MEDIA REACTION: HEADLEY CASE, AFGHANISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002522 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: HEADLEY CASE, AFGHANISTAN, PAKISTAN, COPENHAGEN; 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. -------------- HEADLEY CASE -------------- ¶1. "U.S. INTENTION," editorial in December 17 right-of- center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "The latest information on David Headley and Tahawwur Rana is not only shocking, but worrisome. The Indian government should ask the U.S. why it did not inform India about Headley much earlier. It seems the U.S. is only concerned about its own interests in the war against terrorism. The U.S. warns Pakistan only when it comes to the Al-Qaida and the Taliban, but it is not bothered about bringing perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice. India should be prepared to fight terrorism on its own." ¶2. "U.S. MOTIVE," editorial in December 17 nationalist Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "The CIA had information about David Headley's Al-Qaida links almost a year before the Mumbai attacks took place. But it did not share it with India. Now there are indications of the CIA preventing the Indian intelligence agencies from interrogating Headley. Headley has been a CIA/DEA agent for more than two decades but turned rogue. The question is why is the U.S. being cagey on denying India access to Headley? Our security agencies should not blindly trust the U.S. and work according to their perspective. Only then reliable results can be reached." ¶3. "26/11 AND HEADLEY," editorial in December 18 right- of-center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "This episode brings to light India's own pathetic security network which is trapped in the cobweb of petty politics that provides perfect breeding ground for people like Headley to carry out their nefarious activities. Now that the U.S. has got a major breakthrough, the FBI should share Headley's details with Indian security agencies. Who knows how many more such Headleys are at work against India?" ¶4. "HEADLEY, THE DOUBLE-SIDED AGENT THAT AMERICA KNEW ABOUT," editorial in December 18 right-of-center Marathi daily, SAAMNA: "India has to decide how seriously it should take America's official statements and positions. Of late, the U.S. has been going gaga over cooperating with India on the David Headley arrest and interrogation. The Headley arrest is being touted as a great breakthrough in the war against terrorism. But that is no favor done to India. From what is apparent, Headley was working as a 'double-agent' for Pakistan and the U.S. Since September 2008, the U.S. knew about his whereabouts and his anti-India activities." NEW DELHI 00002522 002 OF 002 -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶5. "Danger Ahead," editorial in December 18 Chennai- based right-of-center Tamil daily, DINAMANI: "Following the telephonic conversation between President Obama and Prime Minister Singh, Ministry of External Affairs has welcomed the U.S. decision to send more troops to Afghanistan. This indicates India's favorable shift towards the U.S. strategy in the region. It would be disastrous for India, both diplomatically as well as militarily, if it decides to send troops to Afghanistan. India will be forced to learn more lessons in Afghanistan than the erstwhile Soviet Union and the U.S." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶6. "FRESH CRISIS IN PAKISTAN," editorial in December 18 in Kolkata Bengali independent, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "President Zardari's authority undoubtedly suffered a blow after the Supreme Court's ruling. It is also not a very welcome development for Obama's Af-Pak policy or for large U.S. financial and human resource involvement in the region. Under these circumstances supporting Zardari unilaterally will not augur well for the U.S. The situation may become precarious if Nawaz Sharif takes advantage of the simmering anti-America sentiment within the Pakistani society and the military establishments." -------------- COPENHAGEN -------------- ¶7. "CLIMATE-TUSSLE," editorial in December 16 centrist Hindi daily, NAI DUNIYA: "Developed nations are playing a dirty game. They want developing countries to cut carbon emission, but they neither want to help economically nor do they want to share greenhouse technology. Now they want other developing and poor countries to declare a political target to curb their greenhouse gas emission just like India and China. If the biggest polluters do not stop working on the strategy of palming their responsibility to curb pollution off on poor countries, the problem cannot be solved." ROEMER