MEDIA REACTION: INDO-PAK RELATIONS, G-8

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001475

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STATE FOR NP, AC, PM

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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, G-8
SUMMIT, HUMAN RIGHTS, CHINA; 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.

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INDO-PAK RELATIONS
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1. "ZARDARI'S TRYST WITH TRUTH," commentary in July 15
right of center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Zardari
has shown rare courage in making a candid admission of
the domestic realities. Till recently it was both
blasphemous and anti-national in Islamabad to
acknowledge this truth. The military-led establishment
in Pakistan has kept alive a false narrative that Hindu
India represents an existential threat to its survival
and tried to legitimize the support to terrorism. Today
with the anti-Taliban operations in the troubled Swat
and Buner areas appearing to have succeeded, it is a
more confident President Zardari who is asserting
himself and exhorting his country to accept the
realities about its security compulsions."


2. "PAKISTAN'S HIDE-AND-SEEK," editorial in July 15
right-of-center Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "By playing
hide and seek over the detention of Jamaat-ud-Dawa
chief Hafiz Saeed Pakistan has once again proved that
it has no interest in improving relations with India.
The entire world knows Saeed conducted anti-India
terrorist activities using the aid coming from the
West. Zardari has publicly accepted that Pakistan
created and nurtured terrorism, but he is doing nothing
about it. Pakistan only wants to keep the U.S. happy in
order to continue getting U.S. aid."

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G-8 SUMMIT
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3. "WHAT'S THE OUTCOME OF THE G-8 SUMMIT? IS U.S. WITH
INDIA OR ON THE OTHER SIDE?" op-ed in centrist Marathi
daily, SAKAAL: "From India's perspective, the most
worrying factor at the G-8 meet was the stiff U.S.
stance with regard to nuclear energy cooperation. The
Obama administration does not seem forthcoming and
transparent with regard to the U.S.-India nuclear deal.
In fact there seems to be a very apparent effort to
impose some restrictive clauses on India even before
the execution of the deal. That could be another way of
pressuring India to sign the NPT."

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HUMAN RIGHTS
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4. "APPROPRIATE DECISION OF OBAMA," editorial in July
15 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHRA: "During
the Bush era, American soldiers and American jails
established new records of making a mockery of
international law. Most interestingly, all such deeds

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were performed in the name of establishing peace in the
world, and safeguarding human rights. There should be
legal action against high officials of the Bush
administration. Now, President Obama should expedite
the investigation ensuring that every culprit will be
tried under American penal laws in accordance with
international rules and regulations, no matter if it is
the former President George W. Bush."

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CHINA
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5. "SHORTSIGHTEDNESS OF CHINESE GOVERNMENT," editorial
in July 15 right-of-center Urdu daily, SIASAT: "on July
5, the Chinese government brutally crushed the
agitation in Muslim dominated Xinjiang district. The
massacre in the Muslim concentrated province should be
strongly condemned. If the Chinese government perceives
its consequences and shortsightedness, then it must be
ready for a catastrophe ahead."
BURLEIGH