PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 14, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000785 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 14, 2009 Summary: Reports on the approval of a "controversial Sharia regulation for the Malakand division" by President Zardari dominated headlines in all newspapers on Tuesday. All newspapers reported that Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat "welcomed the National Assembly resolution." Most editorialists also focused their attention towards the issue. The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "simply endorsing the Nizam-i-Adl in a bid to bring peace to the Malakand division may be too little and have come too late." Another English newspaper, "Daily Times," observed that "opinion is so polarized in Pakistan that developments in Swat after the February 12 agreement can hardly be presented as ominous. In the eyes of many, the agreement with Sufi Muhammad is the treaty of the defeated." Reports and photographs of Senator John Kerry's meetings with Pakistani government officials also received wide front-page coverage. Most major dailies quoted Senator Kerry as saying that the U.S. aid to Pakistan is "not conditional." Also highlighted were remarks by Interior Adviser Rehman Malik that "India has not provided sufficient information required to proceed with the case against alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks." Reports that "Pakistan would seek $4 billion at this month's donors' conference in Tokyo" also figured prominently. End Summary. -------------- News Stories -------------- "Sharia For Malakand As Zardari Signs Law" "Dawn" (04/14) "President Asif Ali Zardari approved a controversial Sharia regulation for the Malakand division of the North West Frontier Province on Monday after the National Assembly asked for what seemed to be a clear concession to Taliban militants of the Swat Valley to implement a peace deal between them and the Provincial Government." "Sufi, Swat Taliban Welcome NA Move" "Dawn" (04/14) "Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat on Monday welcomed the National Assembly resolution, expressing hopes that its implementation would restore peace to Swat." "MQM Only Party To Oppose Deal With Taliban" "The News" (04/14) "The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Monday opposed the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation and abstained from voting on the issue in the National Assembly." "Kerry Says Aid Not Conditional; Assures Coop" "The Nation" (04/14) "Top U.S. Senator John Kerry, who arrived in Islamabad Monday morning on a two-day visit, held separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and ISI chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha. President Zardari called for expediting the Kerry-Lugar Bill and its passage without any conditions and the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) legislation in the U.S. Senate, besides the need for working out a joint strategy to counter terrorism. In his response, Senator Kerry said no conditions were being attached to Kerry-Lugar Bill and those were some measures for the effectiveness of the projects to be undertaken once the aid was delivered to Pakistan." "Negative Messages Creating Ill-Will, Gilani Tells U.S." "Dawn" (04/14) "Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani criticized the United States and its Western allies on Monday for creating 'ill-will' about Pakistan and cautioned Washington against attaching strings to its assistance package. Prime Minister Gilani told John Kerry, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who is in Islamabad to discuss the proposed aid package with officials in Islamabad." "Kerry Conveyed Pak Concerns" "The News" (04/14) "The United States on Monday held out an assurance that its long-term partnership with Pakistan was not with any particular government, but with the people of Pakistan. 'I am here to discuss the new way forward. We have made it very clear that the U.S. has a larger commitment (in Pakistan). That is why there is a 10-year commitment in the (Kerry-Lugar) bill,' said Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan. He pointed out that the Pak-U.S. relationship had to be seen beyond the allies' fight against terror and extremism, and was hopeful that Pakistan's concerns would be fully addressed in the final version of the legislation." "ISI Protecting National Interests" "The Nation" (04/14) "Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha has made it clear to the U.S. that ISI had no agenda other than country's national security. Well-placed sources told 'The Nation' that ISI Chief made these remarks while talking to the visiting Chairman U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator John Kerry who met with in Islamabad on Monday." "India Yet To Provide Adequate Information About Mumbai" "Dawn" (04/14) "Prime Minister's Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik said on Monday that India had not provided sufficient information required to proceed with the case against alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks." "Pakistan To Seek $4 Billion From Donors For Education, Health" "Dawn" (04/14) "Pakistan said on Monday it would seek $4 billion at this month's donors' conference in Tokyo for the badly neglected areas of education, health and poverty alleviation." "Pakistan Loses $35 Billion In War On Terror: Tarin" "The Nation" (04/14) "Pakistan had lost $35 billion in the ongoing war against terror during the last eight years. Due to security concerns in Pakistan, foreign investors