MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS, MUMBAI

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002510 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-RUSSIA RELATIONS, MUMBAI TERROR ATTACK, COPENHAGEN SUMMIT; 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-RUSSIA RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "INDIA-RUSSIA RELATIONS: ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON THE TALIBAN," op-ed in December 17 left-of-center Marathi daily, APLA MAHANAGAR: "U.S. forces will leave Afghanistan after the year 2011 and that's when a vacuum will form in the country, which is likely to be filled by nefarious insurgent forces like the Taliban. Pakistan will encourage this prospect. India's efforts to contain the Taliban will need strong support and affirmation. This is where Russia will play a positive role. Russia recently debunked the concept of the 'good Taliban', which America often advocates. Both India and Russia feel, as opposed to the view held by Washington, that there can be no distinction between 'good' and 'bad' Taliban. To believe otherwise can only lend legitimacy to terrorist outfits." -------------- MUMBAI TERROR ATTACK -------------- ¶2. "HEADLEY AND CIA," editorial in December 17right-of- center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "The reasons, motives and factors of why and how the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai are linked to the U.S deserve to be explored deeply. Possibly the Zionist forces may have been playing a double game to trap the two major powers of the world into its net and, like America, India too is becoming a victim of their heinous exercise. India needs to be on high alert particularly after the ISI claims it has defeated even the CIA in guerilla war." -------------- COPENHAGEN SUMMIT -------------- ¶3. "UNCERTAINTY IN THE WORLD SUMMIT," editorial in December 17 Guwahati Assamese centrist AJIR DAINIK BATORI: "Any attempt to impose the entire burden of carbon gas emission cut on poor countries will have disastrous consequences for their people as this will hamper their economic growth. Since rich nations are the main polluters for the past 150 years or so, countries such as the U.S., Germany, and France should now save the world from peril by implementing the Kyoto Protocol in totality. Unless they willingly agree to do it, the Copenhagen Summit may end in failure." ROEMER