Identifier
Created
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09ISLAMABAD84
2009-01-14 09:39:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 14, 2009

Tags:  KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK 
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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 14, 2009

Summary: All newspapers on Wednesday ran as lead story Prime
Minister Gilani's statement before the National Assembly that "India
had not provided any evidence, just information" about the Mumbai
terror attacks. Also front-paged were reports that British Foreign
Secretary Miliband "emphatically disagreed with India's accusations
that Pakistan's state institutions were somehow complicit in the
Mumbai carnage." In a front page dispatch from Washington, English
daily, "Dawn," quoted part of Secretary-designate Clinton's
statement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which indicated
that "fighting terrorism in Pakistan and Afghanistan would be the
highest priority of Obama Administration." Most newspapers also
quoted former President Musharraf telling an audience in Chicago
that "Red Mosque operation was a mistake of his long tenure."
Ambassador Patterson's meeting with Defense Minister Mukhtar in
which "Pakistan pressed U.S. for early provision of F-16s" also
figured prominently.

Most major dailies ran editorials on growing tension between India
and Pakistan. Commenting on the deteriorating Pakistan-India
relations the leading Urdu daily, "Jang," wrote: "Pakistan should
now have no difficulty in understanding the condemnable aggressive
Indian designs against it after Indian rejection of all Pakistani
offers of cooperation, threats of war and Indian attempts to
isolate Pakistan in the international community." The English
daily, "The Nation," pointed out that "since India does not
acknowledge Pakistan's right to exist, in addition to its general
hegemonic designs on the whole region, including Pakistan, 'those
relations will never be trouble-free." Another national English
daily, "The News," ran two editorials; one on the last press
conference by President Bush and the other on imposed U.S. sanction
against 13 individuals and three firms for nuclear proliferation.
End Summary.

--------------
News Stories
--------------

"Indian Provided Information, Not Evidence: Gilani" "Dawn" (01/14)

"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday the government
was carefully examining the 'information' about the Mumbai terror
attacks received last week and was prepared to cooperate with India

to uncover facts. In a policy statement made in the National
Assembly, he said that Pakistan would share with India results of
its own investigation in due course of time. He said India had not
provided any evidence, just information. 'All that has been
received from India is some information. I say information because
these are not evidence.'"

"Pakistan State Not Involved: Miliband" "Dawn" (01/14)

"British Foreign Secretary David Miliband assured India on Tuesday
that President Asif Ali Zardari was sincere in his resolve to fight
terrorism and encouraged New Delhi's restraint with Islamabad as a
mature way to deal with the fallout of the Mumbai terror attacks....
He emphatically disagreed with India's accusations that Pakistan's
state institutions were somehow complicit in the Mumbai carnage. 'I
have said publicly that I do not believe that the attacks were
directed by the Pakistani state. And I think it is important to
restate that,' he told a questioner."

"Miliband In Tune With Pak Government - Mumbai Attacks" "The News"
(01/14)

"Britain's Foreign Minister David Miliband said on Tuesday he
believed the Pakistani state did not direct the Mumbai attacks, but
urged Islamabad to fulfill its promise to root out the militant
groups, he told a news conference with Indian External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukherjee after holding talks at the Hyderabad
House."

"Pakistan, Afghanistan Will Be Obama's Priority: Hillary" "Dawn"
(01/14)

"U.S. Secretary of State-designate Hillary Rodham Clinton told her
confirmation hearing on Tuesday that fighting terrorism in Pakistan
and Afghanistan would be the highest priority of the Obama
administration. "It is imperative that we work with our friends in
both Pakistan and Afghanistan" to defeat terrorists in that region,
she told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."

"Lal Masjid Operation Was A Mistake, Admits Musharraf" "The News"

(091/14)

"Former President Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday admitted that Lal
Masjid operation was a mistake he committed during his long tenure,
according to a private TV. According to a private TV, the former
President attended a reception in Chicago under the auspices of his
brother Naveed Musharraf."

