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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002132 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: 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. -------------- PM VISIT TO U.S. -------------- ¶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." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶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." -------------- INDIA-CHINA -------------- ¶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 NEW DELHI 00002132 002 OF 002 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." -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶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