MEDIA REACTION: PM VISIT TO U.S., PAKISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002132

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STATE FOR NP, AC, PM

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STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO

STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU

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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: PM VISIT TO U.S., PAKISTAN,
INDIA-CHINA, IRAN; 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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PM VISIT TO U.S.
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1. "COUNTDOWN TO U.S. VISIT," editorial in October 19
centrist, Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "Preparations
for building new bridges between AMERICA and India have
started in the run-up to Prime Minister Singh's state
visit to United States. U.S. Under Secretary of State
for Political Affairs William Burns, who was in India
last week, stated that the relationship between the
U.S. and India is key to establishing global order and
global prosperity in the 21st century. This can create
a new synergy in bilateral relations. Many thorny
issues such as the implementation of the civil nuclear
agreement, non-proliferation, reprocessing and climate
change remain. But India needs to rethink and modify
some of its policies adopted when dealing with the Bush
administration."

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PAKISTAN
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2. "VIOLENCE IN PAKISTAN," editorial in October 17
right-of-center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT
SAMACHAR: "Violence in Pakistan is increasing with each
passing day. While the U.S. is busy granting aid to
Pakistan, the Taliban is increasingly making inroads in
Pakistan, aggravating the situation only further.
America needs to review its Pakistan policy as the
people of Pakistan are against any sort of U.S.
interference in their country. AMERICA needs to
understand that the Taliban in unleashing violence to
gain control over Pakistan."

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INDIA-CHINA
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3. "BEFITTING REPLY TO CHINA," op-ed in October 19
right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Faced with
hostile neighbors, strengthening our nuclear deterrence
power is as equally important as using traditional
methods to strengthen our forces to meet the challenge.
We have to be prepared in the eventuality of any
attacks from China in the east and Pakistan in the
west. It is sad that a country like India, which is
totally development-oriented, will have to forcibly
divert some of its resources to defense preparedness.
But it has to be done, we do not have a choice!"


4. "AGNI V MISSILE: CAVEAT TO CHINA," editorial in
October 17 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA
BHAKAR: "India's test-firing of the nuclear capable
Agni-V ballistic missile having a range of 5000

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kilometers is a signal to China not to cross its
limits. For the past several months China has
conducted activities that are antithetical to India's
integrity. By conducting this successful test, India
has indicated that she will not tolerate China's
intermittent misbehaviors."

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IRAN
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5. "LOOK WHO IS BLAMING PAKISTAN," editorial in October
20 left-of-center Marathi daily, APLA MAHANAGAR:
"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has blamed
terrorist elements in Pakistan for the recent suicide
bombing attack in Sistan-Baluchistan, Iran's poorest
and most politically unstable province. He claimed that
Jundulah, the terrorist group which has claimed
responsibility for the attack, has its bases in
Pakistan and depends on aid given, among others, by the
US and the UK. Ahmadinejad seems to have suddenly woken
up to Pakistan's terrorist credentials. Isn't Pakistan
the same country which recently assisted him while
winning a rigged election? And isn't it Pakistan that
clandestinely sold nuclear technology to Iran?"


6. "SUGGESTION OF EL-BARADEI," editorial in October 20
right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "IAEA
chief El-Baradei says Iran and the U.S should have
unconditional talks to resolve the issue of Iran's
nuclear program. President Obama must translate this
into action, but hardcore anti-Muslim lobbies in the
U.S, Israeli agents and secret U.S. agencies like the
CIA are stopping Obama. Neither AMERICA nor any other
country can solve the issue by attacking Iran's
prestige and self-esteem. The best way out is the one
suggested by El-Baradei. According to him, more
sanctions against Iran would make the issue more
complicated."
ROEMER