to Afghanistan, they need to think again. The failure to create the space in which the peace may be won is going to widen the gap into which we will find ourselves dragged." Editorial: Resolution Needed To Face Difficult Situation, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (12/07) "The New Afghan strategy of President Barack Obama implies that the U.S. wants to turn Pakistan into a battlefield in order to cover up the shame of its humiliating defeat in Afghanistan. Top American officials issue threatening statements, almost daily, aimed at exerting pressure on Pakistan to toe the U.S. line. All countries in the region would have to suffer irreparably if they do not get united to foil Washington's nefarious design." Editorial: Determination to Live And Die For Islam And Pakistan, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (12/07) "Recent reports suggest that not only the insurgents in our tribal areas, but also external powers and their security agencies, are targeting our armed forces after labeling them as the sponsors of terrorism. These attacks on our top security personnel provide sufficient evidence regarding the extent of our enemies' meddling in our internal affairs." Editorial: General's Resolve To Live And Die For Pakistan, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (12/07) "Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's statement that Pakistan is a fortress of Islam and we will live and die for Islam is a slap on the face of those who are trying to make Pakistan a secular state at the U.S. behest.... Pakistan Army has gained success in Swat and Waziristan, but it cannot entangle itself in this war to fulfill anti-Pakistan elements designs. The Pakistan Army has done its duty by paying heavy costs in GHQ, Parade Lane and other incidents.... Despite all this neither America nor government allies are happy.... Pak Army is facing U.S. pressure and protecting Pakistan's ideological identity, which is actually the job of the elected government.... Pakistan Army should be brought to the eastern border and given the task to liberate Kashmir." Editorial: Nuclear Responsibility, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (12/07) "Now after the statement of James Jones, who is an important person in the U.S. administration, the negative propaganda against Pakistan nuclear installations should come to a stop. Pakistan has the right to obtain and pursue its nuclear capability for generating power and other peaceful purposes. The very idea of tinkering with the control of Pakistan's nukes is fraught with dangers. Instead of bringing peace, it would lead to trouble on multiple fronts, not the least of which is the front against the terrorist menace. The so-called 'nuclear club' must abandon its ambitions of stopping other states from acquiring nuclear weapons, while keeping their own nuclear arsenals intact. If there is to be nuclear disarmament, it should be undertaken across the board and with full consent of all nuclear states." Opinion: Perils of Obama's Surge, an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/07) "President Barack Obama's much awaited speech announced a military strategy to turn the tide in Afghanistan, but no political plan. The absence - thus far - of a political approach to underpin the military effort makes the new strategy defective. Military escalation in Afghanistan and the expansion of aerial strikes in Pakistan is fraught with great danger for this country, which is already confronted with mounting security challenges - a consequence, not a cause, of the prolonged strife in Afghanistan.... It is therefore imperative for Islamabad to seek to minimize the negative fallout and try to persuade the U.S. to modify its strategy to accommodate Pakistan's concerns.... He can make good on his rhetoric of seeking a partnership based on "mutual respect" by listening to Pakistan. Unless this indispensable partner's doubts and misgivings about the new strategy are allayed and Washington is prepared to adapt its policy accordingly, the relationship will run into more problems and tensions. Cooperation has to be predicated not just on common objectives but the strategy and tactics needed to achieve them." Opinion: Employing The Surge Gainfully, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/07) "Pakistan has an important role to play in the outcome of surge operations. Hence, there is a need to firm up our priorities and have them incorporated at the operational level to generate requisite synergy. It is through intricate and elaborate real-time sharing of intelligence info that NATO/ISAF and the armed forces of Pakistan can act in their respective areas of jurisdiction.... Conjointly with American participation, Pakistan is better placed to carry on performing this noble role even after the withdrawal of occupation forces. Therefore, the culture of blaming Pakistan for NATO and ISAF inadequacies must come to a close, while the 'do more' mantra needs to be replaced with 'let's do more.'" Opinion: New U.S. Strategy In Afghanistan, an op-ed by Bassam Javed in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/07) "Finally, the much-awaited Afghan strategy was unfurled by President Obama in a speech delivered at the United States Military Academy on 1st December 2009.... The speech left Pakistan with many apprehensions. Islamabad seeks to discuss the hidden implications of some elements of the speech. One thing is certain that with the induction of more troops and their deployment in the Pashtun dominated areas of Qandahar, Helmand etc. the Taliban would enter Pakistan and add to the instability factor of Pakistan's tribal areas and Balochistan. The induction implies that given a timetable of 18 months, there will be strong military actions to achieve the aim in minimum possible time." Opinion: New Strategy: Obama's Afghan Endgame, an op-ed by Gen. Mirza Aslam Beg in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (12/07) "If winning the war was so vital for the sake of American interests, then 30,000 were not enough. At least 300,000 troops were needed to gain a favorable balance of power against the resistance, which according to CIA reports, is organized as Shadow Army, with seventeen divisions under command, each division having a number of Lashkars.... Thus the resistance has grown into a formidable force - a die-hard, committed force - fighting for freedom, against the occupation forces, who have no ideological commitment as such.... The surge of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan poses no threat to Pakistan, because these troops will be lost in the rocky wilderness of Afghanistan. The real threat is the consistent blame on Pakistan, by Obama, Manmohan Singh and Gordon Brown, for protecting Al-Qaeda safe havens, in our tribal areas, and the threat to strike such safe havens. The Government of Pakistan must tell them in very strong terms, that there are no safe havens on the Pakistani soil, and if they dare take action, they themselves will be responsible for the consequences. If the government of Pakistan does not pick-up the courage to say so, let the armed forces of Pakistan, serve such a warning. And that warning must be served now. Soviets suffered about 15000 dead. The American deaths have yet not reached the figure of ¶900. Soviets called their exit as 'our bleeding wound.' For the Americans the situation is not that bad, yet they cannot win the war." Opinion: Obama Too Blows Hot & Cold, an op-ed by M. Ashraf Mirza in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (12/07) "Obama wants to 'finish the job in Afghanistan,' but deployment of additional troops present totally different indications. Increase in the induction of more troops rather raises doubts and misgivings about his intentions. It's, in fact, proven that oil is Washington's major weakness irrespective of Bush or Obama administrations. U.S. has its eyes on the Central Asia's oil and, therefore, it's there 'for a long haul.'" Opinion: Inconvenient Truths, an op-ed by Ikram Sehgal in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/07) "Taking cognizance of the requirement for more boots on the ground as recommended by his commander in Afghanistan, U.S. President Obama commissioned an exhaustive review of the situation. He has now given the go-ahead for a 'surge' of 30,000 more U.S. troops.... One agrees with the 'surge,' and though its success will create more problems for Pakistan, if it brings the Taliban to the table maybe a peace can be worked out that includes all the stakeholders in Afghanistan, and satisfies their supporters in Pakistan. Pakistan should be ready to bear more pain in the foreseeable future, the question is, even though the U.S. is ready to reciprocate, can our leadership stand up and ask for enough in return as compensation?" (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson