PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 29, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000911

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 29, 2009

Summary: Reports on launching of a "full-fledged operation against
militants in Buner" dominated headlines in all dailies on Wednesday.
Newspapers also highlighted a report that "militants took hostage
71 security officials after inviting them to talks at a local
mosque" in district Buner. All major newspapers reported that both
the Pentagon and the State Department "welcomed" Pakistan's latest
military offensive against the Taliban, and "offered full support."
The Taliban's warning to journalists "of dire consequences if they
didn't stop 'propaganda' against their 'struggle for the enforcement
of Shariah'" received prominent coverage. Some major dailies
highlighted remarks of Admiral Mullen's spokesman that the CJCS was
"very alarmed by the growing extremist threat in Pakistan and
remained frustrated particularly by the political leadership's
inability to confront that threat."

Most major editorialists and columnists penned critiques on a host
of subjects concerning national security and other issues. The
prestigious English daily, "Dawn," maintained that the "country's
experience with the Taliban must serve as a wake-up call if the
present insurgency is to be quelled and future ones avoided." The
mass circulation Urdu daily, "Jang," advised that "if it is crucial
for our national security and existence to quit the U.S.-led
alliance, we should not delay in formulating a strategy to abandon
the coalition." The second largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt,"
underlined that "until the Kashmir issue is resolved according to
the UN resolutions, we can neither move troops from the eastern
borders, nor stop developing the nuclear program." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"Forces Fall Upon Militants In Buner; ISPR Says Dir Operation
Completed As 70 Militants Die" "The News" (04/29)

"The security forces, backed by artillery, gunship choppers and
jetfighters, launched a full-fledged operation against militants and
targeted their suspected hideouts in different areas, besides
placing the whole district under curfew on Tuesday. Military
spokesman and Dir. Gen. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj.
Gen. Athar Abbas claimed that the operation against militants in
Lower Dir was successfully completed during which 70 to 75 militants
were killed."

"Action Triggered By Taliban Plan to Take Over Buner" "Dawn"
(04/29)

"Security forces launched a major operation in Buner on Tuesday
after intelligence agencies intercepted a telephone conversation of
Swat Taliban Chief Maulana Fazlullah with his 'commanders' which
revealed their plan to take over the area after faking a withdrawal.
The operation led by the inspector general of Frontier Corps (FC)
was being backed by army troops and AIR FORCE jets, Inter-Services
Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said at
a press briefing."

"71 Officials Taken Hostage In Buner" "The News" (04/29)

"Armed militants in Pir Baba area of Buner district took hostage, at
least, 71 security officials after inviting them to talks in a local
mosque near the famous shrine, a source from the troubled district
told 'The News.'"

"Response Appropriate: U.S." "Dawn" (04/29)

"Both the Pentagon and the State Department on Tuesday welcomed
Pakistan's latest military offensive against the Taliban and offered
full support. U.S. officials also hoped that Pakistan would
'sustain' this action, unlike in the past when the army either
withdrew or ended up signing a peace deal. The operation against
the militants in Dir and Buner was 'exactly the appropriate
response' to halt the Taliban's progress, Pentagon spokesman Geoff
Morrell said."

"Give Up 'Propaganda,' Taliban Warn Journalists" "The News" (04/29)

"Taliban have warned journalists of dire consequences if they did
not stop 'propaganda' against their 'struggle for the enforcement of
Shariah' in Malakand Division. A single-page message entitled
"Intebah" or warning was issued by Taliban in Mingora on Tuesday."

"Agencies Detain 'The News' Reporter In Peshawar" "The News"
(04/29)

"A reporter of 'The News,' Delawar Jan, was taken away by a security
agency from his office here on Tuesday evening and detained until he
disclosed the source of a news item which he had filed on Monday
about a military operation in Buner. The reporter refused to
disclose the source and the officials of the top security agency
were not ready to release him."

"Mullen 'Alarmed' Over Pakistan" "Daily Times" (04/29)

"Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff,
is "very alarmed by the growing extremist threat in Pakistan and
remains frustrated particularly by the political leadership's
inability to confront that threat," his spokesman Capt. John Kirby,
told CNN on Monday."

"Pakistan's N-Weapons Are Safe: Mullen" "Dawn" (04/29)

"Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen
says the U.S. military feels confident Pakistan's nuclear weapons
will not fall into militant hands, Capt. John Kirby, a spokesman for
Admiral Mullen told CNN that America's top military commander
believed that Pakistan's nuclear weapons were safe."

