MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001763 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, INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS, AFGHANISTAN; 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. "STATES' ROLE IN INTERNAL SECURITY," editorial in August 20 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK BHASKAR: "Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said there was credible information of ongoing plans of terrorist groups in Pakistan to carry out fresh attacks. On the one hand, the PM's warning reminds the Indian states of their duty to be on full alert, and on the other hand, it underscores the danger India faces in the neighborhood. The PM's warning is to be taken seriously and Indian states should devise a strategy to thwart off such danger. Internal security has been a thorny issue in center-states relations." -------------- INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS -------------- ¶2. "DANGER FROM CHINA," op-ed in Aug 20 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "It has been China's strategy to silently encourage those forces which are out to divide India. The question is why is China out to break India? Is China afraid of India? Is India stronger than China? Unlikely. The reason is that although in conventional weapons and forces China is ahead of India, it is not sure of a decisive victory against India in war. Any confrontation will also be every costly, and China wants to avoid that. So what's the way out? Weaken India. To distract its people's attention from internal problems, it has found an external foe in the form of India." -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶3. "CHALLENGE TO PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN," editorial in August 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "All terrorists, including the Taliban, want to sabotage the presidential elections in Afghanistan. There is no doubt that a weak American strategy itself has mounted new challenges not only to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the U.S., but for the entire region. These escalating dangers will pose a greater challenge not only to the new president of Afghanistan, but also to the U.S." ¶4. "PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN," editorial in August 20 right-of-center Urdu daily, MUNSIF: "Whether Afghans cast their votes or boycott the elections, it does not matter. Ultimately an American puppet will be elected. No peace can be established as long as the U.S. and the Taliban forces remain at NEW DELHI 00001763 002 OF 002 loggerheads. America is not ready to forgo its military presence in Afghanistan. It is also not capable of finishing the Taliban. The presidential elections will change little for the common masses in Afghanistan." ROEMER