MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001621

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,
MYANMAR: PROLIFERATION OF ATOMIC WEAPONS; 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. "PRIME MINISTER'S NEW POLICY," op-ed in August 2
right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Prime
Minister Singh's message in Parliament was clear:
Pakistan is a tough neighbor, and we along with other
nations should prepare it to denounce terror. Since
Pakistan has nuclear weapons, all nations will have to
adopt a patient strategy to deal with its army and the
ISI."


2. "MEANINGLESS DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN," op-ed in
August 2 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN:
"India may have to pay a heavy diplomatic price due to
its goof-up with the joint statement at Sharm-el-
Sheikh. The U.S. has been unable to build pressure on
Islamabad, despite knowing about Pakistan's anti-India
activities. We should strive for peace with Pakistan,
but not at the cost of our national interest. The U.S.
has turned a blind eye toward Pakistan's terrorist
activities for its own vested interests. It did not
even try to get to the bottom of allegations that
American financial aid to Pakistan is being used
against India."


3. "INDIA-PAKISTAN DIALOGUE: MANMOHAN SINGH'S NEW
GAMBLE," editorial in August 2 left-of-center Marathi
daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "Prime Minister Singh has
rightly pointed out the inevitability of the bilateral
dialogue between two geographically-close neighbors
like India and Pakistan. One appreciates the validity
of that argument. But the point is that Pakistan's
stance towards the terrorist networks flourishing on
its soil has not undergone any sea change after the
Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan's attitude and its
track record are not encouraging. It does not seem to
appreciate or reciprocate the peacemaking efforts made
by India in the last six months."


4. "CONTINUE WITH THE DIALOGUE," editorial in August 1
right-of-center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "The
Congress-led UPA government's recent statements that
dialogue with Pakistan is the only way forward smacks
of its infirmity and helplessness in dealing with a
rogue neighbor. The government's approach of having
dialogue with Pakistan despite the latter's policy of
bleeding India through a thousand cuts has enraged the
people of India beyond a limit. Besides, the Indo-
Pakistan joint statement also indicates the Congress
government's feeble foreign policy approach."


5. "TALKS WITH PAKISTAN SHOULD CONTINUE," MP Mohammad
Adeeb's remarks in August 2 right-of-center Urdu daily,
HAMARA SAMAJ: "Our foreign policy has lost its way. It

NEW DELHI 00001621 002 OF 002


is inclined toward America but hollow as far as values
are concerned. India is a big power and we should be
firm on our values. All nations across the world need
our support. Saddam Hussein and Yasser Arafat were our
time-tested friends. They were eliminated by the cruel
powers and we could not support them in their bad days.
We are losing our friends. We should go back to our
old foreign policy and lead the world once again. India
must continue talks with Pakistan."

--------------
MYANMAR: PROLIFERATION OF ATOMIC WEAPONS
--------------


6. "PROLIFERATION OF ATOMIC WEAPONS," editorial in
August 3 right-of-center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS:
"It's a matter of concern not only for India but for
the entire world community that Myanmar is very close
to joining the nuclear club with the help of North
Korea and may obtain an atomic bomb anytime soon. The
involvement of Pakistan's absconding atomic scientists
can't be ignored. It may also be a planned conspiracy
hatched by Pakistan to spoil the balance of power in
South Asia. Why isn't the world adopting a similar
harsh attitude towards Myanmar and North Korea as it is
towards Iran?"
ROEMER