MEDIA REACTION: OBAMA PRESIDENCY, PAKISTAN; NEW

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000222

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: OBAMA PRESIDENCY, PAKISTAN; 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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OBAMA PRESIDENCY
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1. "THE NON-BELIEVERS AND OBAMA" op-ed article by
columnist Amarendra Nandu Dhaneshwar in the February 5,
2009, Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily
AAPLA MAHANAGAR. "In what can be termed a notably
tolerant and broad based attitude to diverse beliefs and
lifestyles, the U.S. President's inaugural speech took
cognizance of non-believers in the United States. Just as
Obama did not shy away from references to God in his
invocation before the nation, he showed the political
courage to endorse the existence of non-believers. No
other U.S. President has referred to non-believers in the
inaugural speech, which also proves that Obama's
predecessors had not located the appropriate intersection
point between faith and government in American society.
Very few Indian leaders have found that golden mean in
public life. Most of today's Indian leaders take great
pride in divisive, inflammatory and rabid remarks against
the agnostic and atheist sections of society, as though
some tolerance towards these non-believers will rob them
of their political goodwill..."

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PAKISTAN
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2. "PAKISTAN'S MENTORS," editorial in February 4
NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Japan may cut aid to
India's metro rail, citing global recession, but it is
going all out to help Pakistan. Japan is arranging to
host an international ministerial-level donors'
conference in late March to help Pakistan stabilize its
economy. Japan would never take this kind of an unusual
step, and it seems to be a part of the Obama
administration's overall plan for Afghanistan and
Pakistan. By doing this, it is quite evident that Japan
wants to reinforce ties with the United States, because
President Barack Obama has placed priority on stabilizing
Pakistan and Afghanistan as part of efforts to fight
terrorism. According to this plan, U.S. funds to Pakistan
will increase proportionately with its troop presence in
Afghanistan. Pumping in dollars will not help without
addressing the root problem - that of Islamic terrorism,
so ingrained in Pakistani society. "


3. "OUR NEIGHBORHOOD: PAKISTAN UNDER SEIGE, INTERNALLY
AND EXTERNALLY," op-ed in February 4 RASHTRIYA SAHARA
Hindi daily: "To start with, the founding fathers of
Pakistan chose the path of danger and uncertainty. The
results are there for everyone to see. Today, even the
U.S. seems to be having a rethink on Pakistan. All
through his campaign, Barack Obama said his
administration would not hesitate to go into the

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territory of Pakistan to fight terrorism. He is still
determined on his promise to check Pakistan. But more
serious is the fact that Saudi Arabia, which used to aid
Pakistan on the basis of Islamic brotherhood, is also
pulling away and tightening its purse strings. Saudi
Arabia is concerned about the Taliban and Al Qaida
gaining strength in Pakistan. India must make sure that
Pakistan does not disintegrate. As it is, we live in a
dangerous neighborhood with China also so close."
MULFORD