PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 04, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000472

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 04, 2009

Summary: Reports and photographs of the shooting attack in Lahore
killing seven people and injuring several Sri Lankan cricketers
dominated all front pages on Wednesday. Some major dailies reported
that President Obama expressed "deep concern" over the attack. Most
major dailies also highlighted President Zardari and Prime Minister
Gilani's phone calls to the Sri Lankan President expressing their
"condemnation and deep regrets" over the tragic incident.

In other stories, newspapers highlighted reports that "Army Chief
Kiyani briefed President Zardari, PM Gilani about his U.S. visit."
The English daily, "Dawn," reported that a "bill to set up
reconstruction opportunity zones (ROZs) along the Pakistan-Afghan
border has been introduced in the U.S. Congress." The government's
decision to "withdraw the Mobile Court Ordinance" also received
prominent display.

All newspapers, without exception, ran editorials on the Lahore
attack and its possible motives and consequences. The centrist
national English daily, "The News," noted that the "reality is that
this is just as likely to be an attack made by our own home-grown
terrorist organizations as it is to have been made or facilitated by
'foreign hands.'" The populist center-right daily, "Khabrain,"
observed that the "country is facing grave domestic and foreign
threats, yet our political leadership is still fighting over power."
The country's premier business daily, "Business Recorder," opined
that "Pakistan is confronted with a multi-dimensional threat to its
survival." End Summary.

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News Stories
--------------

"Mumbai Terror Visits Lahore" "Dawn" (03/04)

"Sri Lankan cricketers narrowly escaped a deadly attack on Tuesday
morning when terrorists ambushed the bus carrying them to the
Qadhafi Stadium for the third day's play of the second Test. Some
evidence gathered by police suggested that it could actually have
been an attempt at kidnapping the Lankan players. At least seven
people - six policemen escorting the Sri Lankans and the driver of
another van in the convoy - were killed and another 20 injured in
the attack near the Liberty roundabout, 500 meters from the
stadium."

"Assault On Pak-Lanka Ties: U.S." "Dawn" (03/04)

"U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday expressed deep concern over
a terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore while
the State Department Deputy spokesman Gordon K. Duguid said it was
an assault on 'positive relations' between Sri Lanka and Pakistan."


"President, PM Phone Sri Lankan President" "The News" (03/04)

"President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on
Tuesday telephoned President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa and
expressed their condemnation and deep regrets over the terror attack
on the cricket team of Sri Lanka in Lahore."

"Malik Sees Foreign Hand" "Dawn" (03/04)

"Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has said the
possibility of 'external' involvement in the attack on the Sri
Lankan cricket team could not be ruled out."

"Capture Or Kill, Taseer Orders Authorities" "Daily Times" (03/04)

"Governor Salmaan Taseer on Tuesday told law enforcement agencies to
either catch or kill the perpetrators of the attack on the Sri
Lankan cricket team, while talking to a private TV channel."

"Indian Hand Can't Be Ruled Out" "The Nation" (03/04)

"Intelligence agencies have said that India's hand in attack on Sri
Lankan cricket team in Lahore is possible, according to intelligence
agencies sources."

"Who Is To Blame For The 3/3 Incident?" "The News" (03/04)

"While many in Pakistan have already pointed the finger of suspicion
at India for masterminding the 3/3 terrorist attacks in Lahore,
there were those in the country's security establishment who suspect
the possible involvement of some Jihadi elements from the Punjab in
the bloody assault, which clearly has the hallmark of the 26/11
Mumbai terror attacks."

"Security Loopholes Helped Gunmen Flee" "Dawn" (03/04)

"Security Loopholes and police officials' inefficiency gave a lot of
room to gunmen to attack the visiting Sri Lankans and flee from the
scene, 'Dawn' learned."

"150 Detained, Arms, Explosives Seized" "Dawn" (03/04)

"Police have taken into custody over 150 people and seized large
quantity of arms and ammunition during a massive search operation
carried out in different areas of the city after the attack on the
Sri Lankan cricket team on Tuesday."

"COAS Briefs President, PM About His U.S. Visit" "The News" (03/04)

"Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who just
returned from his official visit to the United States, on Tuesday
held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime
Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and briefed them about the visit."

"ROZ Bill Introduced In U.S. Congress" "Dawn" (03/04)

"A bill to set up reconstruction opportunity zones along the
Pakistan-Afghan border has been introduced in the U.S. Congress.
Supported by the State Department and the U.S. Trade Representative,
the proposed measure, aims to encourage investment and economic
development in the Pakistan-Afghan border region by granting
duty-free entry to the united States for certain goods produced
there."