"Pakistan Presses U.S. For Early Provision Of F-16s" "Daily Times"
(01/14)

"Defence Minister Ahmad Mukhtar on Tuesday urged the United States
to help Pakistan meet its security requirements including the
provision of F-16 aircraft. He was talking to United States
Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson who called on him to
discuss matters of bilateral interest. A statement by the Defence
Ministry said the two officials exchanged views over the current
bilateral defence cooperation. 'The Minister informed the U.S.
envoy about the defence requirements of Pakistan particularly the
provision of F-16s aircraft,' the statement said. The U.S.
Ambassador emphasized the need to further strengthen bilateral
defence ties for mutual benefit."

"Zardari Urges India To Return To Dialogue" "Daily Times" (01/14)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has said that the resolution of all
outstanding issues between Pakistan and India is vital for durable
peace in the region, a private TV channel reported on Tuesday.
According to the channel, President Zardari called for resumption of
the composite dialogue process, which had broken off after the
terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November last year."

"Stop Blame Game, Zardari Tells India" "The News" (01/14)

"Reaffirming his firm stance to wipe off the menace of terrorism,
President Asif Ali Zardari told India in clear terms to stop blaming
Pakistan for Mumbai mayhem urging it to expose the real culprits
behind it."

"Mumbai Terror Attacks Witness Goes Missing" "The News" (01/14)

"The investigations into the Mumbai terror attacks have suffered a
setback after a key eyewitness became untraceable. The Mumbai Police
said on Tuesday that Anita Uddaiya, the woman who had identified the
bodies of nine killed Mumbai terrorists, had been missing since
January 11."

"India Urges World Not To Sell Arms To Pakistan" "Pakistan Observer"
(01/14)

"In the wake of Pakistan's careless attitude after the Mumbai attack
terrorist was proved to be a Pakistan national, India has asked the
world not to sell arms to Pakistan."

"Saudi Intelligence Chief Brings King's Message; Pakistani Leaders
Urged To Unite" "Dawn" (01/14)

"Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin Bin Abdul Aziz spent a busy
day in Islamabad on Tuesday, urging Pakistan's political elite to
unite and play their role for de-escalating tension with India."

"Pak Torn Over How To Handle Taliban: Experts" "The Nation" (01/14)

"After years allowing Taliban militants to operate in the rugged
tribal areas bordering Afghanistan, Pakistan is now torn over how to
respond to U.S. calls for decisive action against extremists.
Islamabad is under intense pressure from Washington, other western
nations and Kabul to eliminate Taliban and Al-Qaeda havens in the
tribal belt, from where fighters are said to stage attacks on
foreign forces in Afghanistan. But experts say Pakistan's desire to
please the United States, a vital political and military ally, has
run up against its own strategic interests in the region and its
loyalty to Pashtuns, the predominant ethnicity among the Taliban."

"COAS-Foreigners Contacts 'Not Against Protocol'" "The Nation"
(01/14)

"No one should object to the meetings of military leadership with
the visiting foreign dignitaries, whether civilian or military, as
Pakistan is passing through the 'unusual' circumstances in the
backdrop of global war on terrorism, security analysts said on
Tuesday."

"Foreign Powers Dictating Government, Says Senator" "The News"
(01/14)

"Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Talha
Mahmood, on Tuesday said that the government was taking dictates
from the foreign powers for promoting their agenda in Pakistan and
had sidelined the Parliament's resolution that asked for a halt to
the operations in the tribal and settled areas besides his
Committee's recommendations."

"JI Threatens Long March; Tribal Area Operation" "Dawn" (01/14)

"The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has threatened to launch a long march that
will culminate at the presidency and the army headquarters in the
federal capital if the ongoing operation in tribal areas is not
stopped forthwith.... He warned that participants in the long march
would lay a siege to the presidency and the GHQ and would end their
protest only after the operation came to an end."

"Protesters Stop NATO Supplies Through Chaman" "Dawn" (01/14)

"Western military supplies passing through Pakistan to Afghanistan
faced more disruption on Tuesday after protesters blocked one route
and militants launched the first attack in two weeks on another....
The supply route through the border town of Chaman in Balochistan
has been largely free of attacks, at least on the Pakistani side.
But Pashtun tribesmen, protesting against security forces searches
for militants, have been blocking the road to the border since
Saturday."

"Israel, Hamas Locked In Street Battle" "The News" (091/14)

"Israeli troops and Hamas fighters traded fierce gunfire on the
streets of Gaza City on Tuesday as Palestinian President Mahmud
Abbas accused the Jewish state of trying to 'wipe out' his
people.... The overall death toll from the conflict on the
Palestinian side has risen to at least 940, including 280
Palestinian children. A further 4,350 people have been wounded,
according to the Palestinian emergency services."

