PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 02, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000451

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 02, 2009

Summary: Reports of missile strikes in South Waziristan killing at
least twelve militants dominated headlines in several major
newspapers on Monday. All newspapers highlighted Admiral Mullen's
remarks that the "drone attacks inside Pakistan were part of Obama's
policy." TNSM's Chief Sufi Mohammad's statement demanding
"appointment of Qazi (cleric judges) and release of prisoners by
March 15" received prominent display. Newspapers reported that the
kidnappers of the UN official Solecki have "threatened to kill him
if their demands are not met within four days." The government's
decision to "set up new mobile courts to provide speedy justice to
people at their doorsteps" received extensive media coverage.

Newspapers continued to run editorials on the political and security
situation evolved in the wake of the disqualification of the Sharif
brothers and the imposition of the Governor's Rule in Punjab. The
liberal Urdu daily, "Express," advised that "President Zardari and
Nawaz Sharif should set their differences aside in the best interest
of the nation and move towards reconciliation." The leading Urdu
daily, "Jang," cautioned that the "political instability can put the
country's very own existence into jeopardy." Toeing the line, the
center-right daily, "The Nation," observed that "it is time to cool
tempers before the crisis exacerbate, with the opposition parties
throwing their weight behind the lawyers' long march..." End
Summary.

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News Stories
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"12 Killed In U.S. Missile Strikes" "The Nation" (03/02)

"At least twelve militants were killed and 14 others including
several foreigners were injured on Sunday when a drone of U.S.-led
NATO forces fired two missiles at a suspected hideout of militant
forces in village Haibatkhel of Sararogha tehsil in South Waziristan
Agency on Sunday, security official said."

"Drone Strikes Part Of Obama's Policy" "The Nation" (03/02)

"Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the United States' biggest
concern in the Afghan war is the threat posed by militant
sanctuaries near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The threat is
from 'safe havens on the Pakistani side of the border, not only for
al-Qaeda, but also for the Taliban' and other groups 'working
together,' Gates said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' program.... "

"Mullen Sidesteps Question On Missile Hits" "The Post" (03/02)

"Top U.S. military officer Admiral Mike Mullen on Sunday declined to
confirm or deny a suspected U.S. missile strike in northwest
Pakistan but said Washington was concerned about terrorist safe
havens on the border with Afghanistan, Mullen said in an interview
broadcast on Sunday on Fox News."

"Admiral Mullen 'Bringing U.S. Closer To Pakistan'" "Daily Times"
(03/02)

"Over a series of nine meetings, U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman
Admiral Michael Mullen and Pakistani Chief of Army Staff General
Ashfaq Kayani have forged 'the most important relationship in the
fraught dynamic between the two countries,' according to a Newsweek
article."

"U.S. Attacks Undermine Pakistan Govt. And Military, Says Report"
"Dawn" (03/02)

"U.S. drone attacks continue to inflame Pakistani animosity against
the United States and undermine both the government and the
Pakistani military, says a recent report by a major U.S. think tank,
the Atlantic Council.... The Council notes that an apparent 'tacit
understanding' between the Pakistan government and the United States
to allow such attacks makes the situation 'more tenuous and
delicate' for Islamabad."

"Swat Peace Deal Comes Under Pressure; Sufi Gives March 15 Deadline"
"Dawn" (03/02)

"The Swat peace accord came under severe pressure on Sunday when
TNSM Chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad demanded appointment of Qazis
(cleric judges) and release of prisoners by March 15 as two Frontier
Corps soldiers were injured in an attack on their convoy and an FC
commandant was kidnapped. The Chief of
Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi said at a press conference that
he was dissatisfied with the steps taken by NWFP government."

"Kidnappers Threaten To Kill Solecki In 4 Days" "Dawn" (03/02)

"The Baloch Liberation United Front which claims to have kidnapped a
UN official has threatened to kill him if its demands are not met in
four days. 'It is our final deadline,' the BLUIF said in a letter
sent to a local news agency on Sunday night."

