MEDIA REACTION: INDO-PAK RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001458 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, CHINA/PERSECUTION OF UIGHUR MUSLIMS, SINO-INDIA RELATIONS, G-8/G-14; 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. "ANOTHER ABOUT TURN BY PAKISTAN," editorial in July 15 centrist Marathi daily, LOKMAT: "Despite the prevailing security threats and volatile political situation in Pakistan, the Punjab provincial government informed Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday that it wanted to withdraw its petition challenging the release of Jamaat-ud-Dawah's chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. One cannot gauge how the government did not have adequate evidence against such a dreaded terrorist who is one of the main suspects in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The provincial government's surprise move comes hours before a meeting between the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan in Egypt to review the progress made by Islamabad to bring to book perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. Is this one of the typical Pakistan- style renegades?" -------------- CHINA/PERSECUTION OF UIGHUR MUSLIMS -------------- ¶2. "A SHORT-SIGHTED POLICY AGAINST CHINESE MUSLIMS," editorial in July 14 right-of-center Urdu daily, ETEMAAD: "After 9/11 in America, China brought changes in its policies toward Muslims. It also started maligning Chinese Muslims as separatists and supporters of al-Qaeda, although the ideologies of al-Qaeda and Uighur Muslims in China are poles apart. The Communist leadership never tried to find out the basic reasons for the unrest and anger, although the demands of Chinese Muslims are age-old. If the communist leadership does not give ear to their demands and continues to suppress them forcefully, then it must be ready to face volcanic situations in the future." -------------- SINO-INDIA RELATIONS -------------- ¶3. "ESCALATING DANGER FROM CHINA," editorial in July 14 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "An Indian defense analyst has expressed his concerns about a possible attack on India by China. India's rise as a major economic or nuclear power, or its becoming a permanent member of the Security Council will affect Chinese interests. Under these circumstances, one can easily understand that China may seek an opportunity to enfeeble India. It is high time that our government should perceive the real dangers from China and take appropriate initiatives for its security." NEW DELHI 00001458 002 OF 002 -------------- G-8/G-14 -------------- ¶4. "THE POLITICS OF G," editorial in July 15 independent Kolkata Bengali, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "The formation of the relatively new combine of 'G-14' is significant because G-8 member countries growingly realize that it is not possible for them to frame and implement any policy without the cooperation from the developing nations. If India wants to derive any satisfaction out of the formation of the G-14, it should not be denied because India has been one of the staunchest critics of the G-8. But it is clear that the effort to set up a G-14 would not have been possible without the presence of and pressure from China, the global economic giant." BURLEIGH