PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 14, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002987 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 14, 2009 Summary: Matters involving the troubled U.S. - Pakistan relationship dominated the headlines in most media this weekend, with many different stories converging around the theme of relentless U.S. pressure on Pakistan -- and the trend continues Monday morning. News that Congress passed the 1.5 billion dollar aid package for Pakistan received relatively limited coverage. Rather, front pages dramatized President Obama's call for Pakistan to "do more" against al Qaeda in a CBS interview. The headlines coincided with reports that a drone strike killed a top al Qaeda operative and al Qaeda's statement that it is not behind Pakistan attacks. The Frontier Post anticipated that upcoming visits by Admiral Mullen and General Petraeus would push Pakistan to "do more," extending drone attacks to Balochistan. Monday headlines carried General Petraeus' call for Pakistan to increase pressure on the Afghan Taliban. Reports covered Secretary Clinton's remarks in New York that the U.S. is Pakistan's "partner, not patron", helping Pakistan to counter extremists in "new and vigorous" ways, along with Ambassador Holbrooke's assertion that the U.S. is coordinating the Afghan troop surge with Pakistan. Several newspapers covered Defense Secretary Gates' praise for the Pakistani military in forcing al Qaeda out of South Waziristan and back to Afghanistan. Despite these affirmations, newspapers widely reported Brig General Michael Linnington's citing "lack of coordination" on U.S troop repositioning on the Afghanistan - Pakistan border "unfortunate." Ambassador Patterson's meeting with President Zardari received wildly speculative and inaccurate coverage. The Post reported that in the meeting, Zardari asked the U.S. to respect [Pakistani] laws. These reports came in the midst of extensive coverage of suspected Blackwater activities. While some papers reported the CIA cancelled its Blackwater contract, the New York Times story affirming Blackwater involvement in CIA operations was also highlighted. The harassment of US Mission vehicles in Lahore continued to make news, often run side-by-side with Blackwater stories. Against a background of fictitious stories proliferating around the incarceration in Sargodha of alleged American Jihadis, headlines like The Nation's, "Americans continue mocking Pakistani law," are gaining traction. End Summary. TOP STORIES News Story: Obama Repeats 'Do More Mantra' "Dawn" (12/13) "U.S. President Barack Obama has said there are people in Afghanistan who want Americans to stay there forever, but the American people are against such an open-ended commitment. In an interview to CBS to be broadcast on Saturday night (Sunday in Pakistan),Mr. Obama also described FATA as the epicenter of violent extremism and urged Pakistan to do more to uproot Al Qaeda from the tribal belt." News Story: Pakistan Must Pressurize Afghan Taliban: Petraeus "Dawn" (12/14) "Pakistan needs to put pressure on the leadership of the Afghan Taliban operating inside its borders for long-term progress to be made in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus said on Sunday. '(To make) the really significant progress in Afghanistan that will be necessary over time... it would be very helpful if additional pressure could be put (by Pakistan) on the leadership of the elements that are causing problems in Afghanistan,' the head of the U.S. Central Command told reporters on the sidelines of the sixth Manama Dialogue security conference." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: U.S. Helping Pakistan In New, Vigorous Ways: Hillary "Dawn" (12/14) "Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the United States is supporting Pakistan in 'new and vigorous' ways to ensure that it wins the war against extremists. In an interview to Al Jazeera television, Secretary Clinton insisted that the wars against extremists in both Afghanistan and Pakistan were interconnected." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: U.S. Coordinating Troop Surge With Pakistan: Holbrooke "Daily Times" (12/13) "The US is working aggressively with Pakistan to prevent a spillover effect of an American troop surge in Afghanistan, US special envoy Richard Holbrooke has said. According to a Bloomberg report, Holbrooke also said that while pressure on Al Qaeda had intensified under U.S. President Barack Obama, the capture or killing of Osama Bin Laden should not be a 'single factor' in fighting terrorism." News Story: Gilani Calls For Pak-U.S. Coordinated Strategy "Dawn" (12/14) "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Multan on Sunday that Pakistan and the United States needed to adopt a coordinated strategy to win the war against terrorists. Talking to reporters at the airport, he said the U.S. had consulted Pakistan while formulating its new Afghan strategy." (Story also covered in all newspapers) News Story: U.S. Congress Approves Spending Bill "Dawn" (12/14) "The U.S. Congress on Sunday sent President Barack Obama a giant spending bill that includes annual foreign aid packages, mild sanctions aimed at Iran, and money for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Senate by a vote of 57 to 35 approved the legislation, which now will go to Mr. Obama for his expected signature. The package, which had already cleared the House