"Coordinated Strategies To Defeat Terrorism" "Daily Times" (03/02)

"Pakistan, United States and Afghanistan have decided to evolve
coordinated strategies to defeat terrorism from the region,
Pakistani Ambassador to U.S. Hussain Haqqani said with BBC TV. He
said the three countries created a trilateral anti-terrorism
mechanism during negotiation and discussions in Washington DC."

"Indians Supplying Funds To Terrorists" "The Nation" (03/02)

"India has become a hub for supplying funds to terrorists under
'Hundi and Hawala' money transfer system. A private TV channel
quoting U.S. Foreign Affairs Department reported that the U.S. has
asked India to make effective legislation for anti-money laundering
and to stop supplying capital to terrorists."

"Taliban Refuse To Hand Over Body Of Polish Geologist" "Dawn"
(03/02)

"A fresh round of talks between the government with the Taliban for
securing the body of slain Polish geologist, Piotr Stanczak, failed
on Sunday. Taliban sources said the body could not be handed over
because the government was reluctant to release their men."

"Taliban Kidnap Officer, Bodyguards" "The Nation" (03/02)

"Suspected Taliban militants on Sunday kidnapped a paramilitary
officer and five bodyguards in Pakistan's troubled Swat valley
despite a ceasefire in place there, security officials said. "

"Violence In Tribal Areas Claims 14 Lives" "The Post" (03/02)

"Fourteen people have been killed including 4 security personnel in
separate incidents of violence in tribal areas including Dera Ismail
Khan."

"Ordinance Issued To Set Up Mobile Courts" "Dawn" (03/02)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has promulgated an ordinance to set up
mobile courts in remote areas by amending the Criminal Procedure
Code 1998. 'I have not gone through the ordinance, but the basic
idea behind it is providing speedy justice to people at their
doorstep in rural areas where no judicial set-up exists,'
President's spokesman Farhatullah Babar told 'Dawn.'"

"Zardari Seeking Remedy To 'Undo' Disqualification" "The Nation"
(03/02)

"President Asif Ali Zardari spent a busy day on Sunday weighing
various options to seek a remedy to Sharif brothers'
disqualification issue through an act of Parliament. Well-placed
sources told 'The Nation' that the PPP Co-Chairman held
consultations with the party's inner circles to find out a course to
resolve the standoff with Sharif Brothers."

"Zardari 'Agrees To Talks With PML-N" "Dawn" (03/02)

"Chief of Awami National Party Asfandyar Wali Khan and Head Jamiat
Ulema-i-Islam Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Sunday succeeded in
persuading President Asif Ali Zardari to resolve differences through
talks. President Zardari has given us a go-ahead to talk to Nawaz
Sharif, which is a good sign,' Maulana Fazl said."

"Nawaz Spurns Initial Patch-Up Moves" "Dawn" (03/02)

"PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif continued his frontal attack on President
Asif Ali Zardari, even as PPP and ANP leaders called on him (Mr.
Sharif) in an effort to patch up differences between the estranged
coalition partners."

"President Acting On U.S. Dictates: 'N' Chief" "The Nation" (03/02)

"Mian Nawaz Sharif said President Zardari did not qualify to run the
affairs of the country as he was taking dictation from the U.S. on
each and every internal matter. He alleged that Zardari, like
Musharraf, was compromising Pakistan's sovereignty by formulating
policies according to the U.S. dictates."

"U.S. Officials Differ On Iran Nuclear Program" "Dawn" (03/02)

"America's top military official said on Sunday he believed Iran had
enough fissile material to build a nuclear weapon, but he was
contradicted by his boss, Defence Secretary Robert Gates, who said
the Islamic Republic was a long way from having a bomb."

