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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001788 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, U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL, NEPAL, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN 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 -------------- ¶1. "TALKS WITH PAKISTAN," editorial in August 25 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "There are indications that Pakistan is pressuring India to start the composite bilateral dialogue. Our strategists should get alert, and no softness should be shown toward Pakistan. Any dialogue under the present circumstances is meaningless. India should assert that it cannot forget the Mumbai terrorist attacks. It should also be clarified that in the name of the war against terror Pakistan may succeed in fooling the U.S. as it is doing in Waziristan, but India will not fall into this trap." -------------- U.S.-INDIA NUCLEAR DEAL -------------- ¶2. "NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION AND INDIA," editorial in the August 26 centrist Marathi daily, SAKAAL: "The U.S.-India nuclear treaty does not seem to be talked about much these days. The Obama administration does not seem committed to the earlier administration's decision to allow New Delhi to buy U.S. reactors and nuclear fuel. One can sense a veiled pressure on India to become a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. That means President Obama, and particularly some of his picks like Robert J Einhorn, the special advisor for non-proliferation and arms control, seem to be trying ways to dilute the bargain contained in the `India Exemption' of the NSG waiver last year. Secretary Clinton's choice of Einhorn is itself a very telling comment on how the basic contours of the U.S.- India treaty are being slowly changed." -------------- NEPAL -------------- ¶3. "SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIAN AID TO NEPAL," op-ed in August 25 Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "India will provide a 20-million-rupee aid for Nepal's rail links and road network. An amended trade agreement was signed during Nepali PM Madhav Kumar's India-visit, despite tremendous domestic pressure on the latter not to go for any agreement. An India-Nepal extradition treaty worries Pakistan greatly. For the first time, India has given a fitting reply to China's plans to build a rail network in the Himalayas. Apart from the strategic importance for India of the rail network in Nepal, it will add to the economic development of the Terai region between the two nations." NEW DELHI 00001788 002 OF 002 -------------- PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶4. "TRUTH BEHIND ELECTORAL DISPUTES," editorial in August 25 right-of-center Urdu daily, MUNSIF: "It is said that no alien power can control Afghan people. America is now experiencing what Russia once did. Alhough Karzai is an American stooge he wants to have a peace agreement with the Taliban which is not in the interest of America. The policy of the U.S. and other western nations is to divide and rule -- to keep warring factions away from any settlement." ROEMER