"Swat Peace Not Out Of The Woods; Sufi Threatens To Withdraw As
Arbitrator" "The News" (03/04)

"In yet another serious blow to the shaky Swat peace deal, the
militants on Tuesday kidnapped two high ranking officials of the
Anti-Corruption Department and killed two soldiers in Ronial area of
Matta Tehsil. On the other hand, TNSM Chief Sufi Muhammad has
accused the security forces for the violation of the peace accord
and threatened to withdraw as arbitrator. However, the NWFP
government spokesman Mian Iftikhar Hussain asked Sufi Muhammad to
take notice of the 'elements bent upon sabotaging the peace
agreement' as such action could impede implementation of the
Nizam-e-Adl."

"Militants Torch 4 Schools In Darra" "The News" (03/04)

"Suspected militants torched four schools in Sanikhel area of Darra
Adamkhel, Frontier Region Kohat, in the wee hours of Tuesday."

"And Now There Is Tehrik-e-Taliban Balochistan!" "The News" (03/04)

"Pakistani Taliban have now surfaced in Balochistan by organizing
themselves under the banner of Tehrik-e-Taliban Balochistan,
Engineer Asad, claiming to be its spokesman, said in a phone call
from an undisclosed location in Balochistan."

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

"Cricket - The Requiem," an editorial in the centrist national
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/04)

"The reality is that this is just as likely to be an attack made by
our own home-grown terrorist organizations as it is to have been
made or facilitated by 'foreign hands.' There is no shortage of
highly-competent well-armed and trained groups within our own
borders capable of such an operation. They have no need of foreign
assistance or foreign money - there are plenty of people here happy
to finance them and offer logistical support."

"Terrorist Attack On Sri Lankan Cricket Team," an editorial in the
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir.
50,000) (03/04)

"The country is facing grave domestic and foreign threats, yet our
political leadership is still fighting for power. However, Mian
Nawaz Sharif's statement urging that all must work together to fight
this situation is very encouraging. It is true that our heads are
hanging in shame - they will only be raised when we fight terrorism
jointly."

"Attack On SL Cricket Team," an editorial in the country's premier
business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (03/04)

"That Pakistan's survival is under a threat, the shooting attack on
the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore on Tuesday serves to deepen
such fears. Right in the heart of the provincial metropolis a
clutch of masked gunmen had the audacity to challenge the writ of
the state... There is no gainsaying the fact that Pakistan is
confronted with a multi-dimensional threat to its survival.
Unmistakable signs suggest that efforts are afoot to cast Pakistan
in the definition of a 'failed state.' And there is no denying that
our enemy's designs to see Pakistan branded as a failed state have
received our help, of course vicariously."

"Tragedy In Lahore," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (03/04)

"By no stretch of the imagination can a Pakistani militant or
terrorist organization bear a grudge against Sri Lanka, let along
its cricketers. The context, then, suggests that the attack was
carried out by internal or external elements who wish to either
destabilize the Pakistan government or to further isolate it
internationally. Whose agenda does this attack fit, is the question
that needs to be asked, probed and answered."

"Lahore Tragedy: Conspiracy To Defame And Destabilize Pakistan," an
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (03/04)

"The country is faced with unfortunate situation with America, India
and Israel making efforts to destabilize Pakistan through terrorism
and deprive it of its nuclear assets. On the other hand we are a
target of attack by U.S. spy planes.... Taking advantage of recent
changes in Punjab, the terrorists have given a clear message that
they are capable of doing any kind of misdeed."

"Al Qaeda Strikes In Lahore ... And Effect On National Politics," an
editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily
Times" (cir. 10,000) (03/04)

"The question here is of the survival of Pakistan, not of cricket.
The country is split down the middle, its two mainstream parties
getting ready to face each other in the streets amid rising
violence.... Unfortunately, it seems they are not going to give up
confrontation to unite against Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda is hardly
interested in the restoration of the deposed judges or the correct
observance of democratic rules in Pakistan. It wants Pakistan as
its own state, armed with nuclear weapons and an economy that can
sustain global terrorism."

"Another Serious Incident Of Terrorism," an editorial in the leading
mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (03/04)

"It seems that whatever happened in Lahore the other day was a well
thought-out plan, and possibility of involvement of some foreign
elements cannot be ruled out. It is important to investigate this
incident at the highest level, and expose the perpetrators
responsible for this shocking episode, and bring them to justice.
It is a plot to strike at the foundations of the country."