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Editorials/Op-eds
--------------

"Political Confrontation Will Be Detrimental For Democracy," an
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 100,000) (03/02)

"As far as reconciliation efforts are concerned, PML-N chief Mian
Nawaz Sharif has shown some flexibility lately. In an interview
with Express News, he said that reconciliation is possible if
Governor's Rule is lifted and the deposed judges restored....
President Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif should set their differences
aside in the best interests of the nation and move towards
reconciliation."

"Path Of Reconciliation Must Be Adopted Instead Of Confrontation,"
an editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily
"Jang" (cir. 300,000) (03/02)

"Keeping in mind the past experiences, and the exploits of the
self-seeking elements, PML-N, PPP and all political and religious
parties must desist from resorting the policy of confrontation and
conflict as any such move will be contrary to the national
interests, and will endanger the democratic system, and worsen the
lot of the people of Pakistan. The political instability can put
the country's very own existence into jeopardy."

"Time To Cool Tempers," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/02)

"The fact remains that the fate of the provincial legislature hinges
on the success or the failure of the PPP leadership's attempt at
creating defections in the PML(N).... It is time to cool tempers
before the crisis exacerbates, with the opposition parties throwing
their weight behind the lawyers' long march due to commence on this
12th...."

"N-League And PPP Must Not Break The Nation's Hopes," an editorial
in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain"
(cir. 50,000) (03/02)

"How ideal it would be if instead of efforts by the U.S., U.K.,
Germany and other foreign states for reconciliation, our two parties
strive for a patch-up themselves. For this they need to bury their
ego and have courage. Otherwise, they will be equally responsible
for breaking the nation's hopes and destroying the democratic
process."

"Return Of 1990s' Era Of Confrontation," an editorial in the
Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000)
(03/02)

"PPP must understand the fact that any move to disregard the mandate
of the PML-N in the Punjab province will be a fatal mistake, as
PML-N has several issues to speed up the agitation against the
government. And the lawyers' long-march will also help get faster
this row. The government has no other option to save the day except
peaceful dialogue on the basis of 'give and take' and any possible
use of state force can jeopardize the entire political system."

"Assume The Path Of Reconciliation," an editorial in the
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (03/02)
"President Zardari should not wait for Nawaz Sharif, rather he
should act by himself as the President of Pakistan to exonerate the
Sharif brothers from the cases registered by the Musharraf
administration. Moreover, the Governor Rule in Punjab should also
be lifted at once, and the government must immediately convene the
session of the provincial assembly, so that the elected
representatives may elect the leader of the house."

"Poor Zardari Is Defenseless," an editorial in the Islamabad-based
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (03/02)

"It appears that the President took the decision for the imposition
of Governor rule on the advice of a few who wanted to conquer Punjab
without realizing that as symbol of Federation Asif Zardari must act
in a way to protect the interests of all the federating units rather
than appeasing some.... When arbitrary decisions are taken in a
party and a person emerges as 'dictator without uniform' he is bound
to face similar fate at the end. We would therefore recommend that
the President should go for corrective steps."

"Decision To Arrest Lawyers And Political Leaders," an editorial
note in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (03/02)

"According to press reports, Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Qazi
Hussain Ahmed and Imran Khan will be arrested if they attempted to
participate in the long march.... It will be pushing the country
towards civil war if the government went for stopping the long march
through force and resorted to arrest lawyers and political leaders."


"Political Efforts Aimed At Ending The Crisis," an editorial in
liberal and independent Hyderabad based Sindhi Daily "Kawish" (Cir:
105,000) (03/02)

"We believe that the mainstream parties need to respect one
another's mandate. When the Sharif brothers could reach an
agreement with General Musharraf, and left the politics as well as
the country, why cannot they enter into a similar agreement with the
present government and continue to support democracy in the
country?"

"Testing Time For Politicians," editorial in the Karachi-based
center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 33,000)
(03/02)

"The patriot citizens of this country are extremely concerned about
the ongoing confrontation between the PPP and PML-N, as this
conflict will weaken the country, and put the national security in
danger. It is a time of trial for the politicians, and they should
not provide an opportunity to the foreign forces to take advantage
of the situation."

