PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 06, 2009

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000971

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 06, 2009

Summary: U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke's statement quashing all
speculations of a "military takeover" in Pakistan saying that "it
would be terrible if it happened and Washington would oppose it
strongly" dominated headlines in all newspapers on Wednesday.
Newspapers highlighted report that "hundreds of people fled Mingora
after the military urged residents to seek safety as fresh fighting
with Taliban militants could erupt." President Zardari's assurance
to the U.S. administration that "Pakistan's nuclear assets are not
in any danger of falling in the hands of the insurgents" received
prominent display. Some major dailies ran the White House statement
reiterating that "there would be no 'blank checks' for Pakistan."
Report of a "suicide attack near Peshawar killing at least seven
people including two children" received front page coverage.

Most major dailies ran editorials on the new National Judicial
Policy announced the other day. However, several editorial writers
and columnists discussed the overall security situation of the
country, and President Zardari's visit to the United States.
Commenting on the Kerry-Lugar bill, the prestigious daily, "Dawn,"
observed that "if the U.S. aid is delivered quickly and spent
effectively, meaningful change on the ground can be achieved." The
second-largest Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" opined that the "constant
propaganda by President Obama, Secretary Clinton, Secretary Gates
and Admiral Mullen that India is not a threat to Pakistan could be
part of a big international conspiracy." The Peshawar-based Urdu
daily, "Mashriq," noted that "it is a matter of satisfaction that
the government has finally decided to launch a full-fledged military
operation in Swat to flush out Taliban from the valley." End
Summary.

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

"U.S. Not To Support Military Coup, Says Holbrooke" "Dawn" (05/06)

"The United States on Tuesday quashed all speculations of a military
take-over in Pakistan, saying that it would be terrible if it
happened and Washington would oppose it strongly. U.S. special
envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke touched on a
number of sensitive issues in his testimony before the house Foreign
Affairs Committee. He opposed linking U.S. aid to allowing access
to Dr. A.Q. Khan and indicated that the U.S. might be working on a
program with Pakistan to block FM Radio broadcasts by pro-Taliban
clerics."

"Pakistan Not A Failed State" "The News" (05/06)

"Stressing that the United States has the 'highest strategic
interests' in supporting the democratic government of Pakistan,
Richard Holbrooke voiced President Barack Obama's strong backing for
the civilian government led by President Asif Ali Zardari.
Testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Holbrooke
told lawmakers that we should not confuse this (support) with
prediction of collapse (of the Pakistani state). 'Pakistan is not a
failed state,' he said, adding Pakistan is facing challenges but is
not in a situation where it could collapse."

"Exodus From Swat As Operation Looms" "Dawn" (05/06)

"Hundreds of people fled Swat's main town of Mingora on Tuesday
after the military urged residents to seek safety as fresh fighting
with Taliban militants could erupt."

"Nuclear Assets Safe, Zardari Assures U.S." "Dawn" (05/06)

"President Asif Ali Zardari has assured the Obama administration
that his government is determined to root out insurgency in the
frontier region and that country's nuclear assets are not in any
danger of falling in the hands of the insurgents. The assurance was
conveyed in a preliminary meeting with U.S. Special Envoy for
Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke on Monday night before
the Wednesday summit at the White House."

"Haqqani Tells U.S. Not To Spread Pakistan Nuclear Scare" "The News"
(05/06)

"Pakistan on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of its nuclear assets
falling into the wrong hands, with its top diplomat in Washington
asking American experts to desist from scaring people with highly
unlikely hypothetical scenarios, Ambassador Husain Haqqani told
CNN."

"Security Of Pakistan's Nukes Still Cause Of Concern" "Dawn"
(05/06)

"The security of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is still cause of
concern for Washington despite reassurances that the weapons are out
of reach of Taliban militants, the U.S. National Security Advisor
General James Jones said in an interview with the BBC."

"No Blank Checks For Pakistan: White House" "Dawn" (05/06)

"The White House vowed Tuesday there would be no 'blank checks' for
Pakistan after two top U.S. senators unveiled plans to expand and
overhaul civilian aid to the key U.S. ally. 'The President has said
on numerous occasions there shouldn't be and there won't be blank
checks.' 'The President supports the building in of accountability
measures to ensure that we are making progress and if progress isn't
made then we'll readjust our strategy,' White House spokesman Robert
Gibbs said."

