MEDIA REACTION: SINO-INDIA RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002190

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: SINO-INDIA RELATIONS,
INDIA/PAKISTAN, INDIA-AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS; 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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SINO-INDIA RELATIONS
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1. "CHINA'S REPLY," editorial in October 27 right-of-
center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Prime Minister
Singh did right to reiterate New Delhi's traditional
stance that the Dalai Lama is free to travel anywhere
in India. China has not reacted and we cannot be sure
that it has accepted the Indian stand. China is a tough
nut to crack. See how it prevailed upon US President
Obama to not meet Dalai Lama. If Beijing is quiet, it
is because it opts to. Or is it because India flexed
its muscles recently, by announcing new visa rules for
Chinese workers? China's growing military and economic
strengths are a big worry for India. "


2. "CHINA'S DAM ON BRAHMAPUTRA," editorial in October
28 Assamese left-of-center daily, ASAMIYA PRATIDIN: "It
is good that both India and China have agreed to work
closely on river management and water sharing issues.
Any bilateral dispute should be resolved through
negotiation. Agreeing to maintain peace at the border
is perhaps the major outcome of Manmohan Singh's talks
with Wen Jiabao. It may also help ease the tension
which is brewing over China's proposed river dam
project on the Brahmaputra."


3. "TALKS -THE ONLY WAY OUT," editorial in October 27,
Bangalore-based left-of-center Kannada daily
PRAJAVANI: "India and China are emerging as superpowers
in Asia. But, China is an unreliable partner and is
creating stumbling blocks for India. As a result, the
trade and commerce between both the countries is not
growing on the expected lines. While taking a tough
stand on issues raked up by China, India can consider
holding talks with China to resolve the problems."


4. "IMPROVING THE RELATIONSHIP," editorial in October
27 Kannada daily VIJAY KARNATAKA: "The tensions between
India and China eased out to an extent during the
recent meeting between the Primers of both of the
countries. As a first step, both the countries should
stop the 'war of words' and that might lead to an
improved relationship between the two."

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INDIA/PAKISTAN
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5. "TIME TO BE CAREFUL," op-ed in October 27 right-of-
center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Pakistan's Army is
providing critical support to Afghan Taliban hoping
that one day the U.S. will leave Kabul to its fate, and
the Pakistan Army will be able to pull the strings in
Kabul when the local Taliban return to power.... Anything

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could happen in Pakistan. That includes a conclusion in
Washington that a military dictatorship is a better
deal in Islamabad rather than a tottering civilian
administration. India should not be misled by a series
of recent events in Pakistan into believing that the
Pakistani Army is now all set to crush the Taliban and
terror from across the border is about to end."

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INDIA-AFGHANISTAN RELATIONS
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6. "LIKELY ATTACK FROM AFGHANISTAN: INDIA BEWARE!" op-
ed in October 28 left-of-center Marathi daily, APLA
MAHANAGAR: "U.S. commander in Afghanistan General
McChrystal's asking for additional troops should make
India sit up and be alert. For the U.S., sending
additional troops will be a decision against the
mounting public opinion in favor of a quick exit from
Afghanistan. But in the case of India, the insurgency
on Afghanistan borders denotes a greater security risk,
especially when one is not sure of the crisis
preparedness of India's union government."
ROEMER