PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 00, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000672

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 00, 2009

Summary: U.S. President Obama's statement emphasizing that "U.S.
would not go in hot pursuit of extremists across the Afghan border"
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Monday. Several major
newspapers highlighted Secretary of State Clinton's remarks that the
"new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan relies heavily on
civilian efforts." Some dailies reported that "Ambassador Holbrooke
will visit India soon to discuss Washington's new strategy to defeat
a resurgent Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan." Reports on abduction of "ten
Khasadars (tribal cops),and six activists of a religious
organization in Khyber Agency" received prominent display. Also
highlighted by all newspapers was report that "President Zardari
signed the summary for lifting Governor's rule from Punjab."

Most major dailies ran analytical editorials on the President
Zardari's address to the Parliament and the prevailing geo-political
situation of the region. The center-right national English daily
"The Nation," observed that "it is hard to conceive a scenario
helpful to U.S. objectives without the resolution of the core issue
of Kashmir." Commenting on the suicide bombing at a mosque in
Jamrud (FATA),the centrist national daily, "The News," noted that
"we have only ourselves to blame if others see us a nation of
barbarians and should not be surprised if, as a consequences, they
sometime treat us accordingly." Dispelling the criticism on ISI,
the second-largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt," opined that the
"government is duty bound to tell the visiting envoy Holbrooke next
week that Pakistan will stop cooperation in the war on terror if
U.S. nonsense about Pakistan Army and ISI were not stopped." End
Summary.

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News Stories
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"Troops To Stay Way From Pak Territory: Obama" "The News" (03/30)

"President Barrack Obama has said the US troops will not go in hot
pursuit of extremists across the Afghan border into Pakistan - but
demanded Islamabad hold up its end of the anti-terror struggle. "I
haven't changed my approach," Obama said in an interview broadcast
on Sunday on the CBS programme "Face the Nation," referring to the
US missile strikes on militants. "If we have a high-value target
within our sights, after consulting with Pakistan, we're going after
them," the president said."

"Obama Rules Out Sending Troops inside Pakistan" "Dawn" (03/30)

"US President Barack Obama said on Sunday that US would pursue
'high-value' terrorist target inside Pakistan but would consult
Islamabad before doing so."

"New Strategy Relies On Diplomacy, Says Hillary" "Dawn" (03/30)

"Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the new US strategy
for Afghanistan and Pakistan relies heavily on civilian efforts, and
she is calling for all US diplomats to contribute. In a cable to US
embassies and consulates abroad, Clinton says the success of
President Barack Obama's plan depends on the State Department and
the US Agency for International Development, whose ranks in
Afghanistan and Pakistan are in line for boosts."

"Holbrooke To Visit India" "Dawn" (03/30)

"Top US diplomat Richard Holbrooke will visit India soon to discuss
Washington's new strategy to defeat a resurgent Al Qaeda in
Afghanistan that puts Pakistan at the heart of the fight."

"10 Khasadars, Six Religious Activists Kidnapped" "Dawn" (03/30)

"Ten Khasadars and six activists of a religious organization were
kidnapped in Khyber Agency here on Sunday. Armed men kidnapped ten
personnel of the Khasadar Force from a checkpost in the Sheen Qamar
area, about 30km west of Bara, official sources said."

"Governor's Rule Fate Sealed" "The News" (03/30)

"President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday night signed the summary for
the lifting of governor's rule from the Punjab on the advice of
Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Presidency sources confirmed
to The News."
"US To Remove Trust Deficit With Pakistan" "The News" (03/30)

"The United States on Sunday vowed to work towards building trust
and wide-ranging partnership with Pakistan, with its top diplomat
and military commander for the region saying the US focus under the
new strategy was to help Pakistani institutions develop necessary
capability to dismantle the al-Qaeda militants on its side of the
Afghan border. US special representative for the region Richard
Holbrooke and chief of the Central Command Gen David Petraeus said
the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan will work trilaterally to overcome
the "trust deficit" in some aspects of the relationship that has
seen 'ups and downs' in the past."

"Pakistan Must Cut Ties With Afghan Extremists: Gates" "Daily Times"
(03/30)

"US Defence Secretary Robert Gates urged Pakistan's Inter-Services
Intelligence (ISI) agency to cut contacts with extremists in
Afghanistan who were "an existential threat" to Pakistan."

"TTP Bans Women From Shopping In Batkhela" "The News" (03/30)

"The Malakand chapter of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) outfit banned the movement and shopping by the womenfolk in
the main bazaars of Dargai and Batkhela on Sunday. Sources said that
shopkeepers in the markets had received threatening letters from the
TTP, warning them to stop the women from visiting their shops."

"DPO, Ex-Nazim Among 5 Killed In Lower Dir Attack" "Dawn" (03/30)

"The District Police Officer of Lower Dir, Khurshid Khan, and former
district nazim Alamzeb Khan were among five people killed when they
were attacked by the kidnappers of a bank manager on Sunday."