"Security Council Backs Ban's Gaza Initiative" "Dawn" (01/14)

"UN Chief Ban Ki-moon got strong support from the Security Council
on Tuesday as he briefed envoys on his upcoming Middle East tour to
step up diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip."

"Red Cross Chief Appeals For Gaza Medics' Protection" "Dawn"
(01/14)

"International Committee of the Red Cross chief Jakob Kellenberger
on Tuesday called for medical workers in Gaza to be protected as he
visited the battered territory in the midst of Israeli attacks."

"Formal Notification About Durrani's Removal Yet To Be Issued" "The
News" (01/14)

"No formal notification about removal of Maj. Gen. (Retd) Mehmud Ali
Durrani as National Security Adviser has so far been issued even
after the passage of one week of his sacking, a Cabinet Division
official told 'The News' on condition of anonymity."

--------------
Editorials/Op-eds
--------------

"Indian Tactics Must Be Exposed," an editorial in the leading mass
circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (01/14)

"Pakistan should now have no difficulty in understanding the
condemnable aggressive Indian designs against it after Indian
rejection of all Pakistani offers of cooperation, threats of war and
Indian attempts to isolate Pakistan in the international
community.... Indian rulers right from the beginning had never
spared an occasion to harm Pakistan and its national interests.
India initiated a plan to devastate Pakistani agricultural economy
by blocking waters of the rivers Chenab, and Jhelum originated from
the Himalayan mountains. Following threats of dire consequences,
and political pressures in the wake of Mumbai carnage, India has now
changed it strategy and expressed its intent to paralyze Pakistan
financially by severing bilateral trade and commerce ties. Pakistan
must make its diplomatic corps active to expose the Indian designs
to counter its worldwide drive to isolate us in the world."

"Blowing Hot And Cold," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/14)

"As Mr. Chidambaram described, those ties are merely meant by India
to enable India to turn them on or off according to the state of
relations between the two neighbors. Since India does not
acknowledge Pakistan's right to exist, in addition to its general
hegemonic designs on the whole region, including Pakistan, those
relations will never be trouble-free.... It seems that India has
decided that whenever there is international pressure, it will play
around with people-to-people contacts, and thus allow the visitors
to claim a diplomatic achievement."

"The Nuclear Network," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/14)

"The statement by the U.S. State Department that it has imposed
sanctions against 13 individuals and three firms linked to the A Q
Khan network has refocused attention on the issue of Pakistan's
nuclear weapons.... According to media scenarios, a prime fear is
that terrorist strategy may pivot around having Pakistan move its
nuclear weapons to frontline positions, where they would be more
vulnerable to capture. There is even conjecture that the entire
Mumbai action was based on the hope of triggering a Pak-India
confrontation. Some, perhaps even all, of this may be rather
far-fetched. But there can be no doubt about a nexus between
intelligence agencies and extremists.... Within the country many in
the know comment openly about the fact that elements in powerful
positions still believe support for the Taliban is central to
self-interest. At the same time we insist that eradicating
extremism is a prime aim. Reports of raids on key centers of
extremism go out to Washington at key moments. Islamabad needs to
clear its own mind, dust away the cobwebs that still lurk and keep
in view the need to re-build trust and faith."

"India's New Threat," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/14)

"The current tensions and the diplomatic deadlock they have brought
about have gone on far too long. Islamabad and New Delhi, possibly
with a little help from friends such as China and the U.K., need to
find a way to break free. India must accept the possibility of a
role in the Mumbai attacks by groups based on its own soil.
Pakistan must look into the possibility of links to forces based
within its borders. The situation has not been handled with any
great skill in either capital. A way needs to be found to move on."