were also not coming, Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs Shaukat Tarin said, adding the number of large operational industrial units in the country had reduced from 2,250 to 550." "Some Taliban Leave Buner" "Dawn" (04/14) "A group of 60 Taliban vacated the Bagra police post and left Buner on Monday, but their colleagues will continue 'peaceful preaching' in mosques till further orders from their leadership." "Baitullah's Close Aide Arrested In Karachi" "Dawn" (04/14) "A man suspected to be a close companion of Taliban Commander Baitullah Mehsud was arrested in Karachi on Monday." "U.S. Drones Fly Over Swat" "The News" (04/14) "The U.S. spy planes were seen flying over Matta Tehsil of Swat on Monday, sending a wave of fear among the residents across the troubled valley." "Three Militants, Soldier Killed In SWA Clash" "The News" (04/14) "The government finally turned its guns on the previously pro-government tribal militants in South Waziristan, as four people, including three militants and a soldier, were killed and several others injured in the first-ever clash after the 2007 peace agreement." "Qureshi For Climate Of Trust With India" "Dawn" (04/14) "Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that a climate of trust and cooperation with India would ease the pressure enormously on their shared border to allow Islamabad to direct its energies on the volatile western front. 'If we have to concentrate on the western border obviously we have to be comfortable on the eastern side.' Mr. Qureshi said in an interview broadcast by CNN-IBN channel on Monday.'" -------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------- "Time To Show Spine," an editorial in the Peshawar-based, independent regional daily "The Frontier Post" (cir. 7,000) (04/14) "Senator John Kerry, heading the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee, has descended on Islamabad.... What they talk with our movers and shakers we will never know, as always. Habitually, these bigwigs keep that a closely guarded secret. It is only a positive spin they put on display for public consumption. It is days later that we come to know from American, and now also Indian, media that the honorable U.S. dignitaries had come to administer admonition and a dressing-down to our top echelons and twist their arms and that they had had the fun to their fill, with our grandees taking the punishment without any fuss or complaint but rather gleefully. Puppies have the American lords used them in the past; and will keep using them so now and hereafter, unless and until they show the spine and demand respect.... Isn't it time our top echelons show the spine, tell the Americans to pack up lock, stock and barrel from here, shut their Kabul shop of subversion and sabotage in Pakistan, keep their money with them, and leave us alone to cope with their work of wreck and ruin in our country?" "Nizam-i-Adl Regulation," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) "The Nizam-i-Adl has been approved by parliament and promulgated by the president. But the debate in parliament was yet another missed opportunity. The bigger point is that the politicians still need to reach a consensus on how to counter militancy.... If Swat and the Nizam-i-Adl were a test case, then the politicians have not done justice to finding that credible strategy. Simply endorsing the Nizam-i-Adl in a bid to bring peace to the Malakand Division may be too little and have come too late." "Getting Parliament To Endorse Seat Laws," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/14) "Opinion is so polarized in Pakistan that developments in Swat after the February 12 agreement can hardly be presented as ominous. Facts are being juxtaposed with blind faith in the saintly person of Sufi Muhammad to transform Swat into a cradle of peace. The Taliban, after entering Buner for Tabligh (spreading the faith),have killed a number of people supporting the local Jirga and are using local mosques to recruit the youth of the district. Such is the effect of intimidation that it is the fresh 'Mujahideen' of a victimized Buner who will now ensure that the reign of warlord Fazlullah is perpetuated. In the eyes of many, the agreement with Sufi Muhammad is the treaty of the defeated." "Need For Moderation," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/14) "It is unfortunate that in a democratic set-up vital decisions are being taken in a hush-hush manner. The federal and provincial governments and the TTP had kept the details of the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, and how it was going to be legislated, a closely guarded secret.... To allow every Parliamentarian to freely express his opinion, there is a need to debate the legislation in an in-camera session...." "Adl Regulation: A Challenge Successfully Met," an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (04/14) "The National Assembly has passed a resolution urging President Asif Ali Zardari to back imposing Nifaz-e-Nizam-e-Shariah (Adl) regulation for furthering the objective of peace in Swat Valley.... Perhaps, President Zardari's move was also motivated by the hindsight that the people of Pakistan never forgave his predecessor for his infamous yes to Bush administration on joining the war on terror without consulting the Parliament.... Indeed, it was a major concession to consistent public demand for 'supremacy of parliament.'" "The Knight's Move," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) "President Zardari has never seemed on the surface to be much of a chess player but we may have to revise our assessment if his move in