MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001220 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH IN CAIRO, BURNS VISIT, CTBT; NEW DELHI. This countrywide cable reports on relevant media reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. The Mission reports on English-language media via email through the daily "Early Edition" summary. -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶1. "AMERICA'S HYPOCRISY," editorial in June 12 centrist Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "America seems to be singing the same old raga of Indo-Pak talks. Pakistan has moved its troops from the Indian border to the Afghan border. But does that mean that all its sins can be absolved? One should ask Richard Holbrooke. After 26th November, it was thought that India would attack Pakistan. But over time India lost the opportunity to attack Pakistan, and now Pakistan has weakened considerably due to its own internal conflict." ¶2. "DANGER OF UNSTABLE PAKISTAN," opinion piece in centrist Marathi daily, SAKAL: "What might be the future of Pakistan: a further divided Pakistan; a Pakistan completely controlled by the Taliban; the Taliban and the army jointly sharing power; or a weak Pakistan dominated by Saudi Arabia and China? All of the last three possibilities go against India's interest." ¶3. "PAKISTAN SITTING ON POWDER KEG," editorial in June 11 centrist Gujarati daily, GUJARATMITRA: "It is surprising to know that terrorist attacks on India emanating from Pakistani soil have reduced drastically. The major reason is that terrorists are running amok in Pakistan, creating havoc there. Even Pakistani leaders have accepted that the Taliban, and not India, poses a serious threat to Pakistan. It is high time Pakistan does some introspection on what led to this current state of affairs." ¶4. "PAKISTAN'S DESTINY," editorial in June 12 independent Guwahati Assamese, ASAMIYA KHABOR: "Pakistan is paying the price for playing with fire for so long. A true democratic government with full control over the army and the ISI, and less interference from Washington can only help Pakistan get out of this hopeless situation." -------------- PRESIDENT OBAMA'S SPEECH IN CAIRO -------------- �A; ¶5. "OBAMA'S NEW OUTLOOK," op-ed in June 10 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "President Obama's Cairo speech had a positive effect at the international level. At the same time, however, there is a cause for concern for India. The U.S. can raise the Kashmir issue anytime to appease the Muslim world, particularly Pakistan. We should be extremely careful and strengthen the Indian lobby in America to counter this." NEW DELHI 00001220 002 OF 003 -------------- BURNS VISIT -------------- ¶6. "UNCLE SAM SINGS A DIFFERENT TUNE," front page report in June 11 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "President Obama's emissary, Under Secretary William Burns, sprang a surprise on India's unsuspecting foreign policy establishment. On Wednesday, Burns pressured New Delhi to hold an unconditional dialogue with Pakistan. We all know of America's duplicity on Pakistan; on Wednesday, Burns put his stamp on it." ¶7. "BURNS IMPROPER TALK," editorial in June 12 right- of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "The way U.S. Under Secretary Burns pressured India to unconditionally resume talks with Pakistan has made clear once again that the U.S. administration gives much more importance to its own narrow self interests. If this were not true, the U.S. would not have ignored Pakistan's acts against India. The sympathy that was shown by Burns for the Kashmiri people deepens doubts about true U.S. intensions. Indian leadership should not shy away in countering U.S. pressure." ¶8. "OBAMA'S LETTER," editorial in June 12 centrist Hindi daily, HINDUSTAN: "Burns has brought President Obama's letter to Prime Minister Singh and the significance of the letter is that India occupies an undoubtedly key position in U.S. foreign policy. The doubt being expressed on the Indian side is that, for the U.S., Indian interests are not important. And another suspicion is that the U.S. can, on Pakistan's demand, think of interfering in Kashmir. Burns visit is an effort to end both these doubts." ¶9. "THE U.S. DESIRE," editorial in June 12 centrist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "The India visit of U.S. Under Secretary of State William Burns is an important diplomatic event. This meeting was not an imposition of the U.S. vision. The U.S. itself emphasized that the aid to Pakistan was to be used only against terrorism. This is the same thing India wants. If the U.S. wants to establish peace between the two neighbors then it should mount pressure on Pakistan to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan." -------------- CTBT -------------- ¶10. "CTBT AN ILLUSION," editorial in June 11 Hindi daily, NAVBHARAT TIMES: "India is concerned about former U.S. Congresswoman Ellen O. Tauscher's intent to pursue India, Pakistan and Israel to sign the CTBT. The irony is that the U.S. is the first one to oppose the CTBT, but trying hard to get it implemented. Thus, it will be better that Tauscher first gets her own Congress's approval for this. Just like the NPT, this treaty is also discriminatory, because the real issue is complete disarmament." NEW DELHI 00001220 003 OF 003 BURLEIGH