of Representatives, includes $447 billion in annual expenses, plus more than $600 billion in health care expenditures." News Story: U.S. Aid Package To Focus On Water, Power Projects "Daily Times" (12/14) "Power and water projects would be an early priority for nearly $1.5 billion a year in new U.S. non-military aid for Pakistan, which was to be passed by the Senate on Sunday, senior U.S. officials said.... Congress has pushed for strict safeguards for the money and the State Department is due to file a report on Monday to key committees on Capitol Hill, outlining how the aid will be spent and detailing controls to curb wastage." News Story: No Blackwater In Pakistan, Insists Malik "The Nation" (12/14) "Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday again maintained that Blackwater is not operating in Pakistan rather it is active in Afghanistan and Iraq only, while talking to journalists in Gujranwala." News Story: Row Between Interior Ministry, U.S. Embassy "The Nation" (12/14) "Interior Ministry and the U.S. Embassy are at the loggerheads over use of non-registered vehicles with different number plates by the Embassy. Well-placed sources told 'The Nation' on Sunday that a serious row has erupted between the Interior Ministry and the U.S. Embassy after the Lahore incident on Saturday in which Lahore Police had impounded a non-registered vehicle which the U.S. Embassy claimed was its property." News Story: 17 Top Officials Supporting U.S. Interests In NWFP "The Nation" (12/14) "Seventeen officials serving in NWFP on various important posts are active members of the notorious American Khyber Club (AKC) that is believed to be a hotbed of conspiracies against Pakistan, highly placed sources informed 'The Nation' on Sunday. These officials are facilitating American diplomats, operatives of CIA and mercenaries of Blackwater in their activities stretched across the province and FATA. In reciprocation, the local officials get full support in getting lucrative postings, transfers and getting away with inquiries, etc, sources disclosed and added they are taken care by Americans who have tones of money on their disposal." TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Qaeda Operative Killed By U.S. Missile "Daily Times" (12/13) "A U.S. drone strike in FATA is believed to have killed a senior Al Qaeda leader responsible for plotting attacks beyond the Afghan-Pakistan region, a U.S. counterterrorism official said on Friday." News Story: U.S. Mounts Pressure On Govt. For Drone Attacks On Balochistan "The Frontier Post" (12/13) "United States has decided to mount pressure on Pakistani government to permit them for extending their drone strikes against alleged terrorists' hideouts in Balochistan province. The Frontier Post learned. Sources privy to the Ministry of Interior said that the top U.S. military command due to Pakistan by next week including Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff and General David Petraeus, chief of the U.S. Central Command would try to force government to grant the permission for the extension of drone attacks to Balochistan to reportedly target the suspected Al Qaeda and Taliban hideouts in the province in account of new U.S. Afghan policy." News Story: Al-Qaeda Fleeing SWA, Says Gates "The News" (12/12) "U.S. intelligence shows militants linked to al-Qaeda and other groups have been fleeing South Waziristan in the face of a Pakistani military offensive, Defence Secretary Robert Gates told U.S. troops during a visit to Kirkuk, Iraq. on Friday.... Gates praised what he called 'significant military operations by Pakistan that have only increased in size and tempo' in recent months. 'The Pak forces are doing a good job of putting pressure on their side of the border and we are obviously going to do an even better job of putting pressure on the Afghan side of the border,' Gates said." News Story: Lack Of Coordination With Pakistan Unfortunate: U.S. General "The News" (12/13) "A senior U.S. military official Saturday termed lack of coordination with Pakistan army over 'repositioning' of its troops along the Pak-Afghan border 'unfortunate.' Brig General Michael Linnington, the chief planner at the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) Headquarters, Kabul, did acknowledge that 'three U.S. border posts were re-positioned for more effective coordination' in the recent past. News Story: Respect Laws, Says Asif "The Post" (12/13) "President Asif Ali Zardari has made it clear that the decision to deport arrested U.S. national terror suspects would be taken after completion of investigation, adding U.S. visitors in Pakistan should collaborate with Pakistani security departments for security reasons. He said this during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson in Islamabad at Awan-e-Sadr on Saturday." News Story: CIA Terminates Contract With Blackwater "Daily times" (12/13) "The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has cancelled a contract with a security company - formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide - that allowed the company to load bombs on CIA drones in Pakistan and Afghanistan, The New York Times reported on Friday." News Story: U.S. Unsure About Status Of Suspects Held In Sargodha "Dawn" (12/14) "The U.S. State Department seems reluctant to define the five American Muslims arrested in Pakistan even as suspects and says that questions about their possible return to the United States should be