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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001819 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: U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS, INDIA- CHINA RELATIONS, INDIA NUCLEAR TEST, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN, AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGY, IRAQ AND 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. -------------- U.S.-INDIA RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "LATE WISDOM DAWNS ON THE U.S.," editorial in September 1 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "The U.S. has made a great and late discovery - that Pakistan illegally modified missiles given by the US to expand its capability to strike targets in India. There have been countless instances when Pakistan has trained its nuclear and conventional forces against India, instead of dismantling Taliban and other terrorist targets. But the U.S. has not paid much heed to these glaring breaches on the part of Pakistan. Is it the changing geo-politics that have brought about a change of heart? Or is the U.S. finally convinced of the risk posed by Pakistan?" -------------- INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS -------------- ¶2. "CHINA'S TREACHEROUS INTENTIONS," op-ed in August 29 centrist Marathi daily, SAKAAL: "India cannot dismiss a Chinese military strategist's objectionable anti-India remarks recently posted on the Internet. The strategist says that India can be easily broken into smaller divisions, along political and parochial lines. This is not an individual's opinion, but this is a widespread sentiment of the Chinese government. China's support to the insurgent guerilla groups in India's north-eastern states betrays the same sentiment. Moreover, the Chinese government has not taken any action against the strategist who dared to challenge India's sovereignty." -------------- INDIA NUCLEAR TEST -------------- ¶3. "NUCLEAR TEST UNDER A SCANNER," op-ed in August 31 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Defense scientist K. Santhanam, who coordinated India's nuclear weapons program during the Pokhran nuclear tests in 1998, threw a bombshell declaring that the first and most powerful of the three tests conducted was a dud. Just because the truth is not always convenient does not mean we demonize a senior scientist who dared speak the truth. India should not expend its energies in denying this revelation, but should instead get to the truth of the matter. Santhanam is no ordinary man - he's a scientist par excellence. All he wants to say is that the last tests did not yield enough data, and therefore India should not sign the CTBT and there is a need to test more conclusively!" NEW DELHI 00001819 002 OF 003 ¶4. "FORGET N-TESTING, INDIA HAS MANY MORE CRYING ISSUES," editorial in centrist August 31 Hindi daily, NAVBHARAT TIMES: "K. Santhanam is one of several scientists who believe that the doctrine of minimum credible deterrence adopted by India is unacceptable till the Hydrogen bomb is perfected. What's the big deal about a scientist contesting India's 1998 nuclear test in Pokharan? Effectiveness and accuracy of nuclear tests are always argued and debated the world over. Why do we in India make such a big issue of it? There are bigger issues confronting the nation - like price rise, recession etc." -------------- PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶5. "AFGHAN ELECTIONS AND APPREHENSIONS," editorial in August 31 right-of-center Urdu daily, SIASAT: "According to some Afghanistan observers, America made efforts to make the Hamid Karzai camp successful because it wants to accomplish its vested interest in Afghanistan and the entire South Asia. The Americans say, however, that they had no role in the election process. The U.S. desire is to make the election process credible in the eyes of Afghan people. The election commission should focus attention on allegations and apprehensions of the people, or else the significance and reliability of the election process will be nullified." -------------- AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN STRATEGY -------------- ¶6. "NEW TERROR TACTICS," editorial in August 18 Oriya daily SAMAJA: "Continuous U.S. attacks on Pakistani terror camps have unnerved the terrorists. Instead of acting individually, these organizations are now coming together under a common banner to face the American drone attacks. That the terrorists are on the back foot is evident from the declining number of training camps. They are facing a severe financial crisis and the ISI is also not in a position to help them. It seems the terrorists are waiting for the American retreat. This is the big opportunity to wipe them out. Both India and America must now come closer with this end in view." -------------- IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶7. "IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WARS THREW AMERICAN SOLDIERS ON THEIR BACK," commentary in August 31 right-of-center Urdu daily, ETEMAAD: "Iraq and Afghanistan were the main causes of the downright defeat of George W. Bush. The country had to bear an extraordinary financial pressure due to these issues. It would have been wise NEW DELHI 00001819 003 OF 003 for America to withdraw its forces. America should read the writing on the wall, or else its fate will not be much different from that of the erstwhile Soviet Union." ROEMER