PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 08, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000746 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 08, 2009 Summary: Reports and photographs of the engagements in Islamabad of "two top U.S. officials" - envoy Richard Holbrooke and Admiral Mike Mullen - dominated front pages in all newspapers on Wednesday. The English daily, "Dawn," reported that "Pakistan rejected a U.S. proposal for joint operation in the tribal areas" while "Holbrooke lamented gaps in intelligence." All dailies also front paged Prime Minister Gilani's remarks denying reports that the "government has sought direct help from the U.S. to capture or eliminate Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Chief Baitullah Mehsud." Newspapers also quoted Army Chief Gen Kayani as telling the visiting American officials that "criticism of ISI will not help war on terror." Reports that the "parliamentary committee on national security finalized its recommendations suggesting drastic changes in the national policy on war against terrorism" also received prominent coverage. The killing of "16 militants in Buner clash" received wide coverage. Most major dailies also ran a NYT report pointing out that the "U.S. may extend drone attacks to Balochistan." Most major dailies ran editorials on the new under-review "national policy on counter terrorism." The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "clearly, something radical needs to be done to ready our police force to take on the militants. But success will only come if the plans are drawn up and executed by professionals with minimal political interference." Another English daily, "The News," observed that "it is pointless to set up one force after the other if there is a risk that it may fall victim to the same weaknesses that crippled outfits established at considerable public expense previously on similar lines." The populist Urdu daily, "Khabrain" wrote: "Although the new national policy will address law and order and other domestic issues, we feel that the foreign policy should also be discussed therein." End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "'No' To Joint Operation In Tribal Areas; Slander Campaign Against ISI Resented; Trust Deficit To Lead Nowhere, U.S. Told" "Dawn" (04/08) "Pakistan rejected on Tuesday a U.S. proposal for joint operations in the tribal areas against terrorism and militancy, as differences of opinion between the two countries over various aspects of the war on terror came out into the open for the first time. Highly-informed sources said the move followed a collective decision reached between the government and security establishment to adopt a tough posture against a barrage of attacks and criticism emanating in recent weeks from Washington, directly targeting the Pakistan army and the ISI and creating doubts about their sincerity in the war on terror and the fight against Al Qaeda and Taliban." "Holbrooke Laments Gaps In Intelligence" "Dawn" (04/08) "U.S. intelligence about the make-up and recruiting power of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan was so shallow that it impeded the American war effort, President Barack Obama's special envoy to the region said on Tuesday. 'I am deeply, deeply dissatisfied with the degree of knowledge that the United States government and our friends and allies have on this subject,' Mr. Holbrooke told reporters during a break in daylong talks with Pakistan government officials." "Drone Attacks: Pakistan, U.S. Out Of Step With Each Other" "The News" (04/08) "Drone attacks and other sensitive issues cast shadows over high-level talks between senior Pakistan and U.S. officials. The talks on Tuesday remained inconclusive because of what the government says were certain 'red lines, other areas of concern, misunderstanding,' and need for mutual trust and respect about the new Obama administration's policy, announced on March 27, for Pakistan and Afghanistan. Most important was what Pakistan stated that there was a 'gap' in thinking as far as the drone attacks were concerned. Pakistan's apprehensions were conveyed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmud Qureshi and COAS Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani when they met U.S. special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke accompanied by Chairman of U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michel Mullen on Tuesday." "U.S. Not To Expand Drone Attacks To Balochistan" "The News" E (04/08) "The United States has plainly told Pakistan that it would not halt the missile attacks by drones for the time being in areas already earmarked by it as hideouts of extremists and terrorists. It, however, assured Pakistan that it would not expand the attacks to Balochistan as the province does not exist on the map drawn up for such attacks." "U.S. Waters Down Its Position On Taliban Presence, ISI Link" "The News" (04/08) "The United States has watered down its position on presence of Taliban Shoora in Quetta and any link of the disgruntled elements with Pakistan's vital organizations. The impression was gathered in a meeting between Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and visiting U.S. President's special envoy Richard Holbrooke and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen in Islamabad on Tuesday evening." "Nawaz Also Speaks Out Against Drone Attacks" "The News" (04/08) "Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has urged U.S. President Barack Obama to part ways with the Bush administration policy to fight terrorism. 