"India Test-Fires New Version Of Brahmos Missile" "Dawn" (03/30)

"India's military on Sunday successfully tested a surface-to-surface
version of the BrahMos cruise missile which it has developed jointly
with Russia, a defense ministry spokesman said."

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Editorials/Op-eds
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"Under Indian Pressure," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/30)

"It is hard to conceive a scenario helpful to US objectives without
the resolution of the core issue of Kashmir. . . It appeared that
during his electoral campaign, Mr Obama visualized the
subcontinent's situation correctly when he highlighted the
importance of Kashmir as a central dispute between India and
Pakistan and his emphasis on its resolution. There had also been
talk of appointing a special envoy and the assignment was expected
to go to former President Clinton and then India was excluded from
Mr. Holbrooke's mandate. Mr. Holbrooke now is US Special Envoy for
Afghanistan and Pakistan only. But the Obama administration's
U-turn, obviously under pressure from India, is bound to cause
widespread disappointment and prove a formidable stumbling block to
its objective in the region."

"Golden Opportunity Goes Waste," an op-ed by Hamid Mir in the
leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000)
(03/30)

"President Barack Obama in his speech described the menace of
terrorism as a cancer. However, a vast majority of the Muslims does
not agree to this point of view. In fact, the actual cancer is
injustice, and this injustice is being committed in Palestine, Iraq,
Afghanistan and Kashmir. The menace of terrorism will not be
controlled unless this injustice is done away with."

"Straight Answers To Be Sought From Holbrooke" an op-ed by Mariana
Baabar in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (03/30)

". . . Efforts are being made that Holbrooke meets the political and
military leadership around one table and not separately and they all
come up with a unified response. This is the only way that the US
can stop playing one against the other like they have been doing in
the past. Pakistan should show spine and draw red lines and clearly
say that this is as far as they can go and no more. . . But what is
not very welcome is the fact that the Foreign Office failed to come
up with a consolidated response after Obama's address. The foreign
secretary needs no permission, say several foreign secretaries, to
come out with a detailed response while at the same time not
contradicting the leadership."

"Death By Bombing," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/30)

". . . We live in a time of globalized instant communication to the
most remote places on the surface of the earth. The world watches
and judges, it sees things in black-and-white and is mostly unaware
of the inflections and nuances that lie behind even this most
barbarous of acts. We should not be surprised when our northwest
borderlands are talked of by President Obama as 'the most dangerous
place on earth' - because on the evidence of this blast and many
other incidents, it is. We have only ourselves to blame if others
see us a nation of barbarians and should not be surprised if, as a
consequence, they sometimes treat us accordingly."

"America's Plan To Mount Pressure On ISI" an editorial note in the
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt"
(cir. 125,000) (03/30)
"American Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman Admiral Mike
Mullen said in a CNN interview that some elements in Pakistan's ISI
are helping out the Taliban and Al-qaeda. U.S. envoy on Pakistan
and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke took the discussion forward by
saying that he will increase pressure on Pakistan to stop ISI from
helping Taliban and Al Qaeda. Despite the fact that the army and
ISI personnel are being killed in the so-called war against
terrorism stupid American commanders are in doubt about the ISI
role. The government is duty bound to tell the visiting envoy
Holbrooke next week that Pakistan will stop cooperation in the war
against terrorism if U.S. nonsense about Pakistan army and ISI were
not stopped."
"U.S. Propaganda Against ISI" an editorial note in the popular
rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (03/30)

"The new U.S. strategy and the baseless allegations against ISI
clearly demonstrate that the United States maintains no good
intention about Pakistan. And it wants to achieve its objectives by
destabilizing Pakistan in the garb of this propaganda."

"A New Dawn For Af-Pak," an op-ed by Zeenia Satti in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/30)

"The AF-Pak strategy unveiled by Barack Obama on March 27 is good
news for the Afghan people and bad news for the Afghan leadership.
For Pakistan the opposite is the case: good news for its leadership
but bad for ordinary Pakistanis. When the US coined the term Af-Pak,
it created the assumption that the problems faced in Afghanistan and
Pakistan were the same. Therefore, the solutions would also be the
same. That has not happened. For Pakistan, it's all about militants
and terrorists - who want to destroy civilization and hence they
'must be eliminated.' The PPP government will receive development
aid and there will be no check on how it spends this aid, unlike in
Afghanistan. This is something that the new policy should have
considered because the chance that such funds will be squandered is
always high."