directed at their families as there are no charges against them so far. The department's spokesman Ian Kelly told a briefing in Washington that a U.S. consular officer recently visited the Americans detained in Pakistan, checked on their welfare, provided a list of attorneys, and offered to facilitate communication with their families.... But when the State Department official was asked to explain their position, he said: 'We confirm that all six of the detainees have U.S. citizenship.'" News Story: No Terror Charge Against Six U.S. Citizens Yet "Dawn" (12/14) "The question of extradition of the six U.S. nationals held in Sargodha on December 9 will only arise after Pakistani authorities manage to establish their alleged involvement in terror activities in the country, legal experts say." News Story: Troops Kills At Least 22 Militants In Kurram "Dawn" (12/14) "Troops killed at least 22 militants in Pakistan's Kurram tribal region, officials said on Sunday. Troops backed by artillery and fighter aircraft attacked militants in Kurram late on Saturday and on Sunday and destroyed 10 of their hideouts, administration officials and intelligence agents said." News Story: U.S. Exporting Terrorism To Pakistan: Marvi "Daily Times" (12/14) "Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) parliamentarian Marvi Memon on Sunday accused the U.S. of exporting terrorism to Pakistan. A statement issued by Memon said the U.S. had contradictory policies in the war against terror. 'There is major contradiction in the statements of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the transgression of U.S. citizens in Pakistan. If the U.S. does not wish to act as a patron, then it has no business exporting terrorism to Pakistan in the form of U.S. nationals recently caught in Pakistan planning terror attacks along with Al Qaeda,' she said. She demanded the government provide parliament with complete details of the 9,236 visas issued by Pakistan to U.S. nationals during the last four months." News Story: JI Blames Terrorism, chaos in Pakistan on U.S. "Daily Times" (12/14) "Floating the idea of a change in the Pakistani society, Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) top leadership at a congregation of the Jamaat-e-Islami's workers unanimously blamed the United States' agencies for terrorism, chaos and anarchy in Pakistan, said JI's Chief Munawar Hassan at a one-day training congregation held at Nishtar Park, Karachi on Sunday." News Story: India Behind Terrorist Attacks, Says Qureshi "Dawn" (12/14) "Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan was not involved in Mumbai terror attacks. However, Islamabad has substantial evidence to prove India's involvement in terror activities in the country. In an interview with an Arab television, Mr. Qureshi said the international community supported Pakistan's stand that it was not involved in the Mumbai attacks." EDITORIALS/OPINIONS Editorial: Widening Offensive, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/14) "The military's operations have been steadily widening to other agencies from South Waziristan. Actions against militants are ongoing or being planned in the following agencies: Kurram, Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand, and in the Lower Dir area. This is an indication that the militants, to escape the military's onslaught, are dispersing to other agencies and carrying out attacks in those areas, partly to divert the main thrust of the military's offensive by forcing a dispersal of troops, partly to keep the impression of a live and active movement intact." Editorial: U.S. Demands To 'Do More', an editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ.25, 000) (12/14) "In an interview, President Obama has once again asked Pakistan to take more steps against Al Qaeda.... Let it be remembered that on Saturday, 2 U.S. Consulate vehicles with fake number plates were stopped for checking in Lahore. The persons in the vehicle refused to [let the vehicle be checked]. The government must find out what mysterious activities the Americans are engaged in, and what their objectives are. On the other hand, the Blackwater issue has resurfaced.... According to a British newspaper, Blackwater was hired to load missiles on the drones in Pakistan.... All these issues paint a very complicated scenario, which is causing concern among the Pakistanis. Circumstances demand that the government stop dubious activities [of the Americans] and also give an appropriate response to [U.S.] demands to do more." Editorial: Bridging Trust Deficit?, an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/14) "For all the risks that Pakistan has taken and the sacrifices it has made in toeing the American line in the war on terror, it is hard to find any U.S. official uttering a word of unqualified praise for it.... One expected that the Obama Administration, having been actively involved in the region for so long, would by now have known the political as well as military limitations beyond which it would be difficult for Pakistan to go in pursuit of the war in FATA; yet the U.S. expects more help from us than what we are doing for it.... The Pakistan authorities must remain wary of further American demands like extending the military operation, involving Balochistan and southern Punjab, as well as the threat of the U.S. acting on its own, if Pakistan would not." Editorial: Vanishing Trick, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) "The government has for as long as anybody can remember denied the existence of the Quetta Shura (QS). Presidential spokesmen and government ministers are all on record to the effect that the QS is a figment of an overheated media imagination and the Americans. Conversely, the Americans appear never to have any doubt as to its existence and have recently hinted that unless Pakistan addressed the problem of the QS then Uncle Sam may decide to address it himself - an option we would prefer he did not take up. Enter our esteemed Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar appearing on a private TV channel last Friday. Tapping the table with his magic wand to get our attention he announced that the QS is no longer a threat to Pakistan as our security forces have 'significantly damaged it.'