"Pak Nukes Won't Fall Into Militant Hands: U.S." "The News" (04/29)

"General David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command, said
at the Kansas University that the increasing influence of extremist
elements in Pakistan poses 'the most serious threat' to the very
existence of that country, even as its nuclear weapons are safe as
of now."

"President Vows To Crush Militancy" "The Nation" (04/29)

"Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani briefed President
Asif Ali Zardari on the ongoing military operation against militants
in Malakand division including Lower Dir and Buner in the Presidency
on Tuesday. President Zardari said that no one will be allowed to
challenge writ of government and no compromise would be made on
country's sovereignty and national interest."

"Zardari To Ask U.S. For Drones, Cobra Choppers" "The Nation"
(04/29)

"Pakistan would seek latest military weapons, drone technology,
night vision goggles, cobra helicopters and financial support from
United States to fight against terrorism, reliable sources told 'The
Nation' on Tuesday. According to the sources, President Asif Ali
Zardari would make these demands during his forthcoming visit to
U.S."

"Militants Set Up Base Camp In Kala Dhaka" "Dawn" (04/29)

"Militants have infiltrated into Kala Dhaka, the tribal belt of
Mansehra, from Buner and established a base camp in the area,
official sources told 'Dawn' on Tuesday."

"Taliban Asked To Abide By Peace Deal; Iftikhar Cites Reasons For
Operation In Dir And Buner" "The News" (04/29)

"Asking the Taliban to abide by the promise made with the NWFP
government, provincial Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain
Tuesday dispelled the impression that they (government) had violated
the peace deal by launching the operation in Dir. 'It were Taliban
who violated the peace agreement by sneaking into Buner and Dir
districts despite the enforcement of Nizam-e-Adl Regulation by the
provincial government on their demand,' Iftikhar told a news
conference in Peshawar."

"TNSM Not Ready To Resume Talks In Sufi's Absence" "Dawn" (04/29)

"Maulana Mohammad Alam, deputy chief of the
Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi, has said his organization is
not ready to resume talks with the government on the Swat accord or
the ongoing military operation in the absence of Maulana Sufi
Mohammad, while talking to 'Dawn' at the TNSM's Amandara office in
Batkhela on Tuesday."

"Officials Appeal For Global Help; Up To One Million Displaced In
NWFP" "Dawn" (04/29)

"Up to one million people are displaced in the NWFP where militants
are feeding on local discontent and strife, humanitarian and local
officials from Pakistan warned on Tuesday. Officials from the NWFP
appealed for international relief aid at an unprecedented meeting
with relief agencies and donor countries in Geneva."

"Pakistanis Abroad Call For Decisive Action" "Dawn" (04/29)

"By agreeing to implement a separate set of laws in Swat, the
President and the Parliament also have signed away any real
prospects for a stable, tolerant and progressive Pakistan, says a
letter signed by more than a thousand prominent Pakistanis living
abroad. 'Leaving aside the merits or demerits of the so-called
Nizam-i-Adl Regulation, we believe that any agreement signed at the
point of a gun and under threats from violent extremists can never
lead to a lasting and just peace,' the letter said."

"U.S. Move For Emergency Pakistan Aid Package" "Dawn" (04/29)

"U.S. lawmakers - both in the Senate and the House of
Representatives - said on Tuesday that they would support the Obama
administration's move to seek $200-400 million in emergency aid for
Pakistan. The package may be ready by the time President Asif Ali
Zardari visits Washington on May 6 and 7."

"War Merchants, Not Agencies, Behind Unrest In Balochistan: Asif"
"The News" (04/29)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has said the merchants of war do not
want peace in Balochistan as they thrive on conflicts. He made
these remarks during a meeting of the PPP senators, MNAs and MPAs
from Balochistan at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Tuesday."

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

"Wake-Up Call," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (04/29)

"While no doubt the Taliban must be routed in the areas they have
usurped, their ideological moorings that allowed them to become such
a danger must also be undermined so that neither they nor other
groups of their seditious ilk can rise in a similar fashion to
challenge the state's writ.... The country's experience with the
Taliban must serve as a wake-up call if the present insurgency is to
be quelled and future ones avoided."