"Kerry-Lugar Bill A Positive Beginning: FO" "The News" (05/06)

"Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir and senior officials of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed a guarded optimism over the
Kerry-Lugar bill, which triples the United States' civilian aid to
Pakistan to $1.5 billion per annum for the next five years, saying
that they were looking at it 'positively,' the Foreign Office
spokesman told 'The News.'"

"U.S. Body Agrees To Lift Pro-India Condition On Pak Aid" "The News"
(05/06)

"Pakistan has ultimately prevailed upon the U.S. House International
Committee on Foreign Relations to relax its India-specific
conditions proposed in the bill for the provision of $1.5 billion
annually for five years. An understanding in this regard reached in
Washington on Tuesday at the Capitol Hill during the meeting of the
committee with Visiting President Asif Ali Zardari who had a lengthy
discussion with the committee members."

"Obama Ally Doubts U.S. Aid Will Make An Impact" "The News" (05/06)

"A top U.S. lawmaker said on Tuesday that Pakistan must 'show
seriousness of purpose' against extremists and Afghanistan must do
more against corruption ahead of tough three-way talks in
Washington. 'I think there's a continuing concern as to whether or
not we can be successful in these two countries,' Democratic House
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters in Washington."

"U.S. Officials Discuss Peace, Security Issues With Malik" "The
News" (05/06)

"Issues relating to peace and development in South Asia were
discussed in Washington on Tuesday between senior American officials
and Interior Minister Rehman Malik. Those meeting the Minister
included U.S. Special Representative on Afghanistan and Pakistan
Richard Holbrooke, Eric J. Roswell, Assistant Secretary Bureau of
Diplomatic Security, State Department and David Johson, Assistant
Secretary Bureau of Intelligence, Narcotics and Law Enforcement."

"Suicide Bomber Kills 7 Near Peshawar" "Dawn" (05/06)

"Seven people, two children and a Frontier Corps soldier among them,
were killed and 48 others injured when an explosives-laden car
rammed into a pick-up near a check-post on the Bara road on Tuesday
morning, eyewitnesses told 'Dawn.'"

"Militants Take Over Executive Offices In Swat; 18 Killed In Fierce
Fighting As Thousands Flee; Muslim Khan Claims 90 Per Cent Control
Over Valley" "The News" (05/06)

"Militants on Tuesday attacked the DIG office, Commissioner Office,
police station and museum in Saidu Sharif and finally captured the
DIG office as the fighting between security forces and militants
raged in the Swat valley, which left 18 dead and 20 others
injured.... While talking to reporters, Taliban spokesman Muslim
Khan claimed militants were in control of '90 per cent' of the
valley and said their actions were in response to 'Army violations
of the peace deal.'"

"Swat To Be Evacuated Ahead Of Operation" "The News" (05/06)

"A military operation is in the offing in Swat where the whole
population in targeted areas would be evacuated and shifted to camps
before decisive storming by the Army. However, despite the military
operation, the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation, 2009 would remain enforced, a
key Frontier government source said."

"Sufi, Fazlullah Have No Control Over Taliban" "The News" (05/06)

"Taliban are becoming a greater threat in Swat and other troubled
areas, as they have regrouped after implementation of Nizam-e-Adl
Regulation, an official report says. The report, which was
submitted to the government by the security agencies, revealed that
Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi Chief Sufi Mohammad and Maulana
Fazlullah have no control over Taliban."

"2,260 Displaced Families Reach Swabi" "The News" (05/06)

"The officials of the district administration said on Tuesday that
2,260 displaced families had so far arrived in Swabi from Buner
district and got them registered with the administration."

"TTP Warns NWFP Doctors Over Dress" "The News" (05/06)

"The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has allegedly warned
doctors of the public sector hospitals in Peshawar to stop wearing
shirts and trousers or face suicide bombing, a senior doctor of the
Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) - told 'The News' on condition of
anonymity."

"19 Killed In Mohmand Clashes; Six Troops Missing" "Dawn" (05/06)

"Fifteen militants, two security personnel and two civilians were
killed in clashes between troops and Taliban in Mohmand tribal
region on Tuesday."

"Tortured, Stripped, And Video Taped - This Is Dr. Aafia's Story!"
"The News" (05/06)

"Inside a New York jail, six masked men tied her hands behind her
back, stripped her naked, and made a video recording of her
humiliation. While being taken back to her cell in a wheelchair, a
woman covered her with a blanket and begged the masked men not to
humiliate Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. 'In response to a question about the
nature of security checks, Dr. Aafia said many a times she was
stripped in the name of a 'security check' in the New York Jail and
due to that humiliation she even stopped seeing her lawyer. She
despised being stripped for security checks.'"