'Diplomacy and development should be given priority,' Nawaz Sharif said while talking to U.S. special representative Richard Holbrooke and Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen during a meeting at the residence of U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson at a luncheon meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday...." "Opposition To Requisition PA on U.S. Drone Attacks" "The News" (04/08) "The joint opposition in NWFP Assembly has decided to requisition the assembly session to discuss the drone attacks in FATA, settled areas in the province and take up the ongoing deteriorating law and order situation and recent peace agreement of the government with Swat militants." "More Drone Attacks Planned: NYT" "Dawn" (04/08) "Despite threats of retaliation from Pakistani militants, senior U.S. administration officials said on Monday that the United States intended to step up its use of drones to strike militants in Pakistan's tribal areas and might extend them to a different sanctuary deeper inside the country, says a report in the New York Times." "Drone Attacks Once Against Push IDPs To Rawalpindi" "The News" (04/08) "More than 300 families from tribal areas have once against migrated to Rawalpindi following U.S. drone attacks in their areas during the last few weeks. Since inception of the new U.S. government, around fifteen drone attacks have been carried out by the U.S. in Pakistan's tribal areas." "I Have Nothing To Do With Kashmir Issue: Holbrooke" "Nawa-i-Waqt" (04/08) "U.S. Envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke while talking to local and international journalists at a U.S. diplomat's residence in Islamabad did not respond to question on drone attacks. He also repudiated that impression that he has been bestowed any responsibility to resolve the Kashmir issue. 'I have nothing to do with Kashmir issue,' he added." "Pakistan Capable Of Defeating Terror: Gilani" "Dawn" (04/08) "Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has denied reports published in some U.S. newspapers that the government has sought direct help from the United States to capture or eliminate Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud. Talking to journalists in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said Pakistan was capable of defeating terrorism and the government was taking measures in this regard." "Kayani Says Criticism Of ISI Will Not Help War On Terror Succeed" "The News" (04/08) "Separately, in his meeting with Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen and U.S. special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani categorically said continuous drone attacks and baseless allegations against the ISI may cause hurdles in achieving the objectives of war on terror." "Committee Proposes Strategy Overhaul" "Dawn" (04/08) "The 17-member bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on National Strategy in its final recommendations has proposed drastic changes in the national policy on war on terrorism. The Committee, in its unanimous resolution has condemned in the strongest terms the increasing drone attacks on Pakistani territory which in its opinion were aggravating and expanding the terror attacks in settled and tribal areas and has demanded an immediate halt to them." "16 Militants Among 21 Killed In Buner Clash" "Dawn" (04/08) "Twenty-one people, including 16 Taliban fighters, were killed in an over-night clash when local volunteers and police personnel tried to enter the Gokand Valley to flush out militants who had sneaked into the area on Saturday from the neighboring Swat district." "Swat Militants Occupy College, Kidnap Cop" "The News" (04/08) "Activists of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),Swat chapter, occupied a local college and a filling station while a traffic constable was also kidnapped in the valley on Tuesday." "Govt. Writ Restored In Most Of Swat: Minister" "The News" (04/08) "Expressing satisfaction over the truce in the Malakand Division, NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Tuesday said the government's writ had been restored in about 70 per cent of Swat area after the February 16 deal." "Dr. Parvez New PAEC Chairman" "Dawn" (04/07) "Dr. Ansar Parvez on Monday took over as new Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC). The outgoing Chairman Anwar Ali has completed his tenure." -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Counter-Terrorism," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "In January, the government did set up the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NCTA),tasked with coordinating intelligence among the FIA, IB, ISI, etc.... But a good idea on paper can only become a good idea in practice if the government shows real commitment to its success, and the requisite urgency has been missing in the case of NCTA. Clearly, something radical needs to be done to ready our police force to take on the militants. But success will only come if the plans are drawn up and executed by professionals with minimal political interference." "Re-Examining Terror," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "As far as the effort by top decision-makers goes to tackle the militant threat, this is all very well. The fact they have sat down, reviewed the situation and accepted they have been failures is good news. But the establishment of yet another new force must be questioned.... It is pointless to set up one force after the other if there is a risk that it may fall victim to the same weaknesses that crippled outfits