MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN, PALESTINE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001906 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, PALESTINE, U.S.A., CHINESE INCURSIONS; 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. "CONTRADICTORY INDICATIONS," editorial in September 12 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "After India's declining any kind of talks with Pakistan, it is surprising to hear that the foreign secretaries of the two countries will meet in the U.S. this month. The Indian government, known for flip-flops, must have a clear Pakistan policy and not mislead the nation. According to Home Minister Chidambaram, the Obama Administration supports India's conditions for resuming talks with Pakistan. If so, what is the meaning of this change in stand?" ¶2. "CHIDAMBARAM'S VISIT TO AMERICA," editorial in September 13 right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "India should not have pleaded helplessness against Pakistan before America. On the Mumbai attacks, India has tried all it could to expose the guilty. It is regrettable that no country stood by India to pressure Pakistan. The biggest concern for India today is that Pakistani soil is being used to breed terror. Like Indians, peace loving Pakistanis too want terrorism wiped out." ¶3. "INCREASING DANGER AGAINST INDIA: NEIGHBOR ENEMY NUMBER 1," editorial in September 14 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "A fresh U.S. advisory warning of fresh terrorist attacks indicates the growing threat of terrorism against India. While this warning is nothing new, the Chinese incursions in the Leh-Ladakh region and the rocket attacks by Pakistan across the Wagah border suggest how vulnerable this country has become .... America is behaving like an ostrich with its head buried in the sand. Instead of complaining to America, India should confront this challenge on its own strength. When will India learn to take the bull by the horns?" ¶4. "INDIA, BEWARE!" editorial in September 13 centrist Gujarati daily, GUJARATMITRA: "Crying hoarse about Pakistan not acting against the 11/26 attacks is not going to help India in any manner. Indian home minister Chidambaram's appealing top U.S. authorities about Pakistan's lackadaisical approach only reveals India's utter helplessness in bringing the guilty to justice on her own strength. Indian leaders are known for making loud noises but they lack the courage when it comes to taking concrete action against reining in the rogue elements. India needs to be on her toes for such a meek and feeble approach might invite another terrorist attack." -------------- PALESTINE NEW DELHI 00001906 002 OF 003 -------------- ¶5. "JUST DEMANDS OF THE PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA", editorial in September 11 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF: "The president of Venezuela has rightly demanded that strong restrictions ought to be laid down against Israel which has been perpetrating violence against Palestine and is resorting to ethnic cleansing of the people of Palestine. In its quest for declaring the existence of Palestine as illegal and unethical, Israel has resorted to such bloodshed in the lands of prophets that is unparalleled in the history of mankind. The control of the lands of Palestine by Israel is absolutely oppressive, illegitimate and tyrannical. By raising his voice over the issue, Chavez has offered a ray of hope for the Arab world, in fact the world of Islam as well as all the third world countries." -------------- U.S.A. -------------- ¶6. "TRUE CONFESSIONS BY THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA," editorial in September 12 Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "One of the reasons for doubts and misgivings that arose with regards to Islam and its followers in America was the 9/11 episode. Another important reason was that President Bush himself was a communal person. At the time of 9/11, President Bush had publicly said that Islam is a religion which promotes violence. This irresponsible statement made by the President poisoned the minds of the people of America. It was Bush's stance that led to the creation of an atmosphere of hatred against Muslims and their faith in the West." -------------- CHINESE INCURSIONS -------------- ¶7. "CHINESE INCURSIONS," editorial in September 12 right-of-center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "The Indian government's stoic silence over Chinese incursions is annoying. China's occupation of some portion of India's northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh remains unresolved as China continues to be defiant. The Sino-Indian skirmishes stem from unsettled border disputes. Considering the booming trade ties between both the nations, it is high time for India and China to sit across the table and resolve the boundary dispute." -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶8. "AFGHANISTAN IMPASSE," commentary in September 13 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN, by strategic specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "The U.S. used Pakistan in the Soviet War and then never bothered about it or Afghanistan. Pakistani rogue scientist A.Q. NEW DELHI 00001906 003 OF 003 Khan's recent revelation confirms U.S. cooperation with Pakistan in obtaining the nuclear bomb with China's help.... Pakistan must maintain the terror threat to extract money from the U.S. But it forgets that terrorists can never be loyal. Secondly, Islamabad has miscalculated Obama's conditional aid strategy. It thinks the U.S. troops will someday give up in Afghanistan, without realizing that if the U.S. stops facing a terrorist threat, it will also stop aid." ROEMER