... All levity aside, the institutionalized denial of manifest realities does no more than make us look like fools rather than magicians, and yet those who lead and govern us are unable to understand this simple fact." Editorial: A Clandestine Affair, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/14) "The whole Blackwater affair is proving to be quite intriguing, especially for Pakistan. Every other day, vehicles bearing foreigners (read Americans) are being stopped at check-posts, yet they refuse to let the security forces search the cars. Despite the fact that these foreigners have diplomatic immunity, their uncooperative attitude with the law enforcement agencies has led to a lot of speculation. Even if we concede that there is nothing worth searching for in these vehicles, considering the amount of suspicion against the U.S. it would be advisable that the Americans do not make such a hue and cry when stopped at security check-posts. Instead, they should let themselves be searched to silence their critics. By pressuring the government to let the Americans go scot-free after violations of security arrangements, the U.S. itself is eroding its stance on Pakistan being a sovereign country. This weakens the alliance in the war against terrorism. The very presence of Americans anywhere can act as an open invitation to terrorist attacks. This poses a serious threat to Pakistan's security." Editorial: U.S. Must Respect Pak Laws, Sovereignty, an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (12/14) "President Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting with Ambassador Anne Patterson has made it clear that the decision to deport U.S. nationals arrested in Sargodha for their terror related activities would be taken after completion of investigations.... In this perspective the President has done well by strongly raising the issue with Ambassador Patterson yet we are of the firm opinion that if the violation of our laws continues, he raises the matter with President Obama. Side by side the political leadership, civil society and media should also join hands against this unethical practice of violating Pakistani laws and oppose it forcefully. At the same time it would be advisable for the United States to listen Pakistan's view point, respect its laws and sovereignty and give up the attitude of a colonial power if it wants to work as a partner in the war on terror." Editorial: Dubious Activities Of American Diplomats, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (12/14) "In his meeting with U.S. Ambassador Patterson, the other day, President Zardari has said that the foreign diplomats should abide by the law of the land. According to reliable sources, the U.S. diplomatic facilities in Pakistan have become strongholds of the Blackwater agents. Despite the repeated denials of our rulers, the American media has exposed the covert links of the CIA with this infamous security agency. We think that it is high time that the government take some visible and effective steps to counter the anti-Pakistan activities of the foreign powers." Editorial: Mysterious Activities Of American Nationals In The Garb Of Diplomats; Interior Minister's Logic, And Demands Of National Interest, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (12/14) "According to a report in the New York Times, Blackwater personnel are deputed at the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, which has also been confirmed by CIA Director Leon Panetta.... Any American or any other foreigner should not be allowed to indulge in any activity that harms our national interests or integrity. Strict action in accordance with national and international laws must be taken against any Americans involved in such activities and they must be deported immediately." Editorial: Admission Of Blackwater Activities, an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (12/14) "According to a New York Times report, CIA has cancelled a contract with Blackwater Worldwide security agency, under which it had been deputed to load bombs on drones for attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The surprising aspect of this issue is that up until yesterday, the U.S. government was constantly denying that Blackwater Worldwide was carrying out war operations in Pakistan.... This revelation by the New York Times also shows that private companies using mercenaries are operating on some Pakistani bases along with U.S. army. In recent days, some vehicles were spotted in Lahore and Islamabad whose movements were suspect. These vehicles also had tinted glass. The vehicle [occupants] resisted when asked to stop by the police, but were