respect of the Nizam-e-Adl, placing it squarely in the hands of the prime minister and parliament is anything to go by.... What may have stayed his hand and produced a move that has caught some off-guard, is that had he signed off on it by himself and it had all gone dreadfully wrong then he alone would be carrying the can. Passing it to Parliament spreads the responsibility - and the blame - around rather more widely.... The government late on Monday afternoon said that it had referred the agreement to parliament solely 'to allay international fears' about it - and this at a time when Senator John Kerry is in town to have a tte-`-tte about 'conditionalities' attached to U.S. aid. The Dark Knight's move may have far reaching consequences, and the game is far from over. Your move, Parliament." "Swat Deal's Approval In The National Assembly," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (04/14) "Pakistan is an Islamic country and was created in the name of Islam. There is no Muslim in the country who would oppose implementation of Islamic laws.... Although there was no expectation that anyone in the Assembly would have opposed the regulation, yet there was a possibility that a parliamentarian could have come up with an amendment or improvement. Hence the government, ANP, Maulana Sufi Muhammad and other parties should accept the parliament's decision openheartedly." "Costly Peace," an op-ed by Ejaz Haider in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/14) "But while the Parliament's approval of the draft and the President's subsequent signing of it might sustain the current peace in Swat, it is a foregone conclusion it will not be able to stop the domino effect that has begun in the area, Buner being an example. The immediate question then is, and we can't go beyond the immediate: where will the state draw the line; or will it?" "Obama Must Think Again," an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) "The new approach adopted by Washington has already moved in the right direction by ensuring Islamabad and the people of Pakistan that its engagement with them will be for a long time.... To help develop Pakistan and save it from extremism, the U.S. will need to factor in not just the quantity of money it can give but also quality advice on its use." "Obama's Flawed Af-Pak Strategy," an op-ed by Javid Husain in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/14) "Obama like his predecessor has reversed the cause and effect relationship between the situation in Afghanistan and FATA in the formulation of his strategy. It was the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the overthrow of the Taliban government which had forced the Taliban in Afghanistan and their sympathizers to take up arms against the coalition forces. It was this development which had sucked the tribesmen from our tribal areas into the fighting in Afghanistan because of close tribal ties, despite the best efforts of the government of Pakistan. It is thus the continued fighting and turmoil in Afghanistan which have embroiled our tribal areas and virtually set them on fire with dire consequences for Pakistan." "Drones Are A Red Herring!," an op-ed by Anjum Niaz in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) "Who can deny that the militants have infiltrated all across Pakistan. They are threatening Islamabad. But our blinkered media continues to drone on about drone attacks not questioning their rulers why they speak with forked tongues. Why are they not taking the citizenry into confidence? Vigilantism is our only survival. The initiated must move beyond the drones and fight to save Pakistan. A nuclear country of 170 million does not 'disintegrate' or does it? We're being reminded that we are on artificial respiration and the plug can be pulled out any minute. The Americans and the British have their finger on the hot button. It will be a three-way war, between the U.S., Taliban and our military guarding our nuclear assets. 'The Americans will take out the nuclear arsenal, throw us to the Taliban and calmly walk away,' is the common perception among people whose hearts and heads are in the right place." "Why Hate America?," an op-ed by Mir Jamilur Rahman in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) "Historically, no ally of the United States has faced as many sanctions from the U.S. as Pakistan. The Americans refused to supply 28 F-16 fighter aircraft though the money had been paid in advance. These acts did not endear U.S. to Pakistan. They created a big hate wave against the Americans. With the withdrawal of the Soviet military forces from Afghanistan, the nuclear weapons development program of Pakistan came under intensive U.S. examination again.... The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan generated more hate against Americans. They are Muslim countries and Pakistanis have special regard for them.... They are killing more women and children than Al-Qaeda militants. They will continue their killing spree in their quest for Al-Qaeda for a long time to come, unless the troops are tired and unable to function." "India's Obstinacy," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) "It should be quite clear to the Indians that terrorism is an extremely ticklish, worldwide phenomenon, and the forces of major powers are finding it hard to come to grips with it.... Under the circumstances, they not only need to see signs of trouble within their country and put their own house in order, but also display a serious sense of understanding of the problems Pakistan, itself fighting a deadly battle with militants, is facing." Patterson