MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000236 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: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, 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. -------------- INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "UNNECCESARY ACTION," editorial in February 7 right- of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan has done it again, speaking out of turn and thereby harming the interest of the nation. Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee last week almost snubbed Narayanan in public for stating in a media interview that Pakistan has reverted to India after the receipt of the Indian dossier and asked New Delhi a number of questions to which answers were being provided.... Even Home Minister Chidambaram corroborated Pranab's statement. After Pakistan, it is now perhaps the turn of the Indian establishment to speak in different voices on Islamabad's response to the dossier prepared by India on the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The National Security Advisor should learn some diplomacy, and not harm the nation's interest. Pakistan has done nothing on India's dossier. The question now is how long are we going to tolerate Pakistan's inaction?" ¶2. "TOUGH CHALLENGE FOR INDIA," op-ed in February 7 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "The November 26 Mumbai terrorist attack has been subjected to careful study by various U.S. agencies. The key findings are before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. An expert who submitted his findings is Brian Michael Jenkins... as of today, the Pakistani civil society has not yet made up its mind to fight, without reservation, the jihadi cult. As long as the Pakistani civil society does not take a stand on this issue, it cannot be helped either by India or the rest of the world. India has to prepare itself to wage a campaign against jihadi terrorism. Pakistan should be contained by the international community until forces within that country rise to fight against the jihadi cult. The Indian response following the Mumbai attack has been feeble. There is a limit beyond which Pakistani civil society cannot blackmail the rest of the world, claiming that unless their unreasonable demands are continuously met -- even while they fail to take a stand against jihadis -- they will end up as a failed state." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶3. "BLOW TO PAKISTAN" editorial in January 28 Bhubaneswar Oriya SAMBAD. "On the question of terrorism, Pakistan is gradually getting isolated. When President Obama says that Pakistan is not doing enough against al-Qaida and the Taliban it becomes clear that America is not prepared to condone Pakistan's soft approach to terrorism. Not only military aid, America may also slash development NEW DELHI 00000236 002 OF 003 assistance to Pakistan. There is doubt about Pakistan getting IMF aid if it fails to act against the fundamentalists. In this circumstance, there is just one way open to Pakistan: it must act seriously against terrorist organizations. If required, it may take global help to fight terrorism. The new civilian government must keep in mind that Pakistan may face destruction if it fails to fight terrorism" ¶4. "OBAMA: RIGHT MOVE" editorial in January 28 Cuttack Oriya SAMAJ". "President Obama's practical approach to fight terrorism is evident from the cut in military aid to Pakistan. Pakistan is fighting the Taliban and al- Qaida in Afghan border areas, and U.S. aid is meant to help the Pakistan army. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are the breeding grounds of terrorism, but it was never stated so explicitly before Obama. For the first time the U.S. has bracketed Pakistan with Afghanistan, and this makes India better placed in U.S. foreign policy. By appointing special envoys to oversee the peace process in troubled areas, Obama has made it clear that he is serious about restoring normalcy in troubled areas. The world may see better times if his plans work as expected." ¶5. "PAKISTAN'S PITIABLE TOKENISM" editorial in the February 7, 2009, Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "Pakistan is trying rather far-fetched and unbelievably ridiculous ways to absolve itself of the responsibility of the recent terror attacks in Mumbai. The latest in the series of these strategies is Pakistan's claim that the 26/11 attack was engineered by Bangladesh... in one sense Pakistan has, unknowingly, admitted the anti-India conspiracy hatched by the Jehadi elements in Pakistan and Bangladesh. In fact, ever since past Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf visited Bangladesh after the 9/11 terror attacks, the Bangladesh-based terrorist groups like Harkat-ul-Jihad or Huji were given a sort of go-ahead for their anti-India agenda. Whatever the situation in other countries where terror flourishes, the blame for the Mumbai attacks will in any case have to be shared by Pakistan's intelligence, army and terrorist outfits..." ¶6. "DR. A.Q. KHAN'S RELEASE: SLEEPLESS NIGHTS AHEAD FOR INDIA AND THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY!" editorial in the February 9, 2009 centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "....the news of the release of disgraced Pakistani nuclear scientist A.Q. Khan by Pakistan's government sends shivers down the spine. Nations including America, Britain and India are shocked and surprised at the turn of events leading to the release of the man who acquired notoriety for surreptitiously supplying nuclear technology to rogue and irresponsible nations [Iran, Libya and North Korea]. Khan's release may propel him again to conduct his nefarious nuclear market that has the potential to endanger global peace and security. Besides, at a time when the world is viewing Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism, such acts only further corroborate the international community's belief. Now all eyes are glued on President Obama, expecting him to NEW DELHI 00000236 003 OF 003 take some tangible action against such rogue elements." A similar editorial appeared in the February 7, 2009 multi-edition centrist Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR. MULFORD