PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 10, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002959 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 10, 2009 Summary: Wide coverage of a variety of public statements by U.S. military officials dominated today's Pakistan press - U.S. CENTCOM Commander General Petraeus' statement that "Pakistan Army has no desire to imperil civilian rule" received extensive coverage. Newspapers also highlighted Admiral Mullen's remarks that "U.S. took up Pakistan concerns over Balochistan with India." "The News" quoted Foreign Minister Qureshi as saying that "Pakistan (is) being consulted on new U.S. Afghan strategy." Nearly every major newspaper reported that security forces arrested five foreigners, including two Pakistani-Americans, for their alleged links with banned militant outfit Jaish-i-Muhammad in Sargodha. Newspapers published U.S. Embassy's clarifications of mischievous stories published in 'The Pakistan Observer' and 'The Nation' alleging Embassy blockage of an Islamabad road and suggestions of improper activities by American diplomats (allegedly "Blackwater operatives") in Lahore. All TV networks reported on Thursday morning a drone attack in South Waziristan that killed six militants including four foreigners. End Summary. News Story: Drone Attack Kills 6 In South Waziristan "The News" (12/10) "Six militants including four foreigners have been killed in US drone attack in South Waziristan. According to sources, drone fired two missiles at militants' hideouts in Tanga area of tehsil Lada in South Waziristan. Eyewitnesses said the toll could be mount." News Story: Zardari Not Facing Threat Of Army Coup: Petraeus "Dawn" (12/10) "Pakistani Generals had no desire to wrap up the civilian administration, a senior American commander responsible for his country's military strategy for the Pak-Afghan region told a congressional panel on Wednesday. But a senior State Department official told the same panel that the United States was trying to build institutions in Pakistan so that a change in leadership did not affect relations between the two countries. 'I don't think that the current challenges imperil civilian rule,' Gen. David Petraeus told the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations." News Story: U.S. Took Up Pak Concerns On Balochistan With India: Mullen "The News" (12/10) "Admiral Michael Mullen, U.S. chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said the U.S. was aware of Pakistan's concerns in Balochistan and this subject was a constant part of his conversations with Pakistan's Army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and his Indian counterpart Gen Kapoor. In an exclusive interview with 'The News/Jang and Geo News in Washington on Tuesday afternoon, Admiral Mullen also acknowledged the importance of Kashmir issue and said resolution of this longstanding dispute between India and Pakistan would have a positive impact on the overall regional stability." News Story: Five Americans Held In Sargodha Raid "Daily Times" (12/10) "Police on Wednesday arrested five American nationals believed to have gone missing from the Washington DC area last month, officials from both countries said. The five were arrested at the house of a member of the banned terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad in Sargodha, District Police Officer Usman Anwar told AFP.... U.S. Embassy spokesman Rick Snelsire said officials there were aware of the reported arrests, but could not confirm them." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: U.S. Embassy Rejects Reports Of 'Chaos' Due To Construction "Daily Times" (12/10) "The U.S. Embassy on Wednesday rejected news reports alleging that it was "causing chaos for locals" due to construction work at the embassy. 'There is no large-scale construction project going on at the U.S. Embassy,' a statement by the embassy said." (Story also covered in 'The News," "Jang," "Express," "Ausaf," "Pakistan," and "Al-Akhbar") News Story: U.S. Rejects Reports Of Blackwater Personnel's Arrest "Daily Times" (12/10) "The U.S. Embassy on Wednesday rejected news reports stating that four 'Blackwater personnel' were arrested while trying to force their entry into the Lahore Cantonment. 'The U.S. Embassy in Islamabad rejects these allegations as false,' according to a statement by the Embassy." (Story also covered in 'Business Recorder," "Nawa-i-Waqt," "Islam," "Aaj-Kal," "Ausaf" and Pakistan) TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Militants Dynamite Two Schools In Khyber: Official "The Nation" (12/10) "Taliban militants on Wednesday dynamited two boys' schools in Khyber district, where troops are pressing an offensive against Islamist insurgents, an official said. The attacks took place in Bara town, about 20 kilometers (13 miles) south of the regional capital Peshawar." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: Obama Urged To Visit Pakistan To Allay Concerns Over U.S. Strategy "The Nation" (12/10) "An influential American newspaper Tuesday urged President Barack Obama to visit Pakistan and explain to the Pakistani people his strategy for the region that has raised concerns in the country. 