MEDIA REACTION: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002470 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: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN, INDIA-PAKISTAN, COPENHAGEN, INDIA-BANGLADESH; 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. -------------- AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN -------------- ¶1. "OBAMA'S AF-PAK STRATEGY," op-ed in December 9 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "It seems very unlikely that America's work will be over in 18 months. The Taliban will sit tight to execute their plans till the Americans leave. There are, however, crucial elements in this strategy that hint at a new turn. Obama has spelt out very clearly as never before, the threat to the US from extremists in the Af-Pak area. The success of Obama's Af-Pak strategy will not be decided in Kabul or Washington, but in Islamabad." -------------- INDIA-PAKISTAN -------------- ¶2. "THE WAIT FOR A NEW BEGINNING," op-ed in December 9 right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "The resumption of talks will benefit New Delhi. It will send a message to the Taliban and other jihadis that the relationship between the two countries is on the mend. What Pakistan is doing against them is what the two countries should be doing together. Such statements like a limited war against Pakistan made by the Indian Army chief are irresponsible and provocative. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reiterated that people to people contact should deepen. It is a welcome statement." -------------- COPENHAGEN -------------- ¶3. "KILLER WEATHER: GLOBAL AWARENESS," editorial in December 10 Guwahati Assamese centrist, AJIR DAINIK BATORI: "The world community expects the U.S. President to set an example by taking a positive stand on helping poor and developing nations, over and above the bold ecological measures he envisages for his own country. America is largely responsible for polluting the environment. The situation would not have reached such a stage had the world's richest nation accepted the Kyoto Protocol. Therefore, America should not only cooperate with other nations but also shoulder a part of poor nations' economic burden." ¶4. "COPENHAGEN: APPROACH OF SANITY REQUIRED," opinion piece in December 10 left of center Marathi Daily, Aapla Mahanagar: "A huge industrialized country like America wants to continue its careless, consumerist and anti-environment lifestyle. How much ever the world relents to America's demands and reduces its carbon NEW DELHI 00002470 002 OF 002 emissions, America is not going to change its lifestyle and so the impending danger to the world continues. That is the reason why America refuses to do any international agreement on this problem. Its economic interests force it to behave this way." ¶5. "CLIMATE SUMMIT: BACK TO SQUARE ONE," editorial in December 10 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "The ongoing summit is doomed to fail as the Denmark draft leaked under mysterious circumstances reveals the ulterior intentions of rich nations to tighten the screws on the developing nations on carbon emissions issue. The only reason behind failure to achieve consensus is the obstinate stance of the developed world that has enormously harmed the environment but want to pass the buck on poor nations. Copenhagen is nothing but a ruse by the developed nations to get rid of the Kyoto protocol." -------------- INDIA-BANGLADESH -------------- ¶6. "GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATION," editorial in December 9 independent Kolkata Bengali ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "India should positively respond to indications of changes that the Bangladesh government is now showing. If it remains neglected by New Delhi for a long time, Bangladesh will have no alternative other than turning to China. Will that be helpful to serve India's interests? New Delhi should also hand over Bangladeshi criminals, detained in India. Let both countries become good neighbors in their own interest." ROEMER