established at considerable public expense previously on similar lines." "Basic Shape Of National Policy," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (04/08) "Although the new national policy will address law and order and other domestic issues, we feel that the foreign policy should also be discussed therein. Dialogue with all states should be on the basis of parity.... We need a policy that not only improves our domestic situation but also improves our image at the international level." "Taliban's New Announcement Is Worth Our Attention," an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "The Taliban have reportedly announced to respond in Afghanistan to the U.S. drone attacks conducted on tribal areas in Pakistan. At a time when it is said that Pakistan should not fight American war on its territory, the resistance forces should also not remain oblivious to the fact that who are they hurting in this war? Time and again Pakistan has been informing American officials about the counter productivity of these attacks. Taliban's current announcement reveals that Pakistan is facing a precarious situation due to these drone attacks." "Drone Attacks: Please Give Up Failed Policy Of Beating About The Bush," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (04/08) "If the United States still refuses to stop drone attacks then the Government of Pakistan must also refuse to welcome American officials on its soil. If decisions are to be made through missiles and rockets then what is the need for American officials to frequent Islamabad every now and then?" "Drone Attacks: Can A Middle Ground Be Found?," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 100,000) (04/08) "If these [drone attacks] continue, not only they have a negative impact on the war on terror, but may also harm bilateral relations. The situation demands that Pakistan and American officials sit together and find a middle ground." "Balochistan - America's Next Target," an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "Richard Holbrooke and Mike Mullen have refused to stop drone attacks on Pakistan and have alleged that Al Qaeda and Taliban leadership is hiding in Balochistan. In other words, they are making a pretext of launching drone attacks in Balochistan. This is a ploy aimed at secede Balochistan from Pakistan and to occupy its mineral resources." "New Policy Against Terrorism?," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/08) "Pakistan has lost a vast stretch of its territory in [the FATA] where only the army can go if it so chooses. All seven tribal agencies have been partially or completely overrun by the Taliban who are affiliated with Al Qaeda and work in tandem with the Afghan Taliban located in Balochistan under the general label of Afghan Shoora. Along the border with FATA, normally administered cities and towns of the NWFP have fully or partially fallen to the Taliban.... In the rest of the country there is sympathy for the Taliban and indirectly for Al Qaeda.... The Madarassas have crossed the line and gone over to the other side. People need protection that only the Taliban can provide in the end because they are the perpetrators of violence and fear themselves." "Form A Task Force Of Ulema, Scholars And Intellectuals" an editorial in the mass circulation, center-right Urdu national daily "Jang" (circ. 300,000) (04/08) "Keeping in view the ground realities, we must analyze the reasons behind the extremist mindset. We must understand that this thought did not emerge all of a sudden, nor are these terrorists and extremists doing these acts for money. Their hearts and minds are trained in such a way that makes them believe in the righteousness of terrorism and extremism. This then becomes a part of their faith and eventually they start blowing themselves and other innocent people without any hesitation. Therefore, the only durable solution to this issue is to be realistic about this situation and to form a task force of Ulema, scholars and intellectuals who can then start a dialogue to address this issue." "License To Kill," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "The gunning down of three female NGO workers in the Mansehra area along with their driver seems, initially at least, to be the work of militants.... But there is also a possibility that the anti-NGO diatribe that has come from many quarters in the aftermath of the flogging of a teenage girl in Swat may have led to the attack intended as an act of revenge. NGOs have been blamed, shockingly even by some linked to the ANP government, of deliberately using footage dating back months to stir up a storm against the Taliban." "Murder Of NGO Workers," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "While civil society seeks to enlist the cooperation of the people to strengthen the state's writ, militants want to impose their control in areas where they have a presence.... Quite clearly, the terrorists are gaining the upper hand. In this no-win situation it is the people who are the worst sufferers.... It is up to the authorities to recognize the services being rendered by NGOs that assumed the primary responsibilities of the government, often at great risks to their workers lives.... Insecurity and fear should not be allowed to drive NGOs workers out of the areas which need them most." "Rage Against The NGOs," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/08) "The work of the NGOs in Pakistan is not only thankless because no one pays attention to it, it is also dangerous because even sections of the liberal community discount them as an