PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 10, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000511

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 10, 2009

Summary: No newspaper was published today (Wednesday) on account of
a local holiday yesterday which celebrates the birthday of the
Prophet Mohammad. This Media Reaction Cable is based on newspapers
published on March 10, 2009. Prime Minister's Advisor on Interior
Malik's remarks accusing "Nawaz Sharif of committing sedition by
giving a call for revolt against the government" dominated headlines
in several major dailies. All newspapers also front-paged Nawaz
Sharif's statement that "some people like President Zardari were
busy conspiring against assemblies and removing representative
governments." Newspapers reported that "Pakistani security forces
killed 35 militants in Darra Adam Khel." Several dailies
highlighted report that the "Mamond tribe gave an undertaking to the
government to end militancy."

Yesterday major dailies editorialized various subjects ranging from
the negotiations with Taliban, ongoing war on terror, current
political standoff to the possible military. The prestigious
English daily, "Dawn," observed that "there should be no deal from a
position of weakness, and that peace should not mean a license for
the Taliban to establish virtually autonomous regions." Commenting
on the "Nizam-e-Adl" in Swat, the centrist national daily, "The
News," noted that the "ushering in of a separate code of law there
of course sets up a dangerous precedent which will only aggravate
the difficulties." The mass circulation daily, "Jang," opined that
"it is commendable that President Obama has hinted at initiating
dialogue process with the moderate Taliban in Afghanistan and
Pakistan." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"Nawaz Accused Of Committing Sedition" "Dawn" (03/10)

"The Adviser to the Prime Minister on the Interior, Rehman Malik,
has accused Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif of
committing sedition by giving a call for revolt against the
government. Mr. Malik threatened Nawaz Sharif and former Punjab
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif that an FIR would be lodged against
them in case of any loss of life and property during the lawyers'
long march."

"Asif Speaks With A Forked Tongue: Nawaz" "The News" (03/10)

"PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on Monday said they could only realize the
aim of a prosperous Pakistan through a revolution and the people
seemed ready to change the country's fate as some other people like
President Asif Zardari were busy conspiring against the assemblies
and removing representative governments."

"Zardari's Gamble In Critical Phase" "Dawn" (03/10)

"President Asif Ali Zardari seemed to be coming under renewed
pressure from political friends and foes alike against the backdrop
of fast-paced political developments on Monday."

"Zardari Trying To Buy Time" "The News" (03/10)

"President Asif Ali Zardari is said to have quietly made a new offer
to the Sharif brothers to wait for the detailed judgment of the
Supreme Court in their disqualification case and then he would send
a reference to the apex court seeking reversal of the decision, a
top-level source confirmed to 'The News.'"

"Foreign Envoys Active To Defuse Political Tension; Ambassadors Meet
Zardari, Gilani, Sharif Brothers To Mediate Between Rival Parties"
"Daily Times" (03/10)

"Diplomats of leading western countries are deeply concerned over
the recent political instability in Punjab and have initiated
separate moves to mediate between the rival parties, sources told
'Daily Times' on Monday. Envoys of the U.S., the U.K. and Australia
had a number of 'on-the-record and off-the-record' meetings with
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and
the Sharif brothers on Monday. U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson
met Prime Minister Gilani and Shahbaz Sharif. 'The ambassador
discussed the Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, the forthcoming
Friends of Pakistan meeting in Tokyo as well as matters of mutual
interest,' a statement from the Prime Minister's House said."
"Kayani Warns Zardari Against Unrest" "Business Recorder" (03/10)

"India's 'TimesNow' has claimed that Pakistan's army chief General
Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, who has so far kept a low profile, has asked
President Asif Ali Zardari to 'clean up the mess' soon. Quoting
'well-placed military sources in Islamabad,' 'TimesNow' also claimed
that Kiyani has been asked by the United States to bring 'some
order' in the region."

"Army Has To Do Something: Musharraf" "Dawn" (03/10)

"Former President Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf on Monday stopped short
of urging the military establishment in the country to take matters
into its own hands, but warned that when internal and external
threats became too acute the army had to do something 'one way or
another.'"

"Major Crackdown Planned To Head Off Long March" "The News" (03/10)

"The government is contemplating a major crackdown on political
opponents on Friday (March 13) as part of an aggressive strategy
that includes the option of putting under house arrest Mian Nawaz
Sharif, Mian Shahbaz Sharif and other top leadership of PML-N,
Jamaat-e-Islami, Tehrik-e-Insaf and other opposition parties as well
as the lawyers fraternity to pre-empt massive participation of
people in the lawyers' long march."

"Rawalpindi, Capital TO Be Sealed Off" "Dawn" (03/10)

"The government has decided to seal of the twin cities ahead of the
next week's long march, while the capital police have prepared a
list of political leaders, who are likely to be arrested to
forestall a fierce political showdown, 'Dawn' has learned."

"Troops Kill 35 Militants In Darra Adam Khel" "Dawn" (03/10)

"Pakistani security forces killed at least 35 militants in Darra
Adam Khel after a two-day military operation, a senior security
official said on Tuesday. 'Several militant hideouts and their
training facilities were destroyed during the operation,' the
official said."

"Bajaur Tribe Pledges To End Militancy, Respect Government Writ"
"Dawn" (03/10)

"A major tribe straddling the Pak-Afghan border in the restive
Bajaur tribal region on Monday gave an undertaking to the government
to end militancy, refuse shelter to foreign militants and respect
state authority. Mamond, the largest and most strategically placed
tribe in Bajaur, signed a comprehensive 28-point undertaking to
surrender key figures of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Bajaur,
lay down arms, disband militant groups and stop militant training
camps."

