PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 01, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000935

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 01, 2009

Summary: All Newspapers highlighted reports that "security forces
gained control over Ambela heights after overcoming tough
resistance" from militants in Buner. Newspapers reported that the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) "dismissed as unfounded fears
about Pakistan's strategic assets falling into wrong hands."
CENTCOM Commander Gen. Petraeus' remarks that the "next two weeks
are critical to determining whether the Pakistani government will
survive" received prominent display. Some major dailies highlighted
a U.S. counterterrorism report which noted that "Pakistan continued
to suffer from rising militancy and extremism in 2008." Today all
mainstream newspapers highlighted President Obama's remarks about
Pakistan that he made during a prime-time news conference in
Washington. (PAS has drafted a Special Media Cable today to cater
this coverage.)

Most major dailies ran editorials on the simmering tension and the
bloody ethnic violence in the port city - Karachi. The center-right
national English daily "The Nation" observed that "events reported
on Thursday indicate that the ongoing violence is spreading to new
areas, and is assuming new and portentous dimensions." The
Islamabad-based daily "Pakistan Observer" editorialized that "some
hidden hands have opened a new front in Karachi, clearly in an
attempt to put more pressure on the Government and the law enforcing
agencies." The mass circulation Urdu daily, "Jang," noted that
"growing militancy in Malakand has necessitated military operation
in the area. Security situation in Waziristan is also volatile.
Enduring peace in those areas is directly linked with tranquility in
the business capital of Pakistan, Karachi." End Summary.

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News Stories
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"Troops Wrest Key Heights From Buner Militants" "Dawn" (05/01)

"Security forces killed another 14 militants during their operation
in Buner on Thursday, gained control over the Ambela heights after
overcoming tough resistance and secured about half of the eight
kms-long Ambela pass after clearing three militant positions.
Military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas told a press conference that
the operation was making good progress and militants' hideouts were
being attacked with all available resources."

"Taliban Holding People In Sultanwas Hostage" "The News" (05/01)

"Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen
Athar Abbas on Thursday said security around Daggar was increased to
provide more security to the area people and to facilitate linkage
to the ground forces. The ISPR D.G. said the militants were still
holding positions at Sultanwas and Pir Baba. 'People of Sultanwas
are under great distress and have been held hostage, as they are not
being allowed to move out of the area.'"

"N-Assets Under Robust Custodial Control: JCSC" "Dawn" (05/01)

"The Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) on Thursday dismissed as
unfounded fears about Pakistan's strategic assets falling into wrong
hands. A meeting of the committee presided over by its Chairman
General Tariq Majid expressed full confidence in the robust
custodial controls and multi-layered arrangements put in place to
ensure fail-safe security of the assets."

"Next Two Weeks Critical To Pak Government's Survival: Petraeus"
"Daily Times" (05/01)

"Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. David Petraeus has
told U.S. officials the next two weeks are 'critical to determining
whether the Pakistani government will survive.' FOX News reported on
Thursday. 'The Pakistanis have run out of excuses ... [and are]
finally getting serious' about combating the threat from the Taliban
and Al Qaeda, said the general."

"N-Program Faces 35 pc Cut, Scientists Upset" "The News" (05/01)

"Pakistan's nuclear program is facing severe financial cuts, badly
hampering some core classified projects, it is learned. A source
told 'The News' that several development programs of the Pakistan
Atomic Energy Commission, including some classified ones, have been
slowed down and some even halted as the government has imposed an
unprecedented squeeze. The classified side of the PAEC development
budget saw a cut of almost 35 per cent while for the open
development programs only 15 per cent of the budget has been
released, thus affecting more than 30 projects. The source said that
senior nuclear scientists and those holding key positions in the
country's nuclear program apparatus were extremely upset with the
situation and fear that the cut would badly damage the nuclear
program and would tantamount to a quiet unannounced rollback."

"Pakistan Continues To Suffer From Extremism, Says U.S. Report"
"Dawn" (05/01)

"Pakistan continued to suffer from rising militancy and extremism in
2008 and the United States remained concerned that FATA was a safe
haven for terrorists, says a U.S. counter-terrorism report released
on Thursday. Besides Al Qaeda, Afghan insurgents and terrorists
associated with other groups were also operating from FATA, the
report added. The report noted that international terrorist
organizations, including Al Qaeda and its supporters, continued to
operate and carry out attacks in Pakistan."

"U.S. To Boost Training Of Pakistani Forces" "The News" (05/01)

"The United States and Pakistan will likely discuss stepping up U.S.
training for Pakistani security forces when President Asif Ali
Zardari visits Washington next week, a U.S. official said in
Washington on Thursday."