unreliable source for reasons of 'impartiality.' TV channels continue to challenge the findings of the NGOs because they are 'foreign-funded'.... The paranoia measures the isolation of the country in the world at the given moment. After the Chand Bibi incident in Swat, NGOs may actually face a backlash from the terrorists while the civil society they endeavor to serve feels little or no sympathy for them." "Subtle Shifts," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "The reality is that not only is our own relationship with America undergoing change, but America is also resetting its relationships with other nations - including India. The U.S. is applying reflective pressure on our neighbor to be a little more 'flexible' in regard to any number of sensitive issues. Holbrooke may already be engaged in the very dialogue that is envisioned in the Asia Society report. Ours are not the only arms to be twisted. Pakistan has assumed a new importance, not only because of the current political or 'terrorist' issues; but because America under Obama wants to forge a new strategic alliance with us that stretches perhaps decades into the future - and in doing so is going alter the relationship it previously had with India." "Barbarism And A Desensitized Leadership," an op-ed by Shireen M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "In the present context the issue is not one of supporting or opposing the Taliban. The issue is one of establishing the writ of the state while negotiating peace deals. Unfortunately, the writ of the state is nowhere to be seen because the rulers seem scantly interested. They travel across the globe but will not visit the tribal belt or Swat or any other area where there is a need to show the presence of the state. Instead, in the increasingly windowless ivory towers of Islamabad, they negotiate dangerous deals with the U.S. which has its own negative agenda towards Pakistan.... For Pakistan the US threat is even more acute because the growing spate of terrorism will move the U.S. one step closer to seeking control of our nuclear assets. Of course, if we do this distancing from the U.S., claim our airbases back and stop acting as a conduit for NATO military supplies, there will be no immediate halt to militancy and extremism. But, and this is the crucial point, the situation on the ground will alter in the state's favor, creating a more enabling operational environment in which to deal with extremism and the militancy that it is breeding." "Making The Obama Plan Work," an op-ed by Ijaz Hussain in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/08) "Here, the question arises whether or not aid with strings attached could make Pakistan buckle under the American pressure and toe the U.S. line. It looks highly unlikely that Pakistan would jettison what it perceives to be in its national interest. This could put the two governments on a collision course with each other, which would spell disaster for Pakistan and the region. The best way to get Pakistan to cooperate is to find the reasons why it is so keen to retain influence in Afghanistan and try to meet its concerns, if well-founded." "Obama's Old Af-Pak Strategy," an op-ed by Dr. Muzaffar Iqbal in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "Obama is trying to use a typical Bushy tactic here. Bush perceived himself as rescuing America from its enemies. Obama is continuing that tradition. Bush will be remembered in history as a man who destroyed America politically, economically and morally. History's verdict for Obama may not be any different." "Obama's Statement," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/08) "President Obama would be mistaken if he thought that simple statements in speeches to complaisant audiences would be enough. Until the U.S. does not end both its own occupations of parts of the Muslim world, as well as reverse its backing for occupations of Muslim lands, it should not expect Muslims to believe that the USA is not at war with them." "Blaming The ISI," an op-ed by Sayed G.B. Bokhari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "The American allegations about the militancy-promotion role of the ISI are quite absurd if one looks at them closely. After making these allegations, in the same breath U.S. officials also say that it is unlikely that top officials in Islamabad were directly coordinating these clandestine efforts, further asserting that mid-level operatives occasionally cultivate such relationships not approved by their bosses. While this absolves the ISI's top hierarchy from involvement in assisting the militant network, it betrays a significant amount of ignorance on the part of the Americans on the inner workings of the Pakistan army." "Pakistan-U.S. Economic Ties," an op-ed by Ishrat Hussain in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/08) "Although the proposed U.S. aid of $1.5 billion in the Kerry-Lugar bill would contribute only three to four per cent of Pakistan's total foreign exchange earnings the psychological damage it will cause to Pakistanis and Americans far exceeds the benefits derived from this paltry sum. Pakistanis will resent their economic fortune being controlled by the U.S. and strong anti-American sentiments would be reinforced as a result. There is no doubt that the Obama administration wishes to demonstrate through this aid bill that the U.S. is a long-term friend of Pakistan. But there is the risk that Congress, think tanks, and the media will use this as a stick against Pakistan every time they perceive that it is not doing enough." Patterson