"Don't Create Another Swat In Punjab," an op-ed by Hamid Mir in the
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/02)

"President Zardari still has some time. He should lift the
governor's rule in Punjab as soon as possible and start a meaningful
political dialogue with Nawaz Sharif. If his government can reach a
truce with Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah, then why not a truce
with Nawaz Sharif? Zardari became President with the help of Nawaz
Sharif. He can complete his term as President only with the support
of Nawaz Sharif. If there will be no truce with Nawaz Sharif then
President Zardari will be the biggest loser. It's the writing on
the wall."

"Trilateral Talks," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (03/02)

"The meeting between the ministers of three countries is a welcome
step. The continuation of talks is the only solution to this
sensitive issue. The monster of terrorism is not only engulfing
Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the whole world. It is the common
responsibility of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. to collectively
fight this common enemy and rid their people from this menace."

"U.S. Looks To China For Afghanistan Bailout," an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (03/02)
"President Obama statement that the U.S. was not going to be in
Afghanistan over the long term is quite significant. It is also
significant for Pakistan. Lest we forget, China, together with
India, is a major player in the reconstruction and nation-building
process in Afghanistan. Whether we like it or not, it is China and
India that form the new polarity in Afghanistan.... China and India
are not exactly the enemies they used to be or what quondam
President Bush thought they should become after an anti-China
Indo-U.S. nuclear deal last year. Where we are more often wrong is
that we desire expulsion of NATO from Afghanistan without thinking
of who would fill the vacuum after its exit."

"Sweeping Swat," an editorial in the centrist national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/02)

"The way has been cleared for the government to make similar
arrangements with other groupings of extremists in other parts of
the country and it will be able to say, hand on heart, that these
are 'local solutions to local problems.' Now that their hold is
consolidated - at least for the time being - the Taliban are
revealing their hand and it is clear that sweeping change is the
order of the day."

"Need For Reconciliation," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/02)

"If the Taliban were willing to throw out the foreign militants
living among them and agree to live as law-abiding citizens, the
authorities should go halfway to reconcile with them. There is no
other way of achieving durable peace."

"Swat And Its Implications For Pakistan," an op-ed by Abdul Baqi in
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(03/02)

"Pakistan cannot tackle the problem of militancy on its own. To
undertake such a gigantic task, it needs the support of the global
as well as regional powers. Regional alignment for harmonizing
interest with the stakeholders in regional and global politics is
the ideal path for the future. Synchronization of both, internal
and external efforts will help Pakistan to meet the challenge
effectively. Such an approach will earn international support and
project soft image of the country making it an acceptable state on
the world canvas."

"The Imperial Graveyard," an op-ed Ahmad Faruqui in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (03/02)

"Like all prior conquerors, the U.S. is not going to win the Afghan
war. So what should it do? The worst option is to keep on pouring
more troops into the cauldron. That will further flame the
insurgency and cause even bigger trouble in Pakistan.... The best
option is to pull out U.S. ground troops completely, train the
Afghan and Pakistani ground forces and let them join in the hunt for
Al Qaeda. The U.S. role would be limited to air support."

"Depression In The USA," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/02)

"The West is busy blaming the current crisis on American sub-prime
mortgages, but the fact is that they have spent not just thousands
of lives, but a great deal of money, on the War on Terror. That
burden is at the root of the crisis, and until they end their
illegal occupations of Muslim lands, the economic crisis will keep
on haunting the West."

"Iraq Pull-Out," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (03/02)

"Still, there is a danger that the withdrawal of U.S. forces could
create a vacuum that may be exploited by rival forces within Iraq as
well as elements in neighboring countries. All regional players
must act in keeping with Iraq's greater good. And if internal
security remains an issue, raising a peacekeeping force drawn from
Muslim countries could be an option. It may not be welcomed by all
with open arms but will certainly be less reviled that an army of
western invaders."
GFeierstein