MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001636 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, SOUTH ASIAN SECURITY/INDIA, PAKISTAN, WAR AGAINST TERRORISM; 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. "MISPLACED GENEROSITY," op-ed in August 3 right-of- center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's latest peace overture to a recalcitrant Pakistan seems bewildering and misplaced. How can you repose trust in a Pakistan that is unwilling to own up to its misdemeanors? Pakistan, which was worsted after the 9/11 attacks and the Anglo- American 'war on terror', is on the verge of recovering lost ground and scoring a major foreign policy triumph. The real advantage for Pakistan lies in the fact that an economically devastated West has lost the political resolve to persist with the war in Afghanistan. It is looking for ways to extricate itself from what is generally being regarded as a no-win situation. The consequences of Prime Minister Singh's generosity may well be Pakistan's victory in Afghanistan. The Indian Prime Minister deserves an award from Pakistan." -------------- SOUTH ASIAN SECURITY/INDIA -------------- ¶2. "THE TRUTH BEHIND INDIA'S NUCLEAR SUBMARINE," op-ed in August 3 centrist Hindi daily, NAVBHARAT TIMES: "Those Indians who are gloating over the indigenously built nuclear submarine do not know the extent to which Russia played a role in this. With economic liberalization, Russian companies are now out to make profit, and India fits in very well as a willing client. India is now in a trap, out of which it can only come if it develops indigenous technological capabilities in defense." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶3. "EMBARRASSED PERVEZ MUSHARRAF," editorial in August 4 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Following the Supreme Court's verdict that the emergency imposed by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007 was unconstitutional and illegal, Prime Minister Gilani's observation that his party will never support a dictator, indicates that the government is all set to decide the fate of the former President and he may be tried for treason for violating the constitution. Possible action of Pakistan's immature democratic government against Pervez Musharraf may be dangerous for the government also as the military may get an opportunity to intervene." NEW DELHI 00001636 002 OF 002 ¶4. "EXIT OF A HERO," editorial in August 4 independent Kolkata Bengali, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "Musharraf's fate still remains uncertain and it is difficult for Islamabad to take a hard stance on this issue. In view of the Taliban problem getting grim, fresh political unrest will only complicate the situation. No doubt, Musharraf's colorful working life has reached the end." -------------- WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶5. "BANGLADESH CRACKS DOWN ON TERRORISTS: INDIA CAN ALSO ACT NOW," op-ed article in centrist Marathi daily, SAKAAL: "In what can be seen as a positive development, Bangladesh's Awami League administration has cracked down on selective anti-India insurgents who have long made Bangladesh their base. Key operatives of several militant groups from northeast India have so far proved a nuisance to the India-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. But now that Bangladesh has given clear signals to the terrorist groups, India will also have to walk the extra mile and think of imaginative ideas to engage its neighbor." ROEMER