MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN, PALESTINE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001906

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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.

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INDIA-PAKISTAN
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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."

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PALESTINE

NEW DELHI 00001906 002 OF 003


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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."

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U.S.A.
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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."

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CHINESE INCURSIONS
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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."

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AFGHANISTAN
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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