"Banning Indian Channels," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(01/14)

"The Indian Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, may have threatened to
isolate us globally by snapping business, transport and tourism
links with Pakistan. The good cop, bad cop game being played out by
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the conciliatory end of things and
the likes of Chidambaram and External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee on the other may also be in poor taste. Be that as it
may, there is no reason for Pakistan to react in like manner for it
can serve no constructive purpose.... Media-related, cultural,
sporting and other people-to-people contacts must not be sacrificed
at the altar of nationalistic fervor. True, the blame for the rapid
deterioration of relations on the apolitical level rests largely
with India. But the people of the subcontinent have everything to
lose if they stop speaking to and listening to each other and
travelling across the border. Only with regular people-to-people
contact will Pakistanis and Indians come to appreciate once again
that they have much in common, including the shared enemy that is
terrorism."

"Chidambaram's Futile Threatening Statement," an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (01/14)

"India's post-Mumbai strategy has been flawed to the extent that it
has progressively lost international support for its maximalist
demands. Pakistan is not the world's favorite in the current
situation but India's repeated reference to war in its 'all options
open' statements has cautioned the extra-regional powers against
backing everything that India says. But such is the pressure of
domestic politics months before the next general election that
Indian leaders continue to flip-flop between 'all options open' and
'war no option.' Mr. Chidambaram's innovation of snapping relations
is another effort to keep the pressure on Pakistan by indirectly
threatening war. On the other hand, every time India does this,
Pakistan's otherwise weak position improves vis-`-vis world
opinion."

"Thank You India: Indian Threat Of Cutting Trade And Tourism Links,"
an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (01/14)

"Indian Home Minister Chidambaram has said Pakistan is not
cooperating in the investigation of Mumbai attacks and as a response
India is considering severing trade, communication, diplomatic and
tourism links with Pakistan.... If India severs these ties with
Pakistan on the pretext of Mumbai attacks then the people of
Pakistan would welcome that.... We had been saying that Pakistan
should not maintain any kind of relationship with India unless
Kashmir issue is resolved in accordance with the UN resolutions....
India has hurled a threat only and Pakistan should prove its honor
by initiating action in this respect."

"Pakistan Needs Clear Stand On India," editorial in the
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir.
33,000) (01/14)

"India has issued a fresh threat to Pakistan of completely cutting
off diplomatic relations if our country does not cooperate with
India in investigation. India has been very clearly working towards
declaring Pakistan a terrorist country, isolating it in
international community, Pakistani government must understand this
and prepare a counter strategy which should focus on high lighting
sufferings of minorities in India, telling world of terrorist and
extremists Hindu groups in India, there is chain of events that has
taken place in India, Pakistan need to bring all these on
international arena, which would be enough evidence to prove Indian
extremist groups as terrorists because this region would see peace
only when world understands India's reality."

"Swat's Burning Questions," an op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/14)

"Public conjectures are endless and varied: the army has no will to
go after the militants, the ANP is following the American line, the
army and the militants are one, the army is trapping the ANP, the
Police, the FC and the local citizens are being killed while the
army is safe, if the army leaves the locals can make compromises
with the militants and be in peace, the army is anyway scared of the
militants; is it 'scared' because it fears casualties, it does not
understand the nature of the threat, etc. Clearly the Pakistanis of
Swat have zero faith in the institutions of their own country. Can
we blame them?"

"National Assembly's Resolution Against Israeli Aggression," an
editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir.
55,000) (01/14)

"The U.S. is engaged in supplying arms to Israel instead of exerting
pressure to discontinue strikes against Palestinians in Gaza Strip.
All the Muslim states must make it clear to the United States that
if it does not stop backing Israel, the Muslim world will be left
with no other choice except to devise a strategy in consultation
with other big powers to cope with this state of affairs."

"Experiment Of Lethal American Weapons On Palestinians," an
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/14)

"Two Norwegian doctors who work for a relief group in Gaza have
disclosed that Israel is using lethal weapons DIMES in Gaza Strip.
Moreover the Human Rights Watch has also confirmed that Israel is
pounding Gaza with the deadly Phosphorus bombs. In fact the
besieged population of Gaza Strip is facing a brutal aggression and
worst genocide by the Zionist beasts."

"Israeli Barbarism," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (01/14)

"Israel and the U.S. are failing to realize that the brutalities
being committed in Gaza, massacre of innocent children are igniting
the deep seated hatred which will give birth to an endless crop of
suicide bombers, who will never let the region rest in peace until
justice is done. There was hope that with the installation of the
new government of Obama there would be some change in the attitude
of White House towards Palestinians, but this hope has not been
realized. The U.S. lukewarm attitude over the Palestinians' killing
under the new Obama administration has disappointed right thinking
people all over the world. This has been the first test for the new
U.S. administration. If it fails like its predecessor, the Middle
East may be embroiled in an uncontrollable conflagration leading to
unforeseen consequences."