"Obama's New Strategy," an op-ed by Talat Masood in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/30)

". . . President Obama perhaps deliberately made no mention of drone
attacks, but the earlier leaks in the New York Times and other
newspapers is a clear indication that these would continue and may
even increase. . . Presence of sanctuaries in our tribal belt would
be unacceptable to US and NATO. Question arises is the Pakistan Army
even with the best of intentions in a position to regain control
over South and North Waziristan and other parts of FATA. Equally if
not more crucial is whether the civilian government can provide the
leadership that is necessary to take the people along. After all
this is not a conventional war and people's support is so vital in
fighting insurgencies. ."

"Prime Minister Gilani's Assurance On Discontinuation Of Drone
Attacks," an editorial note in the leading mass circulation centrist
Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (03/30)

"Prime Minister Gilani's declaration, that there will be no drone
attacks on Swat and Balochistan, is praiseworthy. Nonetheless it is
essential for the United States to acknowledge the importance of the
Pakistan's role in the war on terror, refrain from leveling
unfounded allegations, and make sure to halt drone predators attacks
on Pakistan immediately."

"Drone Attacks To Continue," an Op-ed by Ayaz A.Khan in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (03/30)

". . . CIA Director Leon Panetta's visit to Islamabad to meet
Pakistani authorities signifies the great importance accorded by the
Obama Administration to engage Pakistan on the serious issues of
terrorism, extremism, and militancy, especially kidnappings and
beheadings of foreigners. It is about time that the Obama
Administration is warned that drone attacks on Quetta or anywhere in
Balochistan will be considered an act of war; and the Pakistan Air
Force and Pakistan Army could be ordered to shoot down such
intruding Predator drones."

"No More Drones," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist
English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (03/30)

"There is need for concerted efforts by top level leadership to
persuade the US to stop the drone attacks in FATA as well, because
they are proving to be counter productive and an infringement of
sovereignty of the country. The Parliamentary Committee on National
Security has also expressed dissatisfaction over President Obama's
failure to announce an end to the drone attacks and declared it a
failure of our foreign policy. The leadership must also be very
careful in welcoming the new Afghan strategy announced by the US
President without going into its pros and cons. Reports from
Washington quoting National Security Advisor, Defense Secretary and
Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff are not encouraging and Pakistan
will have to bear the brunt when it was implemented on the ground."


"Slavery For American Dollars," an op-ed by Ansar Abbasi in the
leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000)
(03/30)

"With the announcement of the new U.S. strategy by President Obama
and the indication of 1.5 billion dollar annual assistance,
Pakistani rulers are coveting U.S. assistance eagerly. President
Zardari and PM Gilani have immediately welcomed the Obama Plan
thoughtlessly. We don't criticize U.S. as it desires to destroy
Pakistan for achieving its objectives like it did in Afghanistan and
Iraq, but it is unfortunate that we, Pakistanis, have become a
plaything in the hands of United States so easily, and now we are
heading towards total destruction and the most awful civil war,
which is perhaps vital to fulfill the U.S. plan in this part of the
world."

"Shall We Dance," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/30)

"The change that Obama has initiated is the sending of a message to
the Iranian people and its ever-suspicious government, a message
delivered in Farsi by the thoroughly modern medium of satellite
television and the internet. The message spoke of reaching out, of
the need to redefine the relationship between the two countries and
on Saturday we saw the first Iranian response to it. . . Iran's
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dismissed the overtures from
Obama saying Tehran does not see any change in US policy. The real
change is that America is for the first time almost thirty years
making a direct approach at both the highest and the lowest levels
to the Iranian peoples and their government. Obama has demonstrated
in his relations with our own government that he really is doing it
differently. It is too early to say just how much 'difference' this
is going to bring between us, and far too early to take at face
value the dismissal of the Obama message by Khamenei."

"Presidential Address: The Need To Do A Lot More," an editorial in
the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (03/30)
"In his address to the joint sitting of the Parliament, President
Asif Ali Zardari announced to continue supporting the American war
on terror and American policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan. Contrary
to the people's expectations, he voided to say any thing on drone
attacks on Pakistan tribal areas and American propaganda against
Pakistan's ISI and the army. The President did not inform the
people of Pakistan about Indian conspiracies in the aftermath of
Mumbai attacks and subsequent American pressure, despite the fact
that this was the biggest event of the previous parliamentary year
which created grave threats for the country's security."

"President's Address To Parliament And Requisites Of National
Security," an editorial note in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban
Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (03/30)

"It is regrettable that President Zardari did not utter a single
word about the U.S. drone attacks in his address to the joint
session of the Parliament, however, Prime Minister Gilani told a
good news that the U.S. administration would not launch drone
attacks in Balochistan or any other part of Pakistan anymore. If
the U.S. administration has accepted Pakistan's demand on this
issue, then it is commendable, however if Pakistan has assured the
U.S. to initiate a new military operation in the tribal areas by
itself, then it will be a more precarious and explosive situation
for Pakistan than the U.S. drone attacks."

Patterson