Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09ISLAMABAD813 | 2009-04-17 09:49:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Islamabad |
VZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHIL #0813/01 1070949 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 170949Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2319 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9251 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 5099 RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CCPA// IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0085 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 7184 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1167 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI |
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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000813
SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 17, 2009 Summary: The Pakistan Muslim League-N's decision turning down PM Gilani's offer to rejoin the federal cabinet dominated headlines in all newspapers on Friday. All newspapers highlighted reports that "Japan would provide up to $1 billion to Pakistan" to support its economic reforms and counter-terrorism efforts. Reports on the release of former Red Mosque cleric Maulana Abdul Aziz also received prominent display. All major dailies reported that "Ambassador Patterson would lead a high-powered delegation of Pakistani entrepreneurs to the U.S." Newspapers highlighted reports that the Foreign Office "downplayed" growing international concerns over Nizam-i-Adl Regulation, and described this reaction as "hasty." ISI Chief Lt. Gen. Pasha's U.S. visit garnered extensive coverage. Major dailies underlined reports that the "CIA and ISI have agreed to develop working relations for combating terrorism." The precarious security situation of Pakistan continued to grab attention of the editorialists and op-ed writers. Commenting on the recent "Charsadda carnage," the central national daily, "The News," raise question that "if such killings are to continue, we must ask what purpose the Nizam-i-Adl enforced in Malakand serves." The Lahore-based liberal daily, "Daily Times," observed that "in the coming days, the Taliban will institutionalize their presence and convert the region adjoin Swat into a satrapy completely insulated from the rest of Pakistan." The country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder," opined that "given relentless terrorism that has literally forced us as a nation on our knees, ours is a far more deserving case for a comprehensive anti-terror strategy and a dedicated department at the center." End Summary. -------------------------- News Stories -------------------------- "Sharif Reject Offer To Join Coalition" "Dawn" (04/17) "The Pakistan Muslim League-N has turned down the prime minister's offer to rejoin the federal cabinet, but held out an assurance that it will not create problems for the PPP-led government. Former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif told a press conference on Thursday his party wanted to see the government complete its tenure." "Japan To Provide Up To $1 Billion Aid To Pakistan" "Dawn" (04/17) "Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said on Thursday his country would provide up to $1 billion to Pakistan to support its economic reforms and counter-terrorism efforts, while addressing newsmen after holding wide-ranging talks with President Asif Ali Zardari." "Zardari Urges A 'Marshall Plan' For Pakistan" "Dawn" (04/17) "President Asif Ali Zardari called on Thursday for a major aid drive like the Marshall Plan to fight poverty and militancy in his country, writing in a newspaper on the eve of a major meeting of donors in Tokyo. President Zardari stressed in Japan Times article that his government was determined to fight militants but said it needed an aid and reconstruction program similar to the U.S. Marshall Plan for post-World War II Europe." "Lal Masjid Cleric Vows Not To Seek Revenge" "Dawn" (04/17) "The former Khateeb of Lal Masjid, Maulana Abdul Aziz, was released on Thursday reportedly under a 'deal' and he announced that he would not seek revenge on former president Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf who has been accused of killing hundreds of students of the seminary attached to the Lal Masjid in a military operation in October 2007." "High-Powered Delegation Of Pakistani Entrepreneurs To Visit U.S." "Dawn, "Pakistan Observer," "Business Recorder" (04/17) "U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson has said that her Embassy will try to enhance people-people contacts between Pakistan and the United States to project the true image of Pakistan. Speaking at a reception for businessmen and journalists at her resident on Thursday the Ambassador said that there was need to project a soft image of Pakistan. Earlier, Ms. Patterson announced that she would lead a delegation of Pakistani entrepreneurs to the U.S. from April 22 to 24." "FO Downplays Concerns Over Swat Adl Regulation" "Dawn" (04/17) "The Foreign Office has downplayed growing international concerns over Nizam-i-Adl Regulation and described world capitals' reaction as hasty. 