SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: COVERAGE OF POTUS AF-PAK

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 002444 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: SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: COVERAGE OF POTUS AF-PAK SPEECH IN INDIAN MEDIA -- Part III (concluded) SUMMARY: President Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan speech and related topics continued to feature prominently in the Indian news for the third consecutive day. In Parliament, Foreign Minister Krishna said India and the U.S. have a shared interest in the stability and development of Afghanistan and that India wanted Pakistan to take credible steps to destroy safe havens for terrorists. In a separate statement, the Indian Foreign Office welcomed the U.S. strategy "on strengthening the government of Afghanistan and the Afghan security forces." In commentary, there were apprehensions about what would happen once U.S. forces exit Afghanistan. Editorialists expressed fears about potential future Taliban control of Kabul and a worsening of Pakistan-guided violence against India. While conceding that the "longer the U.S. stays in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the more comforting it is for New Delhi," commentators felt that India will have to come up with a "fallback plan as and when Washington decides to reduce [its] presence." Meanwhile, the vernacular press cautioned India to stay away from pitching in militarily with the U.S., because "the Afghanistan problem is purely of America's making." End summary -------------- NEWS SUMMARY: INDIA WELCOMES AF-PAK POLICY -------------- ¶1. Media reported that India on Thursday welcomed the emphasis in the U.S. strategy on strengthening the government of Afghanistan and the Afghan security forces, and that India hoped the international community was prepared for a long haul in the region. ¶2. India's foreign office spokesperson was reported saying: "We also welcome President Obama's reiteration of the need to squarely tackle terrorism, and for Pakistan to ensure that terrorists do not enjoy safe havens on its territory. India believes that it is in the interest of the international community to impress upon Pakistan that it must use all its influence and resources to implement its commitments to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and to deny sanctuary to all terrorist groups who operate from its soil." -------------- -------------- --- INDIA, U.S. SHARE INTERESTS IN STABILITY OF AFPAK: KRISHNA -------------- -------------- --- ¶3. External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Thursday said India and the U.S. shared interests in the stability and development of Afghanistan and wanted Pakistan to take credible steps to destroy safe havens for terrorists. Minister Krishna was reported saying: "We hope in the days to come the U.S. will play a more active role and join hands with India to contain terrorism." NEW DELHI 00002444 002 OF 004 -------------- EDITORIALS IN ENGLISH PRESS -------------- ¶4. "SURGE IN CLARITY," op-ed in December 4 centrist English business daily, THE ECONOMIC TIMES: "The announcement of US President Barack Obama's new Afghanistan strategy is a tacit admission of the failure of the reconstruction project while recognizing Pakistan as the major problem. New Delhi must remember that Indian and US interests in the region converge only until a certain point and that India will have to deepen and broaden its engagement with the various players in Afghanistan in order to keep pursuing its long-term interests in the region. While staying the course, India must also start hedging its bets." ¶5. "A GOOD STRATEGY FOR DEFEAT," editorial in centrist English business daily, THE MINT: "With the likely exit of US forces from Afghanistan in 2011, there is a high possibility of Taliban taking control of Kabul again and a Pakistan-guided violence against India taking a worse turn. Given the pace at which our national security establishment works, the chances are the results of 2011 are already upon us. Do we comprehend the dangerous situation in our western neighbourhood?" ¶6. "CHANGES IN SCRIPT," op-ed in December 4 centrist English daily, THE INDIAN EXPRESS: "The longer the US stays in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the more comforting it is for New Delhi. So now that Obama has made his political decision, India too will have to reassess and that would also have to include a fallback plan as and when Washington decides to reduce presence. Status quo in policy is no longer an option." ¶7. "SELF-CONTRADICTORY: OBAMA'S ESCALATION-EXIT PARADIGM," editorial in December 4 centrist English daily, THE STATESMAN: "One facet of Obama's Afghan policy contradicts another, and it is unlikely in the extreme whether public opinion within USA will be convinced. Obama has renewed the pledge to carry out Bush's war. Mr. Obama has no alternative but to work with a spurious centre of authority. He has made a pregnant statement, but it is doubtful if the escalation-exit strategy will be remarkably successful." ¶8. "SEPARATELY TOGETHER," editorial in December 3 left- of-center English daily, NEWS TODAY: "The biggest risk Obama runs with this strategy is that it gives al- Qaeda a motive to launch new attacks against the United States. For, the Taliban wants the US troops out of Afghanistan, but al-Qaeda wants them to be stuck there indefinitely, taking causalities and killing Muslims. New Delhi would do well to play its cards based on its own realities. Kabul has potential to cause more harm to, say Mumbai than Minnesota. Let's face it; India is in this with America, separately together." NEW DELHI 00002444 003 OF 004 -------------- VERNACULAR PRESS -------------- ¶9. "OBAMA, AFGHANISTAN AND US," editorial in December 4 Hindi daily, PUNJAB KESRI: "Obama has demonstrated that he wants to decisively take on the Taliban and Al Qaeda and hand over the reins of the country to those who it rightfully belongs to. India should keep working in Afghanistan, but we need to be careful about not being seen to be too close to the U.S." ¶10. "NEW AMERICAN PLOY," editorial in December 4 Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Obama's call to Prime Minister Singh is a clever American ploy to ensnare India into sharing some of its Afghanistan burden. Obama needs to pacify an irate American public back home and that's what his new Af-Pak plan is all about. India needs to stay away from providing any military help that it may be asked for, because the Afghanistan problem is purely of America's making." ¶11. "AFGHAN SURGE," editorial in December 4 Hindi daily, NAI DUNIYA: "Obama's decision to expand troops in Afghanistan may or may not be good for America, but it is definitely a welcome development for the rest of the world. India should carry on with the development work we are doing in Afghanistan, but we should decline requests for any military assistance in that country. This will not be in India's favor, because the war in Afghanistan is not going to end any time soon." ¶12. "OBAMA ON BUSH'S WAY," editorial in December 4 Urdu daily, MUNSIF: "U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement of withdrawing American troops from Afghanistan in 2011 is worth appreciating, but the announcement of sending more troops is not. On the one hand, Obama criticizes Bush on Iraq, but on the other hand he is adding fuel to the Afghan war! Perhaps Obama wants to extend America's military operations to Pakistan." ¶13. "OBAMA'S AFGHAN TANGLE," editorial in December 4 left-of-center Marathi daily, LOKSATTA: "The decision of sending additional troops to Afghanistan is in itself an acknowledgement of U.S. failure in the country." ¶14. "ONE MORE PROOF OF AMERICAN DOUBLE STANDARDS," editorial in December 4 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "Obama's strategy doesn't reflect the lofty talks of 'change' he spoke in his early days. In fact, what he has tried to achieve, by simultaneously announcing additional reinforcements and a timeline for troop withdrawal, is to strike a balance between war- mongers and those who are against it. Besides, while allowing his troops to strike deep inside Pakistan, he has also rewarded Pakistan with more aid and ammunition. One doubts if Obama's dreams of withdrawing from the strife-torn, complex region in 2011 will be realized." NEW DELHI 00002444 004 OF 004 ROEMER