"Hillary Seeks $497 Million For Pakistan" "Dawn" (05/01)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asked Congress on Thursday
to approve $497 million of emergency funds for Pakistan. In her
opening remarks before the Senate Appropriations Committee,
Secretary Clinton also said that a bill to triple U.S. assistance to
Pakistan - $1.5 billion for a period of five years - would be
presented in the U.S. Senate in a few days."

"Gates Urges Congress To Approve Aid To Pakistan Fast" "Daily Times"
(05/01)

"U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday pressed Congress to
quickly approve $83.4 billion for aid to Pakistan and for the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan. Gates told lawmakers that money used to
support Pakistan could run out by mid-May and some funds for other
operations could start running out in July. 'I urge you to take up
this bill and pass it as quickly as possible, but not later than
Memorial Day (May 25),' Gates told the Senate Appropriations
Committee, which is considering the Obama administration's
request."

"Pentagon Argues For Flexibility On Pak Aid" "The News" (05/01)

"Warning that any stringent conditions attached to the U.S. aid for
Pakistan would be counterproductive, top Pentagon officials asked
Congress on Wednesday to be flexible in a proposed legislation that
would significantly expand economic and security assistance for the
key anti-terrorism partner in South Asia. Appearing before the
House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, senior officials
including Michele Flournoy, Under-Secretary of Defense for Policy,
underscored the importance of bolstering Pakistan's
counterinsurgency capability for enforcing security in the region
bordering Afghanistan."

"'Capacity Gaps' Hampering War Against Terrorism: FO" "Dawn"
(05/01)

"Pakistan said on Thursday its fight against extremism and terrorism
was being hampered by 'capacity gaps' and regretted that the West
was not helping it to meet the deficiencies. 'As far as our
capacity is concerned, obviously there are gaps. For instance, we
face shortage of helicopters as well as night vision equipment,'
Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at his weekly media
briefing. He said: 'We have been making approaches not only to the
U.S. but to other major countries as well for the provision of the
required equipment to counter terrorism and violent extremism.'"

"People Run For Their Lives As Operation Continues In Dir" "The
News" (05/01)

"The people of Maidan area of Lower Dir district continued to leave
their homes for safer places as the security forces continued
targeting the suspected hideouts of militants with gunship choppers
and artillery on Thursday."

"Taliban Destroy FC Camp, Seize Arms" "Dawn" (05/01)

"Militants blew up a camp of the Frontier Constabulary and took away
weapons, while jets and helicopters continued heavy bombing on their
suspected positions in different parts of Buner district on
Thursday."

"Nizam-e-Adl In Two Days, Says ANP" "Daily Times" (05/01)

"Senior ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak announced on Thursday that the
provincial government would enforce the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation in
Malakand division within two days."

"NWFP Govt. May Unilaterally Set Up Darul Qaza In Malakand" "The
News" (05/01)

"The NWFP government is set to unilaterally announce the
establishment of the Darul Qaza in the Malakand division if Tehrik
Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) Chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad
continues to ignore its requests for a meeting, while addressing a
news conference in Peshawar on Thursday, NWFP Information Minister
Mian Iftikhar Hussain said."

"U.S. Copters Violate Pak Airspace" "The News" (05/01)

"The United States gunship helicopters violated the Pakistan's
airspace by intruding deep into Khyber Agency on Thursday, an
official of political administration confirmed."

"U.S. Drone Attacks On Pakistan Fuel Anti-West Feeling: French
Envoy" "The News" (05/01)

"The French Ambassador to Pakistan, Daneil Jouanneau, has said that
the drone attacks are unacceptable as they kill innocent people
besides fuelling anti-western and anti-U.S. feelings in the region,
said Daneil Jouanneau while talking to journalists in Quetta the
other day."

"Diplomat Urges U.S., Britain To Plug Arms Smuggling Routes On
Pak-Afghan border" "Dawn" (05/01)

"Every day some 70,000 to 75,000 Afghans cross over the Durand Line
into Pakistan, they all look alike and every one of them could be
mistaken for a Taliban but they enter our country without let or
hindrance on either side of the border, claimed Pakistan's Deputy
High Commissioner Asif Durrani. He was speaking at a panel
discussion on 'Pakistan and Afghanistan: Strategies for the future',
organized by National Union of Pakistani Students & Alumni (NUPSA)
at the London School of Economics on Wednesday evening. He was
highly critical of the West and the U.S. for turning a blind eye on
the drug menace which he said was actually funding the Taliban war
efforts."

