MEDIA REACTION: INDO-PAK RELATIONS, U.S.-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001432 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: INDO-PAK RELATIONS, U.S.- RUSSIA, U.S.-IRAN, 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. -------------- INDO-PAK RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "A SHAMELESS CONFESSION," editorial in July 10 centrist Marathi daily, LOKMAT: "President Zardari made a sensational admission, saying Pakistan nurtured terrorists as a policy to achieve tactical objectives. Now anything that Zardari does is not simple. So he might take a u-turn and deny or twist the admission. This admission could have been prompted by a series of circumstances, which includes some straight talk done by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Also, Zardari has been under international and domestic pressure to put some order into the Pakistani administration. He faces political rivalry at every juncture of his administrative life. Zardari is also mindful of the U.S. Secretary of State visit to India. Zardari is just trying to neutralize the scenario in his favor." ¶2. "RARE RECOGNITION," editorial in July 10 independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "Zardari is the first Pakistani President to openly admit his country's covert activities. The question is does this statement indicate that there is a distance between the president and the highest military authorities? Still, India will feel pleased with Zardari's remarks. No doubt, the impact of Pakistan's anti-terror mechanism will be felt more on its own national political scene than on India. Hopefully, Islamabad realizes this fundamental truth and takes steps." -------------- U.S.-RUSSIA -------------- ¶3. "FRIENDLY PATH," editorial in July 9 Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Russia has been successful in terms of advancing nuclear weapon control, but he did not get a very warm welcome in Russia. Both countries are troubled by terrorism in the Middle East and they share good synchronization on the issue. Obama's initiative of nuclear disarmament can be useful for Russia because through this Moscow can reduce pressure from NATO. If Obama succeeds in assuring the Russians that neither is he offensive toward Russia, nor does he want to pressure it, then Russia can help him in the Middle East. Obama is trying to prove that he understands the reality of the multi-polar world. If he succeeds in making the suspicious Russians trust his intentions, perhaps he will be welcomed in Russia next time." -------------- U.S.-IRAN -------------- NEW DELHI 00001432 002 OF 002 ¶4. "JOE BIDEN'S INAPPROPRIATE STATEMENT," editorial in July 9 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "US. Vice President Joe Biden's statement that the Obama administration would not stop Israel if it decided to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities has helped to sabotage the possibility of easing tensions between Iran and America. Apart from this, the statement also negates the efforts of President Obama to normalize America's relations with all Islamic countries, including Iran, as well as the chance to present a positive image of America in the Muslim world. This very double standard has been the cause of the negative image of the U.S. throughout the Muslim world." -------------- NORTH KOREA -------------- ¶5. "NORTH KOREA EMBOLDENED BY CHINA," op-ed article in July 9 Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "With the recent missile tests, North Korea has once again proven that nobody can stop its rogue behavior. The question arises, why this hesitation for years in North Korea's case? For years, China has been giving protection to North Korea. By giving humanitarian economic aid, the U.S. has showed it is a responsible nation. But Kim has resisted falling into this trap. The question that remains unanswered is why do the U.S. and its allies tolerate North Korea? The fact is that China still supports it. China can easily use North Korea to obstruct the U.S. activities in East Asia. Now only the people of North Korean, stunted by starvation, can punish Kim. There is no other way." BURLEIGH