"An Act Of Pakistan's Enemies," an editorial in the Karachi-based,
pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (03/04)

"It is not the question that what the enemies of Pakistan are
thinking or planning, the pertinent question is what our
intelligence agencies are doing, and how such big terror acts are
recurring so frequently? Now the international media has got
another issue to disparage Pakistan. Whether the perpetrators are
Pakistanis or not, the intelligence departments are to blame for all
this chaos, as they are engaged in the political adventures at the
moment."
"RAW Is Engaged In Multi-Pronged Anti-Pakistan Conspiracies," an
editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (circ.
5000) (03/04)

"Indian agency RAW wants to damage Punjab's soft image at the
international level through such acts. The purpose behind all such
heinous activities is to get Pakistan's nuclear program capped by
creating an impression in the UN that since no Pakistani city is
safe from terrorists, there is a threat of Pakistan's nuclear
weapons landing in terrorists hands. Hence, by getting Pakistan
declared as a failed state [India wants] international troops
deployed here. This is India's real target. India enjoys covert
and overt U.S. and Israeli support in achieving this target."

"A Security Disaster," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (03/04)

"Proper security measures were definitely not taken to avoid this
unfortunate incident. The fact that gunmen were able to flee the
site of the attack shows that the attackers were well-trained and
that they did not confront tough resistance from the security
apparatus."

"Terrorist Attack On Sri Lankan Cricket Team: Question Mark On The
Future Of Sports In Pakistan," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily
"Express" (cir. 100,000) (03/04)

"Notwithstanding, whether local or foreign elements were involved in
this terrorist act, we urge the government and the Pakistan Cricket
Board not to try and convince another foreign team to visit Pakistan
for the time being."

"Terrorism In Lahore," an editorial in liberal and independent
Hyderabad based Sindhi Daily "Kawish" (Cir: 105,000) (03/04)

"Following the terrorists' attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in
Lahore, no other country will send its players to Pakistan. Just
imagine what isolation Pakistan is going to suffer as it will become
a 'no go area' for foreign sportsmen. Is this not time for all
political and religious parties to renounce their differences, and
jointly take the bull of terrorism by the horns."

"Conspiracy To Destabilize Pakistan," an editorial in the
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir.
33,000) (03/04)

"The attack on Sri Lankan cricket team is aimed to defame Pakistan
in the world. The incident occurred at a time when the province was
in the grip of political tension and polarization. One response from
the leading political parties could be to unite together, and tell
India and the U.S. clearly that their conspiracies to undermine
Pakistan and bring it on the verge of failed state will not
succeed."

"Black Day For Pakistan's Cricket," an editorial in Karachi based
left-wing Sindhi Daily "Awami Awaz" (Cir. 70,000) (03/04)


"This is a positive indication that the government has not linked
Lahore attack with the Mumbai attacks in a haphazard way since we
need to wait for the conclusive findings. It is unfortunate that a
section of the Pakistani media is fueling the popular emotions
against a particular country, and attempting to aggravate the
situation."

"Lahore Terror: Blow To Friends, Opportunity For Foes," an op-ed by
Shireen M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (03/04)

"This act of terrorism gives more opportunities to the U.S. to
conduct more direct military operations within Pakistan on the
pretext that the Pakistani government is unable to deal with the
terrorist menace. Of course, their role in exacerbating the
terrorist problem in the first place is never touched upon. But
even more disturbing is the suspicion that apart from our enemies
outside, who could possibly benefit from this action?"

"Liberty Attack," an op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the centrist national
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/04)
"Unconstitutional acts that push the people from tragedy to tragedy,
the country from incapacity to paralysis, from crisis to turmoil,
are criminal acts in the public consciousness.... Some steps of
those in power will have to be retraced. Taking the nation on a
one-way road to disaster is unacceptable."

"Musharraf's Word Of Advice To U.S.," an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (03/04)

"Former President Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf has urged Washington to
go instead for dialogue process and enter into peace deal with
Taliban as this is the only solution to address the challenge....
If the United Stated is not ready to listen to the friendly advice
of Musharraf then it should ponder over assessment of Canadian Prime
Minister Stephen Harper who said in an interview on Sunday that he
did not believe the war in Afghanistan would ever be won."

"Peace On The Taliban's Terms," an op-ed by Iqbal Akhund in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (03/04)

"Now peace is said to be returning to Swat but clearly it is going
to be peace on Taliban terms. So, once again, as in the past,
Islamists have imposed their agenda by default.... So while I do
not think that Pakistan is going to be Talibanized in the Mullah
Omar manner, the slow drift towards Islamization that began at the
beginning, seems unstoppable."
GFeierstein