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

"Things Falling Apart," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/01)

"Events reported on Thursday indicate that the ongoing violence is
spreading to new areas, and is assuming new and portentous
dimensions.... Meanwhile, Washington continues to add to the
country's manifold problems. There was yet another drone attack in
South Waziristan on Wednesday, killing 10.... The attacks spread
hatred and foil Pakistan's attempts to isolate the Taliban and Al
Qaeda."

"Who Plans To Open Karachi Front?," an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (05/01)

"As if happenings in FATA, Malakand Division and Balochistan were
not enough, some hidden hands have opened a new front in Karachi,
clearly in an attempt to put more pressure on the Government and the
law enforcing agencies.... It is not clear who engineered the
tension at this critical time but there can be no two opinions that
E
those behind the plan are definitely enemies of the country.... One
fails to understand what land mafia wants to achieve by creating
city-wide trouble and how it has become so powerful to disrupt the
normal life.... It is ironical rather shameful that the Government
has become helpless before mafia of different sorts."

"All Parties Must Sit Together To Restore Peace In Karachi," an
editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang"
(cir. 300,000) (05/01)

"Growing militancy in Malakand has necessitated military operation
in the area. Security situation in Waziristan is also volatile.
Enduring peace in those areas is directly linked with tranquility in
the business capital of Pakistan, Karachi. If disturbance continued
in the metropolis, it will become almost impossible for the
government to control security situation in insurgency-hit parts of
the country."

"Karachi Violence," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/01)

"It seems that this is a conspiracy to create unrest in the country,
as already the Taliban are challenging the writ of the state in
Malakand and other tribal areas. At the time when the whole country
is facing a civil war-like situation, the violence in Karachi is a
conspiracy to create problems not only for the country but also for
the people."

"State within A State," an editorial in the centrist national
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/01)

"Over the past weeks it has become obvious the Taliban are engaged
in a game of plunder. This too is how they inspire desperate young
men to join them. The motive is base greed and not religious zeal."


"Life Comes To Standstill In Karachi; Little Help More Demands," an
editorial in Hyderabad based liberal and independent daily "Kawish"
(Cir. 105,000) (05/01)

"Peace, people, security, and even the law are hostage to the
terrorists and their deadly weapons. Government knows very well as
who is behind these violent acts, but political expediency and
administrative limitations do not permit them to take any effective
action. We urge government to fulfill its responsibility of
protecting the lives of people in the city."

"Ethnic Violence In Karachi," an editorial in the popular rightist
Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (05/01)

"It seems that it is a deliberate attempt to create law and order
situation in Karachi, as Pakistan cannot stand turmoil following
unrest in FATA, Balochistan and Swat. People of Pakistan look
forward that the government will deal with the miscreants and
arsonists in Karachi sternly."

"Latest Conspiracy Against Pashtoon In Karachi," an editorial in the
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (05/01)

"Those people who are aware of the past history of Karachi, know
that the current violence is a wicked plan to expel Pashtoon
community from Karachi and destroy their possessions. And MQM was
planning for this scheme for quite some time. Its (MQM's) recent
hue and cry of the so-called 'Talibanization' threat in Karachi was
a part of that plan to defame Pashtoon people who are living in
Karachi. Perhaps, they (MQM) feel threatened with the growing
economic power of the Pashtoon community."

"Violence In Karachi And Administrative Insensitivity," an editorial
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/01)

"Violence in Karachi shows that the writ of the government does not
exist there and that anyone who wants, can take the law in their
hands.... If the government machinery does not bring the ongoing
violence under control immediately, this fire may spread to other
areas. NWFP, FATA and the tribal areas are already up in flames,
God help this country if the Karachi riots spread to other parts of
the country."
"Concrete Steps Needed To Restore Peace," an editorial in liberal
Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/01)

"Poverty and unemployment are a time bomb for Karachi, similarly,
if the government keeps other basic issues in mind only then will we
be able to return Karachi its lost identity of being a
mini-Pakistan [with various ethnicities]."

"Karachi Blows Up Again," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/01)

"The possibility of someone hiring criminals to do drive-by
motorcycle killings cannot be ruled out, but all signs and tokens in
Wednesday's killing spree point to the persisting tensions between
the MQM on the one hand and the ANP and the PPP on the other."

"Make Sincere Efforts To Solve The Balochistan Issue," an editorial
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/01)

"It is unfortunate that bowing to U.S. wishes, the army and the
government have embroiled themselves in Swat and the Tribal areas.
And perhaps this is what the U.S.-India-Israel axis of evil
wants.... How grave the situation in Balochistan is can be judged
from the Governor Magsi's statements and PPP Balochistan Chief
Lashkari Raisani's resignation. Hence the government must
immediately call an all parties conference and plan the
implementation of recommendations by the national leaders made
earlier to meet the just demands of Baloch people."

