MEDIA REACTION: INDO - PAK RELATIONS, WAR

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000266 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: INDO - PAK RELATIONS, WAR AGAINST TERRORISM, AFGHANISTAN, NON-PROLIFERATION/ARMS CONTROL, U.S.-IRAN RELATION; 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. -------------- INDO-PAK RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "PAKISTAN'S MANEUVER," editorial in the February 11 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan's demand for more information to complete its probe into the Mumbai terror attacks shows that it is simply misleading the world and killing time. But, for how long will the Indian government tolerate Pakistan's excuses? If Pakistan is at all honest then why has it not yet found out the whereabouts of nine militants killed in Mumbai? Whether it is A.Q. Khan's release, supporting terrorist groups or the Al-Qaida threat to execute Mumbai-like attacks, it shows that the situation in Pakistan is worsening and posing a serious danger to India. India should not expect that the U.S. or U.K. will ask Pakistan for any explanation of the Mumbai mayhem. Is it not surprising that U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke did not even mention it to the Pakistani leaders? India should understand that Pakistan is only deceiving it. If India fails in prosecuting the perpetrators of the Mumbai carnage, that will certainly affect its reputation." ¶2. "PAKISTANI LABYRINTH," editorial in the February 11 DAINIK HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "Forget about taking any action; Pakistan took so long to decide it needs more information to proceed with its investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks. If we closely monitor the situation in Pakistan -setting the rogue scientist A.Q. Khan free and the Al-Qaida threat to carry out more Mumbai-like attacks in India- it clearly points to links between the important elements of the Pakistani government and extremists and terrorist elements. It also sends a message to the U.S. and India that questions should not be asked about Pakistan's role in the war against terror; what it says should be believed. But, the Pakistani government's problem is that the pressure of the army and the extremists on it is pretty evident. Under these circumstances, it is very important that India should be united in its stand regardless of elections knocking at the door." ¶3. "PAKISTAN TOO SHOULD FURNISH EVIDENCES", editorial in the February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad: "For the past several years, the attitude of Pakistan on terrorism has been obstinate and illogical. It simultaneously takes every initiative to buy time on one pretext or another to delay the matter. And Pakistan is quite successful in its modus operandi. If Pakistan can ask us to furnish evidence, then why cannot we ask it to provide proof? Obviously, it will never be able to do so. Only then will it realize that asking for evidence is easier than providing it. It is where we can grill Pakistan. In matters of relations with Pakistan, one of NEW DELHI 00000266 002 OF 004 our gross mistakes is that we have relied too much upon America. We have taken for granted that President Obama can pressure Pakistan to honor our claims. But we forgot that America never sacrifices its own vested interests for others." ¶4. "INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCES OR DILLY-DALLYING", editorial in the February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily URDU TIMES, Mumbai: "It is high time Pakistan extended the hand of friendship to India and enhanced bilateral business and trade, because in times of global economic recession the Indian economy is second to none but that of China. That is why most countries are vying to improve their relations with India, so that they may make the most of the vast Indian market. But in Pakistan, there are certain groups and elements which do not allow their country to improve its relations with India beyond a limit. These elements sabotage the mutual relations whenever the two come closer to one another. These enemies of the interests of the Asian continent, and particularly the sub-continent, should be handled with a heavy hand, regardless of whether they are in India or Pakistan. But this requires courage and bravery. And Pakistan will have to show such courage and bravery." -------------- WAR AGAINST TERRORISM -------------- ¶5. "AL QAEDA ATTACK ON KABUL" editorial in the February 12, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "The Al Qaeda attack on Kabul a day before the visit of U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke is the latest in a series of coordinated high-profile terrorist strikes. Much worse is the Al-Qaeda commander Mustafa Abu al- Yazid's warning of more Mumbai-style attacks in India. He had the audacity to warn India of a retaliatory attack in the event of any Indian action against Pakistan. These threats and attacks need to be taken very seriously by the global community, considering the immense harm Al Qaeda has