"Taliban Kill Three U.S. 'Spies': Security Official" "The News"
(03/10)

"Taliban militants gunned down three men in Pakistan's restive
northwest tribal belt after filming them confessing to spying for
the United States, officials said on Monday."

"Counter-Terror Naval Drill In Second Phase" "Dawn" (03/10)

"An international peace-keeping and counter-terror naval exercise in
the Arabina Sea entered the second phase on Monday."

"Zardari Leaves For Iran Today To Attend ECO Moot" "The News"
(03/10)

"President Asif Zardari is all set to leave on a two-day visit to
Tehran on Tuesday during which he will hold talks with Iranian
leaders on a host of bilateral issues and also attend the Economic
Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit."

"Zardari, Karzai, Ahmadinejad Hold Trilateral Talks" "Dawn" (03/10)

"President Asif Ali Zardari, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and
Iranian President Mehmood Ahmadinejad had a trilateral meeting in
Tehran on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 10th Economic Coordination
Organisation summit meeting. During the meeting, the leaders of the
three neighborly countries discussed issues of mutual interest and
concern including the security situation in the region."

"LHC Extends Hafiz Saeed's Detention For 60 Days" "The News"
(03/10)

"A review board of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday extended
the detention of the Chief of the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD),Hafiz
Saeed, and three other of its top figures for 60 days while
releasing two leaders."

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Editorials/Op-eds
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"Obama's Approach," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (03/10)

"Until recently, Pakistan was being harshly criticized by the
American government and media for talking to the militants. The
Americans were right up to a point, for one has to admit Islamabad's
own mistakes in the war on terror.... What Pakistan and AMERICA
must both remember is that there should be no deal from a position
of weakness, and that peace should not mean a license for the
Taliban to establish virtually autonomous regions where they enforce
their own concept of religion which violates basic norms of
civilized behavior."

"Afghan Dispute: Decision To Open The Door To Reconciliation," an
editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000)
(03/10)

"According to a New York Times report, President Obama has decided
to open the door to reconciliation in Afghanistan.... Taliban
should also bring some flexibility in their stance so that
occupation forces do not have justification to remain in the
country. The Taliban must also move forward to end the Afghan war.
This long drawn out war has produced nothing but blood and tears."


"Life And Law," an editorial in the centrist national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/10)

"The Chief Minister of NWFP has signed the 'Nizam-e-Adl' regulation,
which will now be forwarded to the Governor of the Province so that
it can be formally enforced in Swat.... We need to create a
situation where every citizen can live under a uniform code of law.
The multiple dichotomies in the rights and liberties available to
people must end. Their existence has created chaos. The sense of
national unity and harmony we so badly need is possible only if
people are brought closer together, made subject to the same laws
and treated as equals who enjoy an access to the same justice....
The ushering in of a separate code of law there of course also sets
up a dangerous precedent which will only aggravate the difficulties
we already face on this front."

"Indication To Negotiate With Taliban," an editorial note in the
leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000)
(03/10)

"It is commendable that President Obama has hinted at initiating
dialogue process with the moderate Taliban in Afghanistan and
Pakistan. Surprisingly, Americans had always opposed the Government
of Pakistan's moves to engage Taliban in dialogues and peace deals
and throughout these parleys, the U.S. always enhanced its attacks.
Notwithstanding, the U.S. must not delay talks with Taliban, and
handover all powers to the people of Afghanistan after
negotiations."

"Swat And Saving Pakistan," an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/10)

"It now appears that the Taliban were bought off by the government
for a sum ranging between $6 and $10 million. What was essentially
a bribe was labeled as compensation for losses and damage suffered
during the fighting. On the other hand the destruction, executions,
rape and pillage wrought by the insurgents have been condoned; so
too the continuing abductions of district officials and military
personnel. It seems that if the insurgents wish to talk to an
official, the latter has no option but to either present himself or
be abducted. Even military patrols have to obtain the prior
clearance of the Taliban before setting out. Nowhere else in the
world does a national army have to obtain the permission of outlaws
to patrol their own territory."

"If The Army Is Compelled To Step In," an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (03/10)

"The army is incapable of providing any political solutions as we
have learnt from our bitter experience time and again. But if this
does come to pass, this time too the politicians would be to
blame.... If the army steps in, the PML-N may think that this will
realize its hidden desire for mid-term elections. But given the
genuinely abnormal conditions prevailing in the country - complete
with many 'failed state' symptoms - that won't happen; or it may
happen but with long-term damage to the prospects of both parties.
The game will go to the terrorists, after which the world might step
in, leaning on the desperate military measures that Pakistan has
been warding off so far."

"Internal Shminternal! What's Mine Is Yours," an op-ed by Mosharraf
Zaidi in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (03/10)

"The firing of Shahbaz Sharif, and the imposition of Governor's Raj
in Punjab is not 'an internal matter for Pakistan.' Not when
American engineers are playing Missile Command in Jalalabad, as they
navigate Predator drones, and drop bombs on Pakistan, with their
remote-control joysticks. Once you penetrate something the way
those drones have penetrated Pakistan, you are internal to Pakistan.
Therefore, Pakistan's internal matters are America's matters. The
most gripping, most urgent, and most dangerous matter for American
foreign policy is the continued free fall of Pakistan from a country
that can fake it well, to a country that can't tell what time of day
it is."
Patterson