'We view the apprehensions in this regard as premature,' Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at his weekly media briefing on Thursday." "ISI, CIA Agree To Combat Terror" "The News" (04/17) "Lt. Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), has left Washington DC for Islamabad after a hectic 24 hours of meetings with the U.S. officials, while the CIA and the ISI have agreed to develop working relations for combating terrorism, sources said." "Reservations About Nizam-e-Adl Regulation; CM Remarks Pushed John Kerry On Back Foot" "The News" (04/17) "'I'm a nationalist and the interest of my people and my province come first' were the remarks that pushed the visiting U.S. Senator John Kerry on the back foot during his recent meeting with NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti. The remarks came when the US delegation, led by Senator Kerry, who is also the head of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, just sat down for a discussion on a host of issues at the Chief Minister's House on Tuesday. A well-placed source told The News that neither Senator Kerry nor any other member of the delegation thrashed out the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation 2009 in the meeting after the candid comment by the Chief Minister." "Nizam-e-Adl Will Take Swat Back To 'Dark Ages': HRW" "Daily Times" (04/17) "Human Rights Watch urged Pakistan to reverse its decision to enforce Sharia in Swat in a peace pact with the Taliban, saying the deal threatens women and takes the region back to the 'Dark Ages.' The New York-based rights group said the government's move amounted to granting the Taliban 'de-facto administrative control of the Swat Valley' and 'presents a grave threat to the rights of women and other basic rights in the troubled region.'" "Rallies Staged To Back Nizam-e-Adl" "The News" (04/17) "Hundreds of people staged a rally in Mingora on Thursday in favor of the NWFP government for enforcing Nizam-e-Adl Regulation and flayed Muttahida Qaumi Movement for opposing the same." "Pakistan For Total End To N-Weapons" "The News" (04/17) "Pakistan has stressed the need for total elimination of nuclear weapons and said that this objective can be achieved through an equitable approach and genuine empathy for security concerns of all states." "Pakistan To Move Int'l Court Against India On Water Issue" "The News" (04/17) "Pakistan has decided to inform India about its intention to move the International Court of Arbitration and the neutral expert against diversion of Neelum River water to Wullar barrage and faulty design of the Kishanganga hydropower project and the faulty design of the project respectively." -------------------------- Editorials/Op-eds -------------------------- "Charsadda Carnage," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "If such killings are to continue, we must ask what purpose the Nizam-e-Adl enforced in Malakand serves. It seems learning lessons once is not quite enough. We have seen many times in the past that reaching accords with militants has no impact on the task of creating stability or ending fear. In fact these accords increase instability, with militants taking advantage of them to regroup and renew their efforts to subvert the state." "Price Of Swat Peace," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/17) "But we can be sure of one thing. The state will be punished for having allowed terrorist elements to rule Swat. In the coming days, the Taliban will institutionalize their presence and convert the region adjoining Swat into a satrapy completely insulated from the rest of Pakistan. The consequences of that will be predictably destructive for the state of Pakistan." "Face To Face With Terrorism," an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (04/17) "Taliban say they would retain their arms and verdicts of Qazi courts cannot be challenged in higher courts of Pakistan. What else then is the so-called a state within state? But that's not the end of their mission; media reports emit unmistakable signals that Talibanization is on the march.... Unfortunately, however, not much appears being done in terms of evolving an overarching strategy to meet the growing challenge of Talibanization. Given relentless terrorism that has literally forced us as a nation on our knees, ours is a far more deserving case for a comprehensive anti-terror strategy and a dedicated department at the Centre." "Terror And Punjab," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "It is often said that militants in Punjab's south and elsewhere in the province are exclusively committed to Jihad in Kashmir that under no circumstances, are they to leave their brief and switch to other wars being raged in the name of religion. The question is: what do they do when they are not or cannot be in Kashmir? There are obviously no guarantees that these trained hands won't be pressed into service in pursuance of another holy cause." "Charsadda Suicide Attack: A Conspiracy To Fail The Nizam-i-Adl," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (04/17) "There could be involvement of RAW and certain invisible hands [in the Charsadda blast] as they want the Nizam-i-Adl regulation to fail. Those elements whose interests have been harmed by the implementation of Nizam-i-Adl are capable of doing anything in