done to innocents in many corners of the globe. The new U.S. President Barack Obama is planning to double the number of U.S. troops fighting against a widening Taliban-led insurgency. Something effective certainly needs to be done, and immediately, to rein in the Taliban..." A similar editorial appeared in the February 12, 2009, edition of Marathi daily SAKAAL. -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶6. "WILL AFGHANISTAN BECOME ANOTHER VIETNAM?" editorial in the February 12, 2009 multi-edition centrist Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR. "The situation in Afghanistan is gradually slipping out of American control. Any failure by the Obama administration to act swiftly might see the dawn of another Vietnam in Afghanistan... the Kabul suicide attacks the other day is a grim reminder of the NEW DELHI 00000266 003 OF 004 state of things in this land-locked nation. The pattern of attacks was reminiscent of the 11/26 Mumbai terrorists' assault... besides, barring control over a few cities in Afghanistan, the U.S. and United Nations coalition forces do not hold sway over the majority of Afghanistan, which continues to be under Taliban influence. In addition, the Taliban have also established their dominance over Pakistan's FATA (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) region... despite eights years of its war against terrorism, the United States remains unsuccessful in tracking down dreaded fugitive Osama bin Laden. All in all, the situation is explosive. America has no option but to eliminate the Taliban and Al Qaeda at all costs, failing which peace and security will continue to elude the global community...." ¶7. "AMERICA ADMITS DEFEAT", editorial in the February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS, New Delhi: "After a centuries long battle, the West could not achieve its aims in Afghanistan. In the past too, the western imperialists inflicted tremendous loss of lives and property on inhabitants of this region, but they did not learn any lesson from history. Nobody can deny the fact that no disease can be cured without discovering its root cause. Symptoms remain intact until its root causes are eradicated. How can the curse of terrorism be removed without knowing its genesis? According to the Chief of American Central Command, General David Patreus, 'success in Afghanistan will not be easy, rather it will be a long and difficult battle.' What else could the Commander of an army tell his political leadership about the possible fate of any war? It is high time the new administration of the White House gave serious consideration to a change in scenario." -------------- NON-PROLIFERATION/ARMS CONTROL -------------- ¶8. "INDIA WANTS BAN ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS", editorial in the February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA, New Delhi: "The logic of the world powers with regards to making the earth a peaceful place is quite incomprehensible. On the one hand, they are producing deadly atomic and chemical weapons day and night, while on the other hand they make all out efforts to ensure that no developing country of Asia or Africa -- including Iran -- can use nuclear energy for even peaceful purposes. They are always ready to trap these countries using tools like restrictions and sanctions, including economic sanctions. These world powers have massacred millions of innocent citizens in Iraq on frivolous grounds. They also have killed thousands of innocent citizens in Afghanistan on the pretext of the so-called war on terror. Considering the dual standard and policy, it seems the world powers are not in the least interested in saving the planet from atomic wars and horrible death and destruction. Had they any interest, they would have taken initiatives to destroy these weapons, instead of NEW DELHI 00000266 004 OF 004 restricting countries from using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes." -------------- U.S.-IRAN RELATION -------------- ¶9. "NEW TURN IN U.S.-IRAN RELATION" editorial in the Feb 12 right-of-center Urdu daily "ETEMAAD", Hyderabad: "The flip-flop of 'war and peace' between the U.S. and Iran has taken a new turn. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivering a speech in a rally to mark the 30th anniversary of the victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution said Iran was ready for fair talks with the United States on the basis of mutual respect. However, he added that Iran wants true changes in U.S. policy. In fact, Israel is the big hurdle between in U.S.-Iran relations. The Jewish Israeli state can never accept friendly relations between America and Iran, as it has always been unnecessarily anxious about its security, even though Iran doesn't intend to attack Israel. On the contrary, Israel's policy towards the Arab world, especially Palestine, has become a symbol of barbarism. Now that Iran has agreed to talks with the U.S., the ball is in the court of President Obama to open dialogue with Iran, particularly on those issues that cause enmity between the two countries." MULFORD