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