order to achieve their objective. " "Suicide attack on police post" an editorial note in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (04/17) "While Ulema belonging to different schools of thought have declared suicide attacks as forbidden, it is very unfortunate that those who prepare individuals to become suicide bombers also call themselves 'Ulema' and pride themselves on this deed. We urge all respected Ulema to form a committee and together with their right-thinking colleagues in NWFP, they should raise public awareness against suicide attacks." "Charsadda Blast: Uncover The Perpetrators," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 100,000) (04/17) "It is the intelligence agencies' responsibility to uproot anti-public elements and uncover elements and their sponsors whose existence depends upon spreading unrest. It is also known that the U.S. has been opposing such [peace] deals; carrying out such conspiracies would not be new for it. Even earlier, it provoked the tribal people by carrying out strikes when the Swat and Waziristan deals were signed. Any investigation [of Charsadda attack] must not ignore this angle." "Game, Set And Match," an editorial in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "The day that our parliamentarians voted for the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation 2009 was the day that the Taliban won and all they have to do now is go and pick up their prizes.... A reasoned and objective analysis can now be made to the effect that Pakistan is moving towards being a Taliban-controlled state; and the movement towards that position is gathering momentum. Our friends and allies can see this and are becoming jittery themselves...." "Peace In Doldrums," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/17) "TTP spokesman Muslim Khan's statement that the Taliban would not surrender arms is bound to send alarm bells ringing. To many in this country, this would amounts to a clear violation of the promises made prior to the signing of the deal. His statement that the TTP would shift the arena of struggle to other parts of the country now is equally disturbing, as this amounts to dictating policies to the state at gunpoint." "Implementation of Justice: Responsibility Of Sufi Muhammad And The Government," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (04/17) "Maulana Sufi Muhammad and his allies must now avoid making statements which give anti-Pakistan and anti-Islam elements an opportunity for propaganda. When it is agreed in the deal that no one will keep unlicensed weapons and all will abide by the state laws what is the justification for the Taliban's announcement that they do not recognize the Constitution and that all Muslims have the right to bear weapons. Similarly, the announcement to spread Taliban control to other areas also creates doubts. Hence, it is now the responsibility of Sufi Muhammad, Maulana Fazlullah and their allies not only to fulfill their responsibility for peace, but also to convince the Taliban to surrender unlicensed arms and to abide by laws of the state." "All Problems Can Be Resolved by Parliament," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (04/17) "We believe that implementation of Nizam-i-Adl regulation by our government is a bold and commendable step keeping in view the strong opposition of the U.S. on this issue. Presently this was the only option available to the government and there was no alternative.... One thing has become quite clear that if our government wants to do, it can dispel external pressures to protect the national interests." "Nizami-i-Adl In Malakand Division," an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (04/17) "There has been mixed reaction to the implementation of Nizam-i-Adl regulation. But what is now necessary is for Maulana Sufi Muhammad and his allies to cooperate in making this successful, because many difficulties will arise if peace is not restored. However, all objections by Washington and Kabul would be rendered weightless if peace is established, no unpleasant incident of any sort happens; and people bearing arms do not act on their whims." "The Taliban: Contained Or Unleashed?," an op-ed by Najmuddin A. Shaikh in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/17) "Now we are told that the Taliban will not surrender their arms until they have determined that the Nizam-e Adl has been implemented. This, it appears, is a determination that only the Taliban are competent to make.... Meanwhile, the crimes committed by the militants, many of them criminals, will be forgotten. How this will be in accord with Sharia law only Sufi Mohammad can tell us." "Politics As A Redundant Superstructure," an op-ed by Shafqat Mahmood in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "This pervasive fear of creeping Talibanization is not surprisingly, the main topic of conversation at social gatherings these days. I have never in recent memory heard so many people talk of finding safe havens abroad. Those that have already acquired citizenship in some western country, and there are many among the elite who have, are looked at with envy. Those who were not so astute are now trolling the internet to search for ways to get out.... It is not so much the Nizam-e-Adl itself that