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.

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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."

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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