'Presuming security needs can be met, President Obama should visit Pakistan so he can tell Pakistanis directly that their fears of abandonment - or domination - are unfounded,' The New York Times said in an editorial: 'Pakistan and the War.'" News Story: Gates Tells NATO Troops Afghan Success In Reach "The Nation" (12/10) "U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday toured the nerve centre of NATO command in Afghanistan, telling officers an imminent troop surge will turn around the eight-year war against the Taliban. Gates visited the NATO-run International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) joint operation centre of 170 staff from 42 nations, saying improved allied cooperation and the sweeping new strategy put success within reach, while speaking to reporters en route to Afghanistan." News Story: Afghan War - We're Starting 'From Scratch': Holbrooke "Dawn" (12/10) "U.S. diplomat Richard Holbrooke has acknowledged that institution-building in Afghanistan would have to start 'from scratch' in the ninth year of engagement, in an interview published on Wednesday. Mr. Holbrooke, special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, told Germany's daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that international cooperation since the deployment in Afghanistan in 2001 had often been chaotic." News Story: Kerry Says U.S. Cannot Ignore Pakistan In War Policy "The Frontier Post," "The News" (12/10) "Speaking at the start of a hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry says what happens in Pakistan is as critical to American success in South Asia as what happens on the ground in Afghanistan. Kerry said 'it would be a mistake in Pakistan or anywhere to believe' that President Barack Obama's statement about drawing down forces by mid-2011 in Afghanistan means the United States would be withdrawing from the region." News Story: Pakistan Being Consulted On New U.S. Afghan Strategy: FM "The News" (12/10) "Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that Pakistan was being consulted on the new U.S. Afghan policy and the recent visits of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. National Security Advisor were a part of this process." (Story not available online) News Story: FBI Team Visits Moon Market? "Daily Times" (12/10) "A four-member team of investigators from the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) visited the site of the Moon Market bombings in Iqbal Town, Lahore, a private TV channel reported Wednesday." News Story: U.S., Not Taliban, Real Threat: JI "Dawn" (12/10) "America and India were hatching conspiracies to destabilize Pakistan and announce a unilateral solution to the Kashmir issue against the will of Pakistanis, alleged Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Chief Syed Munnawar Hassan. Addressing a Jirga of tribesmen in Peshawar on Wednesday, he said that real threat to their country was not Taliban but India and American security agency Blackwater." News Story: 589 Terrorists Killed In S. Waziristan, Says ISPR "Dawn" (12/10) "Security forces have so far killed 589 terrorists and arrested 45 militants during the ongoing operation in South Waziristan. Military spokesman Maj-Gen. Athar Abbas told Dawn that 79 security personnel lost their lives and 240 were injured." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: Three Taliban killed in Bajaur "Daily Times" (12/10) "Political administration officials told 'Daily Times' that three Taliban were killed in clashes between security forces and the Taliban in the Chinar area in Nawagai tehsil of the Bajaur Agency on Wednesday." POLITICAL ISSUES News Story: U.S. Envoy's Clandestine Canvassing "The Nation" (12/10) "In an unscheduled and secret meeting, U.S. Ambassador Patterson suddenly left the U.S. Embassy on Wednesday evening to visit the home of Dr. Donia Aziz and her parents where a meeting had been arranged with Chaudhry Shujaat and Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi.... The U.S. Ambassador sought support from the Chaudhrys for President Zardari and the U.S. Afghan policy." Editorial: Airbases For U.S., an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/10) "The bases had not meant to be used for offensive operation, but logistic support for American forces in the area, including search and rescue missions. Mr. Mukhtar used this Pakistani ignorance at the time of the agreement as an excuse to justify present ignorance.... While he may not have known at the time, he cannot claim ignorance now, and it is the duty of the government to seek at least a new agreement, assuming that it cannot tell the Americans that they have overstayed their welcome and should leave. In any new agreement, it must demand the right of inspection, to the extent that it can determine itself whether or not the American air forces are using the bases for the purposes for which they have been given. The use of these bases without any agreement is a violation of sovereignty and must not be allowed to continue. It must be brought to an end as soon as possible." Editorial: Rude Behavior of Americans With Law-enforcers, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (12/10) "The derogatory attitude adopted by the U.S. diplomats with the police in Lahore has once again proved that the Americans consider themselves above the law of the land. Ironically, the police released these people immediately after their arrest which itself tantamount to committing a crime." Editorial: U.S. Ambitions To Invade Pakistan In Chase Of Taliban, an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (12/10) "The ceaseless U.S. threats to launch drone attacks to kill the Taliban leaders and Al Qaeda operatives, allegedly hiding in Quetta, have caused widespread fear and panic throughout the country. Washington is using the 'carrot and stick' policy against Pakistan which is further fomenting the anti-U.S. sentiments among the local masses. We think that the time has come for our leadership to define new parameters of its friendship with the United States." Editorial: U.S. Still Wants Pakistan To Do More, an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (12/10) "There were reports that the recent visit of U.S. National Security Advisor was aimed at arms twisting of Pakistan, now it has been confirmed by the 'New York Times' that General Jones asked Islamabad to ratchet up fight against Taliban or be prepared for U.S. incursions. This is indeed coercion of the highest order and an open insult of an ally that has staked its national security in pursuance of the U.S. goals in the region....The ground situation and American intentions and plans obviously mean more trouble for Pakistan...." Editorial: Understand The Real Ambitions of Terrorists' Objectives, an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (12/10) "After the 9/11 attacks in the U.S., the people, once crowned as heroes, were labeled as terrorists, and allowed to freely infiltrate into Pakistan's tribal areas after the occupation of Afghanistan by the American and NATO forces. Resultantly, today the inferno created in the neighboring country has reached Pakistan where these extremist elements have taken the local population hostage and are killing innocent people with sophisticated weapons. It seems that the terrorists are hell-bent to destroy our national economy through their activities. We think it is the need of the hour that the entire nation forge unity to foil the nefarious designs of these extremists." Editorial: Pak-India Relations, an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (12/10) "A Welcome message but nevertheless an expression of the obvious, that is how we would categorize the latest comments of Admiral Mike Mullen on the Kashmir issue. 'I really do believe that 'de-tensioning' [the Kashmir border] is absolutely critical to the long-term stability of the region,' Admiral Mullen told a gathering of the foreign press in Washington on Tuesday.... Getting India to resume talks with Pakistan without those preconditions will not be easy - and maybe all but impossible for the U.S. Ultimately, what will drive a push towards a settlement on Kashmir are the bilateral dynamics between India and Pakistan and the internal political dynamics of the two countries." Editorial: Shifting Responsibility, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/10) "The best tactic for gaining political leverage is to shift responsibility for failure to pre-empt a terrorist attack by blaming India.... By blaming India, the establishment seeks a diversion of attention from the activities of organizations such as the Haqqani network, operating from North Waziristan, and other groups linked to the al Qaeda network and the local Taliban. This diversion paves the way for an indiscriminate military operation in the FATA region." Editorial: American And Indian Hand In Terrorism, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (12/10) "Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that there are clear evidences that Indian ammunition was used in recent terrorist attacks in various cities of the country. But we think that this statement is a half-truth. Actually, not only Indian but the U.S., too, providing support to the terrorists with an aim to destabilize Pakistan. According to several media reports, the CIA is using the Blackwater agents to pursue its agenda in Pakistan. Washington has also hired some local elements to propagate that neither the U.S. nor India is involved in these terror activities." Editorial: The Battle Ahead, an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (12/10) "The Taliban's claim that their fight lies solely with Pakistan's security apparatus is a pack of lies. Hundreds of civilians, including children, have been slaughtered in recent months and the toll is expected to rise now that the militants are being driven back by the military. As a result the Taliban have resorted, more than ever, to terrorizing the public at large by attacking bazaars, shopping plazas and mosques.... Lastly, it is shocking that Pakistan's religious parties have failed to condemn suicide bombings in one voice and without qualifiers that suggest they might be permissible in certain situations. The people of Pakistan do not support the Taliban. If the sympathies of our religio-political parties lie with the militants, they should have the courage to say so without mincing words." Editorial: Peace In South Asia, an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (12/10) "Washington is in a position to pressure India to resolve its disputes with Pakistan, particularly the Kashmir dispute. It has to realize that unless there is a real move towards the resolution of the dispute, mistrust between the neighbors would continue to persist. Under the circumstances, there is little likelihood of the 'de-tensioning' of the border between the two countries, considered absolutely critical to the long-term stability in the region by Admiral Mullen. It remains to be seen if the U.S. is really willing to play the role no other country can. The announcement by President Obama that his administration would begin to pull out its troops from Afghanistan after 18 months has given rise to apprehensions in Pakistan that he may install India as a proxy power to protect U.S. interests. This indicates the level of the prevailing mistrust. It is in United States' own interest to undertake moves aimed at restoring confidence between India and Pakistan." Editorial: U.S. Threats, Drone Strikes And Terrorism; Think Of Saving The Country's Integrity, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (12/10) "U.S. National Security Advisor James Jones and the White House anti-terrorism cell chief John Bonin have made it clear to Pakistan that American troops will resort to hot pursuit inside Pakistan if it did not take stringent action against the Taliban.... The other day, four Blackwater operatives with modern weapons were arrested in Lahore, but released later on the intervention of the American Embassy, notwithstanding the fact that Lahore's Moon Market became the target of worst terrorism a day earlier.... Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar has admitted in a TV talk show that American forces are using our Jacobabad and Pasni airfields sans any proper agreement. American administration continues with the drone attacks inside Pakistan and is extending threats of action inside Pakistan. This is the doing of the rulers who have adopted policies subservient to America in return to alms of dollars." Editorial: Terrorists' Cruel Concept Of Jihad, an editorial in the independent Urdu daily "Din" (circ. 5000) (12/10) "The Tehrik-i-Taliban has accepted responsibility for many of the attacks on mosques [in Pakistan]. The strategy of attacking worshippers at prayer time is a tactic that the Taliban is using as this way it succeeds in terrorizing the most number of people.... According to available facts and figures, there have been more than 50 attacks of mosques since 9/11 - most attacks being carried out by the banned outfits like Tehrik-i-Taliban, Sipah-i-Sahaba, Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, Harkatul Jihadi-i-Islami or Jamaatul Furqaan.... These people's concept of jihad is that all of Pakistan except for a few tribal areas has turned infidel so killing them is justified. More than two thousand [Jihadi] journals and newspapers are working night and day to promote this justification... There are also reports that many in the Taliban and it allied groups are working for the U.S. and India... These people - in adhering to their self-created concept of Islamic supremacy - have never thought that the billions of dollars they receive in secret foreign funding could also be used to build modern universities and technical training institutes, which would help Muslims lead honorable lives." Editorial: U.S. Should Prove Its Friendship To Pakistan, an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (12/10) "Newspapers are also publishing reports to the effect that U.S. weapons were also used along with other arms wherever there has been a suicide attack, or bomb blast. [In some instances] suspicious-looking Americans were also arrested from the crime scene... Just the other day, some Americans refused to let their vehicles be searched in Lahore when stopped by the police at Sherpao Bridge. The question is: what kind of sovereign and independent country are we that we cannot even search Americans in our own country; whereas when Pakistanis arrive in the U.S., Americans can get their clothes removed in the name of searching. Why did these Americans refuse to be checked? Did they have any suspicious material, or was there something else? Instead of surrendering so easily, our government should act a little more boldly." Opinion: Looking Within, an op-ed by Hameed Akhtar in an op-ed in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ.25,000) (12/10) "Whether it is an attack on the mosque in Rawalpindi or market in Lahore, the attackers are not Israelis or Indians or Americans; the attackers are Pakistani. Instead of blaming others, we need to find the perpetrators. No foreign power can carry out such an act without help from the locals. When our media and political leaders shift the blame for such acts onto outsiders, they are actually becoming a party in shielding the real criminals." Opinion: Pakistan's Window Of Hope, an op-ed by Syed Talat Hussain in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/10) "The American road-ahead policy presents Pakistan with a unique all-round policy opportunity to shape the strategic environment in Afghanistan, close festering sources of terrorism in tribal areas, and most crucially, regain broad-based clout with Washington. In other words, the ambitious multiple agenda the U.S. has set for itself in Afghanistan, and partly also in the borders areas of Pakistan, provides exceptional room for Pakistan to make strong purposeful maneuvers to earn solid diplomatic gains.... It is in Pakistan's core national interest to ensure that safe havens do not become Washington's excuse for pinning the blame for poor performance in the battles with the Taliban on us.... A hard hit at these safe havens will also take the U.S. pressure off Pakistan and give Islamabad and Washington time to plan about the Quetta Shura." Opinion: Pakistan Is A Target, Not A U.S. Ally, an op-ed by Asif Haroon Raja in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (12/10) "The U.S. doesn't want Pakistan to sink, but it also doesn't want it to become politically, militarily and economically healthy and starts pursuing an independent foreign policy. The U.S. would prefer an unhealthy Pakistan, dependent upon oxygen provided by United States and subservient to India. Like Bush, Obama too is pursuing imperialist agenda. His decision to send additional U.S. troops to Afghanistan is a precursor for physical intervention into Pakistan so as to secure U.S. objectives in Middle East and Central Asia. For the attainment of vast energy resources, it is essential for United States to assert its military and geo-political ascendancy over these strategic regions. All those nurturing fond hopes that Pakistan is an ally of United States and hence out of danger should keep its finger crossed. Ongoing acts of terror are coordinated by invisible hands. Coming months are crucial for Pakistan." Opinion: Escalate And Expand, an op-ed by Asif Ezdi in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/10) "The 'Af-Pak' policy announced by Obama on Dec 1 can be summed up in two words: escalate and expand. Firstly, it signals an escalation of the war in Afghanistan and of pressure on Islamabad to take tougher action against terrorist groups allegedly enjoying safe havens in Pakistan. Secondly, it forebodes the expansion of drone attacks and other U.S. covert operations in Pakistan.... The more direct and far more serious threat facing Pakistan comes from the planned expansion of covert and not-so-covert operations by the U.S. on Pakistani soil, because they would destabilize not just the border areas but the entire country, with far-reaching consequences for the region.... Evidently, Pakistan has to do a better job of making the Americans grasp the disastrous consequences of such a military escalation in Pakistan." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson