MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, U.S-

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001604 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: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, U.S- INDIA RELATIONS; 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. -------------- INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "INDIA-PAKISTAN TALKS: NO NEGOTIATION OUT OF FEAR; AND NO FEAR OF NEGOTIATION," editorial in July 31 centrist Marathi daily, LOKMAT: "In his response to the accusation of being a sellout to Pakistan, Prime Minister Singh reiterated Kennedy's rhetoric: "let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate". And while maintainig that he intends to continue the dialogue with Pakistan, he endorsed the Reagan line: "trust but verify". Singh still feels that it is not in the common interest of both countries to make peace talks solely conditional on Pakistan's immediate action against the terrorists." ¶2. "IS PAKISTAN WORTH TRUSTING?" editorial in July 31 centrist Marathi daily, SAKAAL: "The Indian Prime Minister's recent rhetoric on Pakistan is obviously a result of subtle pressure exercised by the U.S. One can see that India has mellowed its stance with regard to the resumption of peace talks with Pakistan. The world knows that the U.S. has high and visible stakes in the India-Pakistan talks. And having entered into a long- term bilateral relationship with the U.S, India cannot resist U.S. pressure beyond a point. But while the PM toes the U.S. line and expresses optimism over the fresh round of renewed peace talks with Pakistan, the Indian people are wary of Pakistan's future strategic moves." ¶3. "QUESTION OF TRUST," editorial in July 31, Bangalore-based independent Kannada daily, VIJAY KARNATAKA: "Prime Minister Singh has come up with a nice phrase "trust and verify" with regard to Indo-Pak relations. He was forced to issue the clarification in the wake of controversial interpretations of the recent Indo-Pak joint statement. Confusion continues over the Baluchistan issue even after a clarification was given. While it is imperative for Congress to back the Prime Minister in this issue, the Opposition continues its tirade against the joint statement. Is it really possible to hold talks with Pakistan in this situation?" ¶4. "MAGIC OF MANMOHAN TALK," editorial in July 31, Bangalore-based independent Kannada daily, KANNADA PRABHA: "Though the Prime Minister's clarification on the Indo-Pak joint statement has not convinced all, he achieved partial success in silencing the Opposition to an extent. Prime Minister Singh made a contentious statement that war will be the only option if talks did not occur. However, the current situation makes the Indo-Pak statement almost irrelevant. Probably, everyone wanted that to happen." NEW DELHI 00001604 002 OF 002 ¶5. "CLARIFICATION ON JOINT STATEMENT," editorial in July 30 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "PM Singh's explanation on the Sharm el-Sheikh declaration does not help. It is bizarre that India agreed to delink terrorism from talks with Pakistan! By the time Singh clarified that he did not refer to the composite dialogue, the damage was already done. There is no place for such liberalism in diplomatic affairs. The Sharm el-Sheikh joint statement has become a symbol of India's diplomatic error." -------------- U.S-INDIA RELATIONS -------------- ¶6. "INDIA'S DILEMMA IN THE WORLD'S CHANGING SCENARIO," op-ed article in July 30 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "China's emergence has upset the balance of power in this region. As a consequence, India has been marginalized. Earlier, the U.S. considered India as a growing power to establish a balance of power in the Asia-Pacific area. But now it looks at India as a regional power at best, whose role is limited to assuring that Pakistan fights with its complete force against the Taliban and does not get distracted on the Kashmir issue. India will have to find ways to overturn this power balancing." ROEMER