"Muslim World's Unity Is Imperative To Stop Israeli Aggression," an
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/14)

"The entire world is shaken when 200 people are killed in a
terrorist act in Mumbai, yet the world only makes statements when
Israel martyrs scores of Palestinians every day. This attitude by
the U.S. and Israel naturally creates an impression among Muslims
that the U.S. is consciously targeting Muslims. American and
Israeli acts are creating hatred among the Muslim nations and the
time has come for the [Muslim] governments to change their attitude
also. The Muslim world needs to forge unity in its ranks to make
its voice effective. It will not be possible to stop Israel if the
Muslim world remains divided."

"Deliberate Acquiescence To Israeli Terrorism," an op-ed by Shireen

M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (01/14)

"Muslim governments continue to maintain a deadly silence - beyond a
few whimperings and mutterings - even as their people rise in
protest. Is it any wonder the Muslim street is becoming
increasingly radicalized? They said the League of Nations was too
discredited to provide an international response to Hitler, but the
UNSC is now armed with powerful anti-terror resolutions and
mechanisms for their implementation. So why is the international
community mute on Israel? Or are these resolutions only for Muslims
while the rest of the world is free to commit all manner of acts of
terror unhindered?"

"The Last Hurrah," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/14)

"The last time Bush had faced the press was on December 14 in
Baghdad and he demonstrated that he still had speedy reactions and
good peripheral vision when he got 'showed shoes' by one of the
reporters in attendance. The shoes missed, the reporter was
arrested, and now we are days from The Last Hurrah and the handing
one of the baton. Few in this part of the world are going to mourn
his passing and George Bush may well have done more to proliferate
global terrorism that any of his predecessors. Enjoy your
retirement, Mr. President ... and don't call us, we'll call you.
Maybe."

"Gilani's Acknowledgment Of U.S. Interference In Pakistani
Politics," an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi
Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/14)

"Prime Minister Gilani has plainly admitted the U.S. interference in
Pakistan's politics. If truth be told, he himself negated the
immense struggle of his party PPP, and the people of Pakistan
against the Musharraf regime. It is also regrettable that our
political leadership does not dare to confer awards to these
'intruders.' No one is going to believe that a head of the
government can issue such an irresponsible statement."

"Half Truth," an op-ed by Irfan Siddiqui in the leading
mass-circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (01/14)

"There might be certainly some very strange reasons, or else a sane
person, a seasoned politician, or a Prime Minister cannot dare to
make such bizarre, shallow and reckless remarks that the U.S.
Senator Joe Biden made Musharraf doff military uniform. In fact,
the U.S., the homeland of Mr. Biden provide all-out support to
Musharraf for whole eight and an half year. The U.S. made him
(Musharraf) his operative in the war on terror, and Americans
overlooked how did this operative play havoc with Pakistani nation,
its constitution, its laws, its judiciary, and its democratic
system. Prime Minister Gilani must inform the nation that did
Senator Biden, who was the member of Senator and Chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee during that period, ever made any
statement to condemn dictatorship in Pakistan, criticized the

Musharraf regime, or asked the U.S. administration to ditch
Musharraf, and support democratic forces in Pakistan. Did Mr. Biden
ever denounce Musharraf's assault on judiciary in Pakistan?"

"Pakistan And U.S. Should Seize Opportunity," an op-ed by Abdul
Sattar in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan
Observer" (cir. 5,000) (01/14)

"Of course the opportunity has to be seized by Islamabad: it will
require not only clear recognition of parallel interests but also
identification of plans and policies for their efficient and
effective promotion. Both countries share equal interest in closer
cooperation in the fight against terrorism.... To revert to
Pakistan-U.S. relations, constructive changes in the offing provide
an opportunity for Islamabad to intensify security cooperation with
the United States in order to eliminate Al-Qaeda presence on
Pakistan territory, promote internal security against terrorism by
stemming the tide of obscurantism and extremism that threatens the
realization of the progressive and modernizing vision of our
nation."


Patterson