MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000025 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, PALESTINE, INDO-U.S. RELATIONS, SRI LANKA; 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. "THE CRAFTY MOVES OF PAKISTANI ARMY" editorial in the January 7, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. "It would be naove to conclude that Pakistan- based terrorist outfits were the sole engineers of the Mumbai terror attacks. It is as naove as the assumption that a singular attack on Pakistani terror camps will solve India's problems. Terror camps are not homogenous, easy-to-attack, identifiable targets which can be decimated all at once. Likewise, terrorist outfits in Pakistan have a definite support structure in the Pakistani army. And the army was very much involved, not directly, in wreaking terrorist violence in India. After Asif Zardari came to power, he made very bold statements in favor of India-Pakistan dialogue. That was also the time when the prospect of `humanizing the ISI' was being talked about. The Pakistani army (which was a crucial element of the internal power structure in Pakistan) felt insecure due to Zardari's stance. Now the army needed something to bring itself back into focus and make some international impact. What could have more impact than shaking a first-rate metro like Mumbai?" ¶2. "THE WICKED AND CUNNING NEVER IMPROVE" editorial in the January 7, 2009 Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR. "While India has been upping the diplomatic ante on Pakistan and making genuine efforts in asking Pakistan to take action against extremist elements there, it our conviction that the wicked will never accept the wisdom. There is no nation today which would be as weak and derisive as India is at the international level. Pakistan, on the other hand, is proving to be shrewd because of it is cunning. Despite India giving Pakistan all the evidence on 26/11, Pakistan rejects it as 'not credible.' Now the leaders of Pakistan have displayed utter irresponsible and shameless behavior while dealing with the perpetrators of Mumbai terror attacks. The best approach for India is to impose economic sanctions on Pakistan. Besides, India should withdraw 'most favored nation' (MFN) status from Pakistan. India should also forbid any Pakistani aircraft from using Indian airspace...[and] corner Pakistan. Such an Indian strategy will prove perilous for Pakistan. The leaders of India need to know that people are watching to see what action has been taken one and half months after this attack. Have the guilty been brought to justice? They also ought to remember that the world makes the weak and the feeble duck and respects those who possess strength." A similar editorial appeared in the multi-edition Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR. ¶3. "NO MORE DIPLOMATIC TRICKERY, NEED FOR INTEGRITY", NEW DELHI 00000025 002 OF 004 editorial in January 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "URDU TIMES", Mumbai: "The past incidents are a witness to the fact that whenever peaceful dialogue & positive efforts have started in the direction of building peace between India & Pakistan at a fast pace, some or the other unsavory incident takes place & the peace process gets derailed altogether. The new democratically elected government in Pakistan needs to prove itself & this is the appropriate time. By taking stringent action against those who try to hinder the peace process between the two countries, we shall send a strong signal. The two countries should be more concerned about the welfare & prosperity of their people. A lot of countries of the world are trying to come closer to India, which is steadily growing towards development. America also happens to be one of these countries. In such a situation, who are those unsocial elements which are trying to jeopardize the friendly relations between India & Pakistan? The Pakistani government ought to step in & rein in these elements." ¶4. "COMPLICATED PAKISTAN," editorial in January 6 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's avoiding acting against terrorists despite all the irrefutable evidence of Pakistani complicity in the Mumbai terror attacks given by India and the FBI shows its complexity. The Pakistan Foreign Minister's saying that he would neither hand over any terrorist to India nor let it interrogate them is not normal. Both the Pakistan civilian government and the army should assure that they will not let its soil become the epicentre of terrorists, and the international community should give this guarantee. Although India has presented a dossier of incriminating material from the probe into the Mumbai attacks to Pakistan's high commissioner, one cannot expect a change in Pakistan's attitude. Home Minister P. Chidambaram's forthcoming U.S. visit to hand over evidence is the right step. The strategy of ratcheting up pressure on Pakistan jointly with the U.S. could be effective. In light of Pakistan's complexity, India should launch a long-term campaign on the diplomatic front." ¶5. "DISAPPOINTING DEPENDENCE," op-ed article