"Solve Issues Through Talks, Not Bullets," an editorial in the
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir.
50,000) (05/01)

"Problems are not solved through bullets. The people of
Balochistan, Swat and the tribal areas have been deprived of their
basic rights for a long time. They need basic amenities, economic
progress and better lives. There will be unrest as long as these
rights are deprived to them."

"Withdrawing Troops From Eastern Border," an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (05/01)

"The troops taken from the western border to counter the perceived
threat from India have now been returned to its earlier position.
The U.S. and the U.K. are endeavoring to convince Pakistan that
India is not involved as much in terrorism in Pakistan as it thinks.
Even after the production of 'evidence' of Indian interference, the
reaction from the U.S. is that Pakistan has not proved its case."

"Biden's Misperception," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/01)

"He (Biden) wrongly attributes Pakistan's perception of India as
being a cultural hang-up. However, Pakistan cannot ignore the facts
on the ground that keep reminding it of India's continued hostility.
New Delhi has consistently tried to frustrate Islamabad's attempts
at settlement of disputes and forge some kind of an equation to
achieve a measure of good-neighborliness.... If the Americans want
its wholeheartedly attention to defeat the militants, they would
have to view the scenario dispassionately and not pander to the
Indian wishes."

"Afghanistan: The Mother Of All Militancy," an editorial in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (05/01)

"Taliban have gained enough strength and support among the local
population that they control almost entire countryside restricting
the writ of the puppet government and occupation forces to major
cities and military bases. It is becoming more and more clear that
while U.S. waged war in Afghanistan temporarily dislodged Taliban
government but it has not necessarily defeated them and also could
not liberate the people there.... If the U.S. is genuinely
interested to bring an end to terrorism and extremism, it must draw
up an exit strategy from Afghanistan, the mother of militancy, so
that no ground was left with the Taliban to take up arms or indulge
in violent activities."
"Who Will Teach The Army The Virtues Of The Long Haul?," an op-ed by
Ayaz Amir in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (05/01)

"We are as abrupt with our peace deals as with our military
operations. Into both we plunge hastily and, more often than not,
unthinkingly.... Talibanism is not a surface disease. It is rooted
in history, missed opportunities and repeated bouts of folly. It is
not going to go away or be defeated by quick-fix military actions -
actions which wax and wane as the moon does. This struggle requires
nothing less than a revamping of the way we have been running, or
rather mismanaging, Pakistan. It requires a change in our basic
thinking.... We either rise to the challenge we face by reinventing
Pakistan. Or we remain the way we are, waiting resignedly for
whatever awaits us."

"Dangerous Games," an op-ed by Dr. Masooda Bano in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/01)

"How the Taliban can keep taking over districts of NWFP without some
systematic support is difficult to understand. These swings between
giving in completely as done in Swat and then following with
military operations that kill 50 (with no accountability of who they
were) in Buner is a perfect recipe for disaster. The PPP government
has to answer why it is following such a dangerous strategy."

"Taking Back Buner And Dir," an op-ed by Najmuddin A Shaikh in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (05/01)

"The point is that Buner and Lower Dir do indicate that the penny
has dropped for all power centers in Pakistan and they are
determined to fight this menace with all the means at their
disposal. The army, hopefully, will not stop its operation until it
has disarmed the Taliban. But to be able to continue this
operation, the army and the government will need public support and
for that the media has to play a far more constructive role than it
has been inclined to play so far."

"The Confused State," an op-ed by Ejaz Haider in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/01)

"Interestingly, while we have decided to go round in circles on the
issue of how the state should respond to the internal threat, the
Taliban are very clear on the issue of effective control and
sovereignty. They tell the state that carrying weapons is their
Islamic right, and we nod. But why is it that in areas under their
control they would not allow anyone but their cadres to carry
weapons; or allow anyone to do anything without their express
approval?... Simply, they know that governance, to be effective,
needs complete control of territory and population. They do not
have to bear the cross of those nuances that weigh down
liberal-democrats and liberal democracies.... They have learnt it
by fighting the state; a state that still refuses to accept the
danger it faces."

"It's Too Much Now," an op-ed by Yasir Ali Khan in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (05/01)

"The success percentage of the U.S. predator strikes thus comes to
not more than six percent. Despite doing more than enough
Washington still is asking Islamabad to 'do more' to dismantle the
terrorists safe havens operating on its soil.... Can America 'who
claims to be champion of democracy' or Taliban 'who claims to be
protector of our religion' tell who has won 'what' or who has lost
'what' in this bloodbath? Can they answer that who will compensate
to those thousands of innocent Pakistani civilian who died in this
mayhem? What would make happy to those families who lost their kids
and kins?"
Feierstein