MEDIA REACTION: HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002292 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: HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN, CHINA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR; 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. -------------- HEADLEY CASE/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶1. "WHEN WILL WE LEARN OUR LESSON?" editorial in November 14 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "It was India's good fortune that we escaped horrifying attacks plotted by terrorist David Headley and Tahawwur Hussain Rana. Fortunately the U.S. cops nabbed them and nipped the conspiracy in the bud. Our own intelligence agencies were sleeping all this while. So inept are they, that they could not even get a glimpse of these two when they visited Washington!" ¶2. "A TERRORIST WEB," editorial in November 16 left-of- center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "The arrest of U.S. national David Headley by the FBI for allegedly plotting LeT terror attacks against India comes at a crucial juncture in the global war against terror. This is the time when India will need maximum cooperation from the U.S. First, Indian authorities should be allowed to interrogate the accused at great length. Second, the U.S. has to exercise sufficient pressure on Pakistan to unearth the whereabouts of Headley's real bosses based in Pakistan. If at all there is a war on terror, it involves a major strategic involvement from all countries." -------------- AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN -------------- ¶3. "PAKISTAN AT A DIFFICULT JUNCTURE," op-ed in November 15 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "President Obama is reportedly focusing on the Afghan National Force, its training and equipment. For Pakistan this is a shock, because it was waiting for the U.S. to quit Afghanistan and later fill up the vacuum with Pakistan-supported Taliban. The Pakistan army has to choose between the Jihadist organizations - - which it uses as a tool of its foreign policy -- and the international community." -------------- CHINA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR -------------- ¶4. "BREACH OF NUCLEAR TRUST," editorial in November 15 right-of-center Hindi daily, AMAR UAJALA: "It has been now been exposed that China served Pakistan nuclear bombs on a platter. The question is what will the global community do about China's violation of international nuclear non-proliferation policy? We know President Obama cannot do anything about China because the U.S. is driven by its business and commercial NEW DELHI 00002292 002 OF 002 interests. But for us it is a matter of concern... The major powers talk big about non-proliferation, but keep mum when something like this breaks out." ROEMER