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

"A Fresh Start," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"As the country potentially moves closer to a necessary but messy
fight against the militants, it is clear that focusing on one
geographical area or the military option alone will not be enough to
defeat a rising militancy. A large part of any successful long-term
strategy against militancy will involve improving the state's
ability to govern and deliver basic public services to its
people.... So if the U.S. aid is delivered quickly and spent
effectively, meaningful change on the ground can be achieved."

"Indian Military Exercises And Destructive Ambitions," an editorial
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/06)

"It is unfortunate that the U.S. is exaggerating the threat from
Talibanization and even Pakistani officials nod when such things are
said but no one is raising their voice against India's water
aggressi. The Indian military exercises and water terrorism have
also exposed U.S. assurances that Pakistan faces no threat from
India. The constant propaganda by Obama, Hillary Clinton, Robert
Gates and Mike Mullen that India is not a threat to Pakistan could
be part of a big international conspiracy also."
E

"Government Left With No Option Except Military Operation," an
editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir.
55,000) (05/06)

"It is a matter of satisfaction that the government has finally
decided to launch a full-fledged military operation in Swat to flush
out Taliban from the valley. However it is equally important to
urge the residents of Swat valley to vacate the area to avoid any
civilian casualties during the operation. Moreover, the government
should take immediate steps to accommodate the IDPs and provide them
with basic amenities of life in those makeshift camps."

"Tripled Expectations," an editorial in the centrist national
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"The Kerry-Lugar bill, under which U.S. military and non-military
aid to Pakistan would triple to $1.5 billion a year, has been tabled
in the U.S. Senate ... stressing that Pakistan must tackle militancy
and ensure no help is offered to terrorist groups from its soil....
The fact is that we can gain access to more assistance from the
world only if we can persuade it of our will to go after
terrorists.... Assistance is not offered because there is a lack of
confidence in capability and commitment. This impression must then
be changed so that Pakistan can benefit from the new legislation and
other bills like it - now and also in the future."

"How Long U.S. Would Continue To Fool Us?" an editorial in the
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir.
33,000) (05/06)

"The Kerry-Lugar bill aims to establish long-term relation between
Pakistan and the U.S. In fact, Senator Kerry and Senator Lugar are
deceiving people of Pakistan by talking of building relations with
us. How can they assume that people of Pakistan would have
friendship with a country who continues to strike our land with
drone predators? Pakistan should demonstrate courage to reject the
so-called sympathies of AMERICA and tell them that Pakistanis hate
them, and our ways are parted from now on. After all how long the
U.S. would continue to befool us?"

"All-Out War," an editorial in the centrist national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"The military can wrest back final control of areas currently under
the Taliban only if it is not impeded and held back as has happened
in the past. People are desperate to be rescued from the militants.
The military must live up to their expectations.... They must
fight off the Taliban and demonstrate that Pakistan is a strong,
viable state. But at the same time they must also protect people
and, by doing so, build a bigger coalition that can shake off the
evil hold of the Taliban."

"Who Is Responsible For The Worsening Situation In Swat And
Adjoining Areas?," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express"
(cir. 25,000) (05/06)

"The real intentions of Swati Taliban are slowly becoming clear, and
it seems that their supporters are also growing aware of the real
situation.... Although the situation in the region is pretty bad,
it has not yet reached a point of no-return. Hence it would not be
wrong to say that the TNSM still has time to get on with the
experiment of Nizam-i-Adl, but only in Swat and that too under
government supervision. Otherwise a full-fledged operation in area
would be inevitable."

"Kerry-Lugar Bill: Still Seeking Control Over Pakistan," an op-ed by
Shireen M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"The U.S. leadership with its multiple histrionics, beginning with
Obama, has made its negative Pakistan agenda clear: it is eventually
seeking control of our nuclear assets and we are playing into their
hands. On the one hand, the militants are threatening the fabric of
Pakistani society and on the other hand the U.S. is creating violent
dissensions within Pakistan not only amongst civil society but also
between the military and civilian structures. It knows that unless
it destroys the military institution, it cannot achieve its goal of
targeting out nuclear assets. So, it is demanding a role for the
military which will undermine its morale, bring it into conflict
with its own people and create further unrest.... As for the US
agenda, what part is still not clear to our rulers?"

"Pakistan's Critical Hour," an op-ed by Ahmed Rashid in the
Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/06)

"The speed and conditions with which Congress provides emergency aid
to Islamabad will affect the Pakistani government and army's ability
and will to resist the Taliban onslaught. It will also affect
America's image in Pakistan and the regions. Pakistanis are looking
for evidence of the long-term U.S. commitment about which President
Obama has spoken.... Congress should authorize these funds quickly,
giving the Obama administration tools to convince the Pakistani
people that it is standing behind them."

"Is Obama's Concern Justified?," an op-ed by Zubeida Mustafa in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"The possibility of Pakistan's failure in countering the insurgency
gives rise to Washington's next concern. What if Pakistan's nuclear
weapons fall into the hands of the militants? Taliban armed with
nukes would pose a mortal danger to the world. This analysis cannot
be disputed. The problem for us is that we do not know how the U.S.
plans to address the issue of the 'fragility' and 'inability' of the
government. The U.S. has pumped in massive sums into the country -
the latest initiative envisages another $7.5bn over five years. But
it now realizes that foreign assistance by itself is not enough. It
lines a few pockets - in Pakistan as well as in AMERICA - and does
not always trickle down to the common man to win his loyalty for
those at the helm. It is the government in Islamabad that must put
the funds to sensible and honest use for the benefit of the common
man. Thus alone can he be made to feel he has a stake in the
system."

"Thank you, America," an op-ed by Ijaz Hussain in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/06)

"It is possible to put several interpretations on what Obama said.
One interpretation is that he has tried to provide justification to
the US Congress for an easy passage of the Kerry-Lugar bill. After
all, Obama's statement was not far from the truth because the
Zardari government has undeniably failed to provide good governance.
However, Obama can be faulted for using an inappropriate language
and for publicly criticizing the civilian government. The second
interpretation is based on the timing of the statement, made a few
days before President Zardari's visit to Washington. In this view,
Obama made the remarks in order to pressurize Zardari to make him
fully toe the American line on terrorism."

"State Of Pakistan-U.S. Ties," an op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"The U.S., like many Pakistanis, too wants the national political
leadership to be in partnership while tackling national problems.
However mid-term elections do not appear to be an option of
first-choice for key power-brokers and power-players within and
outside of Pakistan. Overall it appears that within the Obama
administration there is an attempt to engage more wisely with the
issues that are of concern to Pakistan. The statement that was made
while tabling the Kerry-Lugar Bill is significant in this respect."


"The Cost Of Delayed Action," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"It may well have been a combination of internal and external
factors that goaded an inert government into action. But the delay
in making the decision to confront an increasingly dangerous
situation speaks volumes about both the quality of leadership and
its ability to accurately read the situation and act promptly. This
has reinforced the characteristic that the government has displayed
in the past year, of acting only when an issue or problem explodes
in its face.... What is apparent from the developments of the past
several weeks is that the response to the growing threat of
militancy cannot just assume the shape of fire-fighting. A coherent
and comprehensive strategy is needed to replace the patchwork and
inconsistent approach followed thus far. This means going beyond
the mantra of 'Deterrence, Dialogue and Development' that the PPP
government marshals out as its counter-insurgency policy. This
serves as a slogan rather than a serious plan of action."

"The Suicide Dream," an op-ed by Aqab Malik in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(05/06)

"According to the philosophy of the Taliban and their foreign
cohorts, 'peace' deals are fundamentally used only to secure
short-term objectives for long-term goals.... The promises within
the deal are written and signed, but are not being pursued on
account of the Taliban's delaying tactics. There appears to be
little doubt that the Taliban's long-term strategy is to secure the
whole of Pakistan, irrespective of what they say while making deals
with the government. After all, if they are bereft of a conscience
when it comes to killing innocent human beings, why would they care
about the deals they make?"

"Talibanization & Musharraf," an op-ed by Shehryar Mazari in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (05/06)

"The Taliban crisis is a direct result of Musharraf's legacy. For
self-preservation he deliberately weakened the secular political
structure, replacing it with a political environment which proved
extremely conducive for religio-political militant groups that now
threaten the existence of Jinnah's Pakistan.... Obviously today's
most burning issue is the Talibanization of large swathes of our
country from where it appears to be spreading day by day, night by
night. There is little point in berating the culprit."
Feierstein