"Clear Policy Should Be Formulated According To Aspirations Of
People," an editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu
daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (04/29)

"All eyes are set at Pakistan, and our enemies are not only
declaring us as a failed state, but also that Pakistani nation
doesn't deserve a democratic system. They want to see that if
Pakistanis can run their country or not. It is the responsibility
of our rulers to arrange a comprehensive dialogue with the
political, religious leaders, intellectuals, and policy experts to
frame a permanent policy to deal with the present security disaster.
If it is crucial for our national security and existence to quit
the U.S.-led alliance, we should not delay in formulating a strategy
to abandon the coalition."

"Occupied Kashmir; Not Just Withdrawal Of Indian Troops, A Solution
To The Dispute Is Also Needed," an editorial in the second-largest,
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000)
(04/29)

"Hillary Clinton's statement [about Pakistan's nuclear arsenal] has
revealed the great game [being played out]. Kashmir and Pakistan's
nuclear assets are a target not only for India but the U.S. also
whereas Pakistan's security and future are linked with both these
issues. Hence until the Kashmir issue is resolved according to UN
resolutions, we can neither move troops from the eastern borders,
nor stop developing the nuclear program."
"Some Misconceptions About The Taliban," an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (04/29)

"The assertion that 'we helped the Taliban at first but we ended the
training in 1989,' leaves out the entire swath of activities that
involved the preparation of Jihadi organizations inside Pakistan
used in Indian-administered Kashmir as 'freedom-fighters' despite
the fact that they were beginning to be dubbed terrorists at the UN
Security Council and put on watch-lists in the West. As Mr. Rehman
Malik says, these Pakistan-trained militias are now with the
Taliban."

"If U.S. And West Want Peace, They Should Leave Taliban Issue To
Pakistan," an editorial note in the popular rightist Urdu-language
daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (04/29)

"The tribal areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan pose a much bigger
challenge for the U.S. than insurgency in Iraq. The U.S. must
understand that these people will not exhaust even after fighting
incessantly for another fifty years. It is advisable for the
American and British policy-makers to study the history of this part
of the world very carefully, then they will be able to comprehend
the mindset of these tribesmen. If the nuclear assets of Pakistan
aren't the real target of the United States and Britain, then they
should mend fences with Taliban, and leave Taliban issue to Pakistan
to deal with."

"Need To Adopt A Clear Stance," an editorial in the Karachi-based,
pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (04/29)

"There is a very strong perception in Pakistan that the U.S. is
spreading misinformation to capture Pakistan's nuclear weapons. In
fact, the war on terror is a tactic of this strategy. If U.S.
considers that this perception is totally wrong, then it will have
to assure Pakistani nation that it has no malicious intention about
the Pakistan's nukes."

"Last Ray Of Hope," editorial in the Karachi-based center-right
sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 33,000) (04/29)

"The ongoing operation in Dir and Buner obliterated the last ray of
hope of peace in Malakand division. Government needs to immediately
stop the military operation, and pursue the peace process seriously.
No doubt the implementation of Nizam-e-Adl will take time, and the
religious leaders should support this implementation. However, if
the government pays no attention to this demand of religious forces,
then day is not far away when the whole country will demand for
Nizam-e-Adl."

"Summer Snow," an editorial in the centrist national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/29)

"Islamabad too must learn to face facts rather than sulk over the
world's reaction to the onward march of militants across its
territory. The fact that the Taliban now control growing stretches
of territory is an obvious reason for concern. Similar fears indeed
exist within Pakistan itself and among Pakistanis based overseas.
Islamabad can best serve its own ends by adding, to its demands that
the U.S. and the U.K. not make attempts to dictate terms, a
clear-cut response as to how it attempts to tackle terror."

"Claim Of Not Accepting Any [U.S] Condition," an editorial in the
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt"
(cir. 125,000) (04/29)

"Addressing a press conference at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington
D.C., Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen said that if the U.S. attaches
conditions to assistance, we will decline and say 'no thank you.'...
This statement by Mr. Tareen seems to meet the prerequisites of
national dignity and sovereignty. However, we wish that our
policies were actually formulated along these lines.... But who
will believe these words [by Mr. Tareen] if heavy taxes are imposed
on the people in exchange for assistance and yet claims would be
made that no condition was accepted."

"Those Criticizing Pakistan Should Look Within," an editorial in
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 100,000) (04/29)

"Whether it is the British PM, U.S. officials or other foreign
leaders visiting Pakistan, the only thing they say is 'do more,
control terrorism, control extremism.' Those who lecture Pakistan
fail to recall that troops from a dozen NATO countries have failed
to achieve desired results in Afghanistan in the last 8 years
despite having all the resources and the latest weapons at their
disposal. How, then, is it possible for an economically weak country
with meager resources to control the monster of terrorism - created
and raised by these western states - alone and without any help?"