later on released at U.S. diplomats' request. Such mysterious activities and reports are a cause of extreme concern for the Pakistani nation. The government must direct the parliamentary committee on security to immediately inform the nation of the real situation." Editorial: Violation Of Pakistani Laws: Government Should Take Notice, an editorial note an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (12/14) "A few days ago, when U.S. personnel were stopped [in Lahore] they were filming some sensitive areas. Would these diplomats not have been blamed directly if a tragedy had taken place in that area? There is a need to determine the limits of U.S. diplomats.... It is extremely condemnable that American personnel threatened the police that they would fire if they were stopped again or tried to be checked.... According to Geneva Conventions, diplomats have to obey the laws of the host country. Hence, the Americans' statement that they are not bound by Pakistani laws is wrong. They are bound to abide by Pakistani laws, as well as to cooperate with the local administration." Editorial: Porous Indeed, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) "The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is almost invariably described as 'porous' - as in allowing a constant flow of people, goods, contraband and arms to pass between the two. There is a difference between having a border which is porous and leaving a gap in your border through which anybody and anything may freely pass, yet this is what appears to have been the case at the Torkham crossing.... It is beyond comprehension that this has been allowed to continue as it has for as long as it has. No doubt money has changed hands to ensure this laissez faire continued and no doubt we as a populace have suffered, and suffered terribly, as a result of this misguided and dangerous policy of free movement. Let us hope that our common border is from today a little less porous." Editorial: Operation Against Terrorists: Take Parliament On Board Once Again, an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (12/14) "It goes without saying that extremists are hell-bent to impose their agenda upon the whole of Pakistan; that is why they have sped up their terrorist activities in response to the military operation in tribal areas. But everybody knows that the militancy cannot be uprooted through military means alone, and the government must also address the causes which give rise to this menace. We think that the rulers must take the elected Parliament on board in order to formulate a broad-based strategy to eliminate terrorism from the country." Opinion: New U.S. Strategy And Pakistan's Response, an op-ed by Munir Akram in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) "There are good reasons to conclude that the 'new' U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan announced by President Obama on 1 December will fail. But it could have serious consequences for Pakistan and the region.... From Pakistan's perspective, it would be unwise to agree to a blanket escalation of military and police action simultaneously against all Taliban and militant groups. Pakistan's priority must be to finish the job of putting down the anti-Pakistan TTP militants. Pakistan must also display determined opposition to wider, unilateral U.S. air strikes on its territory and insist on joint control of all strikes against jointly determined Al Qaeda targets." Opinion: Anti-Americanism, an op-ed by Talat Masood in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) "Anti-Americanism continues to rise unabated in Pakistan. It is not confined to fringe elements alone but is spreading in the mainstream. A few recently retired military officers and politicians have gone as far as accusing U.S. for abetting and supporting acts of terror that have engulfed the country.... Cynicism and dislike for America has reached a point of no return among a certain class in Pakistan, and from their point of view nothing that U.S. does can possibly be good for the country. And they cling to the mantra, despite repeated assurances, that Washington's interest only lies in taking out our nuclear assets.... Any major power, when it adopts a security or foreign policy, always weighs the flip side of everything. If Washington were to destabilize Pakistan as a deliberate policy, then the ensuing chaos will create a vacuum that would surely be filled by the Taliban and Jihadi forces, posing a far greater danger to the U.S., India and the rest of the world. It would be absurd for the U.S. to simultaneously fight the militants, be it the Taliban or Al Qaeda, and support them." Opinion: U.S. Withdrawal And Thereafter!, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/14) "America is lucky to have Pakistan as a suitable partner for developing Afghanistan. This arrangement will be acceptable to the common Afghan as well. Undoubtedly, Pakistan will be able to carry on these development tasks even after the departure of Americans. What the Americans need to do is open up their coffers, and be rest assured that the investment is worth it. If a composite plan for rebuilding Afghanistan starts concurrently with the military surge, a bulk of outlined tasks can be completed prior to total withdrawal of the U.S./NATO forces, which President Obama will be under pressure to complete before kicking off his re-election campaign." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson