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