MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN/TERRORISM;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001340 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/TERRORISM; INDIA/PAKISTAN; NORTH KOREA; 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/TERRORISM -------------- ¶1. "TALIBAN'S TYRANNY IN FAILED PAKISTAN," editorial in June 29 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "The Taliban-orchestrated violence and mayhem is becoming a severe challenge for Pakistani administrators, with innocent civilians becoming targets of mindless acts of terrorism that has ruined the peace in Pakistan. The Taliban have now found a new torture method by demanding 'jizya' (protection money) from the non- Muslim [Hindus and Sikhs] communities in Pakistan. Besides, the Taliban and Al Qaeda are eyeing Pakistan's nuclear weapons to use against America and Britain. The Pakistani government seems to have run out of options in reining in such rogue outfits. It is in this light that Pakistan has been mentioned among the top 10 in the 'failed states' category." ¶2. "LIKELIHOOD OF ANOTHER ATTACK ON INDIA?" op-ed article in June 29 right-of-center Marathi daily, SAAMNA: "India's ruling government is hardly serious about expediting the investigations of the 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai. The state government in Maharashtra has also not dealt with the investigation in a manner that it was expected to do. But now worse is the news of the possibility of yet another militant attack from across the Pakistani border. None else but the U.S. think-tank Rand Corporation has warned India to be alert to the possibility of yet another offensive from insurgent groups on the India-Pakistan border. Another U.S. think-tank Stratford also corroborates similar information." ¶3. "A FIGHT WITH TALIBAN," op-ed in June 28 left-of- center Marathi daily, LOKSATTA: "U.S. National Security Advisor Jim Jones has expressed satisfaction over Pakistan's fight against forces like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Now, that is reassuring for Pakistan because in a way that validates Pakistan's claim for the U.S. military and financial aid in the fight against Taliban terror. One just hopes that this war on terror is a serious and well-meaning attempt to contain the Taliban." -------------- INDIA/PAKISTAN -------------- ¶4. "MEANINGLESS APPEAL FOR SUPPORT," op-ed article in June 28 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "President Zardari appealed to the international community for its support to Pakistan in its fight against the Taliban. He is right that if Pakistan does not get support, the world will have to bear the consequences. He also underlined NEW DELHI 00001340 002 OF 002 that the U.S. used Pakistan as a tool against Russia and that the Pakistani army and the U.S. jointly created the Taliban. The question that arises is how effective are Pakistan's successive governments in fighting terror? In any case, Pakistan targets only those terrorists who are challenging its authority. It should also go after anti-India groups like Al-Qaida, Lashkar and Jaish." -------------- NORTH KOREA -------------- ¶5. "NUCLEAR TERRORISM BY TWO NATIONS," commentary in June 27 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "North Korea and Pakistan present similar nuclear-proliferation risks. While North Korea is a growing regional threat, Pakistan -- with its expanding nuclear armory, and jihadist-infiltrated military and nuclear establishments -- is an international nightmare. The outlook of North Korea and Pakistan are based on blackmail, which can be summed up as "reaping rewards by threatening to fail". Pakistan's success in extracting ever-more international aid has emboldened North Korea. The only way the international community can regain leverage against North Korea and Pakistan is to unflinchingly pursue a nonproliferation course that is not constrained by the specter of state collapse." BURLEIGH