in January 6 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "India is still following the same old ineffective way - approaching the UN and the international community - it has opted for since the first Pakistani attack on Kashmir. And look at Israel! It is reacting to the relentless Palestinian rocket attacks. What was India's reaction on the Mumbai terror attacks? It is just wasting all its energy in pointing the finger at Pakistan. It is expecting the U.S. to play the role of an international inspector. The U.S. is aware of Pakistani ruler's Islamic priorities. Even so, it made the latter its ally in the war on terror. Thus, it would be stupid to think that on the U.S.' demand the Pakistani army and ISI would act against those jihadis they created and supported against India. If India really wants to deal with Pakistan- sponsored terrorism, it will have to stop depending on others and make itself strong enough to achieve this NEW DELHI 00000025 003 OF 004 goal." -------------- PALESTINE -------------- ¶6. "WHEN WOULD ACTION BE TAKEN?", editorial in January 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ", New Delhi: "A consensus could not be reached over the combined declaration made by Libya during the boisterous session of the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of the ground offensive launched by Israeli forces in the Gaza region. In this, America displayed its despicable character & refrained from supporting the declaration. Ban Kee Moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, talked to the Israeli premier over the phone, expressing his resentment over the activities undertaken in the past few days. Muslims around the world are seemingly puzzled as to why the Arab League & the OIC restricted themselves to simple condemnation, while Israel continues to run riot, spraying bullets & bombs over the poor people of Palestine. The world community has simply confined itself to lip-service, making appeals to curb any further attacks by Israel. It seems as if Israel is ruling the roost in the world, as the leaders of the world have accepted its authority despite having all the resources at hand." ¶7. "SECURITY OF WEST ASIA QUESTIONED, AS OBAMA STANDS MUTE", editorial in October 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "INQUILAB", Mumbai: "Last July, while on a visit to Israel, Obama said without any qualms that Israel has every right to safeguard itself from any imminent threat from Hamas. The statement itself says a lot about his foreign policies. He might possibly attempt to look for a new solution to the problem in West Asia. However, new measures certainly cannot be taken at the risk of irking the Jewish lobby present in Israel & America. No president of America ever has had the courage to take on the Jewish lobby. In a situation where every passing moment spells doom for the people of Palestine, even if Obama has some inclination to intervene in the matter he has 15 more days to go before he can grace the White House. He feels it better to go silent over the issue during this period. However, it is explicitly clear that the presidential tenure of Obama, which begins a fortnight from now, will not be a bed of roses." -------------- INDO-U.S. RELATIONS -------------- ¶8. "NEW YEAR'S GIFT & AH! THIS SILENCE" editorial in January 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN EXPRESS", New Delhi: "The biggest security agreement in history took place on January 1, 2009 between India & the United States. We certainly do not cast aspersions on our security experts & the higher officers in the Defense Ministry. However, it has become clear that the arms race commencing in south Asia would certainly lead to a severe economic drain for the poor & developing countries in the NEW DELHI 00000025 004 OF 004 region, besides causing hardship to the poor. These are countries where people cannot afford even two square meals a day, where millions of children do not attend any school & where thousands of people suffer from chronic diseases emanating from drinking unsafe & dirty water. Can they afford to indulge in an arms race? It would mean further impoverishing the destitute millions of the region. The global traders of arms are enjoying the booty, as the countries of the region are at loggerheads with each other. However, the leaders of these countries fail to realize the game." -------------- SRI LANKA -------------- ¶9. "SRI LANKA'S RAGE" editorial in the January 7, 2009 multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "The Sri Lankan army's capturing of Killinochchi, the main LTTE hub, indeed deserves all praise. Sri Lanka has shown that mere dialogues do not serve any purpose. When people do not understand the language of peace then they should be dealt with by an iron hand. One hopes that 2009 will usher in a new chapter in Sri Lankan history as this island nation liberates itself from the scourge of terrorism inflicted by the LTTE for the past two decades. Sri Lanka has set an example that terrorists and their sponsors can be weeded out by force. Will India imitate this example?" MULFORD