"Why Military Action Is Not The Answer," an op-ed by Shireen M.
Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (04/29)

"A beginning has to be made by altering the operational environment
in the state's favor and that can only be done by distancing
ourselves from the U.S., for it has now become part of our own
terrorism problem. That is why U.S. dollars are not the answer but
an aggravation of the problem given the perception of the U.S.
within all levels of Pakistani society.... Military action can
never resolve this issue - how many of our people will we kill? The
solution lies in justice and restoration of dignity alongside a
future of hope for the dispossessed."

"Stop The Taliban Advance," an op-ed by Rubina Saigal in the
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/29)

"The onslaught of the Taliban must be resisted with all the
resources at our disposal - administrative, political, military,
intellectual and cultural. If we have to fight them, we must
fight.... The real issue is, why is a 600,000-strong army powerless
against them? Why was the army not able to subdue an insurgency in
Waziristan before the poison spread to the settled areas?"

"Thank You, Sufi Mohammad," an op-ed Asif Ezdi in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/29)

"To portray the ferment in Swat as a medieval backlash against
modernism is either a blinkered view or a deliberately misleading
one. It ignores or tries to cover up the fact that the wellspring
of Islamic militancy in Pakistan is to be found in the alienation of
the mass of the population by ruling elite which has used the state
to protect and expand its own privileges, pushing the common man
into deeper and deeper poverty and hopelessness.... In reality, it
is Pakistan's ruling class, desperately clinging to its privileges,
that is seeking to preserve an outdated medieval order."

"The Grand Debate," an op-ed by Mohammad Waseem in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(04/29)

"'Rightist' intellectuals and politicians, retired generals,
bureaucrats, and diplomats and Islamists of various shades express
their sincere opinion that the agreement with the Taliban in Swat
should be given a 'chance.'... The liberals find it extremely
frustrating that capitulation to non-state actors as a consequence
of the lack of will or capacity of the state apparatuses to act in
Swat was termed as peace.... The more the liberals seek to go
beyond xenophobia and join the ranks of the world's forward-looking
nations, the more they are criticized for pursuing an American
agenda. Samson-like, the nation is headed for disaster. It sees
conspiracy round every corner and traces this to the world
hegemon."

"Owning Responsibility For Terror," an op-ed by Mazhar Qayyum Khan
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir.
20,000) (04/29)

"American officials have repeatedly suggested that the aerial
attacks are proving useful and have killed important Al-Qaeda and
Taliban operatives and might even be intensified. Unless, the U.S.
corrects its focus on the issue and comprehends the causes that are
giving rise to militant feelings, it will find it hard to get the
desired results. The cold-blooded murder of ordinary people,
including women and children, raises a veritable outrage among the
tribal people, known for harboring the feeling of vengeance for
ages. Should one hope that the U.S. would re-examine the issue in
the light of its fallout? Or would it have to wait for another
three decades before realizing that the Predators hurling Hellfire
missiles on tribal people were a big mistake?"
"Obama's AfPak Policy," an op-ed by Dr. Shahida Wizarat in the
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(04/29)

"Current overtures of the Obama administration towards Iran are
attempts to deal with it only after settling with Pakistan.
Pakistan and Iran would therefore be better off by nurturing a
coalition rather than waiting for their respective turns.
Furthermore Pakistan-China-Iran-Sri Lanka will be better off if they
formed their nexus to deal with the AM-Britt-India-Afghan nexus. It
will no doubt bring stability to the region and save it from death
and destruction."

"The Simple Questions By The Clueless In U.S.," a news analysis by
Shaheen Sehbai in the centrist national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (04/29) "The News" (04/29)

"The U.S. capital is totally clueless on how to handle Pakistan.
That state writ has vanished from big chunks of the country is
understood. There is a general fear that the Pakistani
establishment and the state is not very far from imploding.
Already, top echelons of the Obama Administration think there is a
dangerous power vacuum, which is being filled by the adventurous
Taliban, now on a roll to grab power and territory, because they
think the American might and the Pakistan military have not been
able to stop their onward march in years after 9/11. How they
should be stopped no one knows. The Washington power wielders have
already spoken privately, and even publicly, to shake the military
and political leadership of Pakistan into action, to do something."

Feierstein