is bothersome to people.... The real disappointment is that the Pakistani state, its institutions and its political forces have caved in so quickly." "Wages Of Fear And Appeasement," an op-ed by Ayaz Amir in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "When a state and its military forces mentally reconcile themselves to defeat, one can only mourn the event. There is nothing left to say. It's not that we don't recognize what has just happened or what the ANP government in the Frontier and the federal government in Islamabad, backed by the National Assembly, have just agreed to.... But we are trying to put a gloss on it and are putting forward all sorts of justifications - that there was no way out and that signing the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation will bring lasting peace to Swat and its environs - but in our heart of hearts we know that, our courage having fled and no vision worth the name to guide us, we have acquiesced in a great act of surrender." "The Swat Agreement," an op-ed by M.A. Niazi in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/17) "That (Nizam-e-Adl) happened while Pakistan was being visited by the sponsor in Congress of the enhancement of U.S. aid to Pakistan, since the timing of the implementation was purely in the hands of the President, and while he set a new precedent by referring the Regulation to Parliament, even though he didn't have to, it is a fairly logical conclusion that President Asif Zardari wanted the international community, well, the U.S., to know that he promulgated the Regulation under the pressure of Parliament. His need to distance himself from the Regulation was probably explained by the unfavorable reaction of the Obama Administration, which seemed to feel that the Regulation meant that human rights would now be violated in Swat.... The state is still primarily concerned with American aid, and the rigmarole of presenting the Regulation to Parliament, was followed to convince the USA that the government was functioning in difficult conditions. Thus the bringing of peace to Malakand Division was not the purpose so much as ensuring the flow of dollars." "Beyond The 'Original Sin'," an op-ed by Ayesha Siddiqa in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "In today's Pakistan, the common man listens to the religious right and the militants because there is no one out there willing to challenge the interpretation presented by the religious and political right. Since we do not investigate issues pertaining to religion, there is no point looking at that route.... If things continue this way, it won't be too far when our liberal elite will have to escape to the rest of the world, just like the Afghan elite did during the 1990s." "I Want My Country Back," an op-ed by Sehar Tariq in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/17) "The Parliament by endorsing the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation (NAR) has heralded the end of Pakistan as I knew and loved it. Today, the elected representatives of the people turned Pakistan into Talibanization. Today we handed over a part of the country to them. I wonder how much longer before we surrender it all. Today we legislated that a group of criminals would be in charge of governing and dispensing justice in a part of Pakistan according to their own obscurantist views.... A law that does not apply equally to all men and women is not worthy of being called a law.... Taliban is an insult to my Pakistan. I want my country back." "Pakistan Challenge And U.S.," an op- by Syed Ali Zafar in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/17) "The world will however support Pakistan only up to a limit and there are certain conditionalities which must be applied to us for our own good. A welcome and dramatic change in dispensation of economic and military aid from the U.S. is that this time procedures, checks and balances will be put into place to see that money is spent for the people.... U.S. has decided to play a more positive role in building up Pakistan's relationship with India and Afghanistan which too augurs well for the future." "Mock War And Fake Heroes," an op-ed by Imdad Soomro in Hyderabad based liberal and independent Sindhi Daily "Ibrat" (Cir. 80,000) (04/17) "It is unfortunate that opposing Taliban is considered as supporting the U.S. agenda. Nawaz Sharif exploited civil society to fulfill his own agenda, now can civil society get him on board for protecting civil liberties and women rights? Will civil society come out from their ivory tower? Late Benazir Bhutto did not stand just for hoisting flag at Chief Justice's residence, she was a liberal and secular voice. Will those who claimed to realize her vision come out in streets again?" "Friends Of Pakistan Meeting: Hopes And Fears," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (04/17) "In the past, whenever IMF, World Bank and the U.S. have provided aid to Pakistan, they compelled Pakistan to agree to the attached conditions as well. The humiliating conditions Obama administration has attached to the Kerry-Lugar bill are still echoing. We hope that the Friends of Pakistan will provide unconditional assistance to Pakistan and will not try to influence Pakistan's policies in return." Patterson |