Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI297
2009-02-18 10:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN; NEW
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000297
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: PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN; 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.
--------
PAKISTAN
--------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000297
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: PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN; 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.
--------------
PAKISTAN
--------------
1. "TALIBAN'S TRUCE WITH THE DEMON PAKISTAN" editorial in
the February 18, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi
daily SAKAAL. "The Pakistani government's handshake with
the Taliban is the worst piece of news for India and the
global community. Pakistan's President Asif Zardari had
earlier expressed complete helplessness in the face of
Pakistani Taliban extremism that has engulfed his
country. But a formal agreement with the Taliban NOW
marks nothing less than a "military surrender." Some
political commentators suggest it could be a tactical
retreat. But many in India and the rest of the world
perceive this treaty as Pakistan's inability to go after
Baitullah Mehsud's Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in
Waziristan without conceding ground in Malakand. The
truce is supposed to end the violence in Pakistan, but
one cannot expect any such positive outcome from a treaty
between two extremist elements."
2. "PAKISTAN COMPROMISES WITH HARDCORE FUNDAMENTALISTS,"
editorial in the February 18 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali
BARTAMAN. "Ultimately, India's concerns were proved to
be true. The Pakistani government has surrendered to
hardcore fundamentalist pressure. Naturally, President
Obama's Special Envoy Holbrook is also worried. India
will have to remain more cautious and prepared to deal
with any exigencies. It is not going to a war, but India
needs to properly defend itself."
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
3. "THE TALIBAN CRISIS," editorial in the February 18
independent Kolkata Bengali ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "At
this moment, one of the biggest concerns for New Delhi
happens to be the Taliban in Pakistan... the Pakistan
government must be aware that the peace pact is merely
temporary and the Taliban will not move an inch from its
ideology and methodology. It is not only dangerous for
Pakistan alone but also for neighboring countries that
the government, committed to lead its people to the
liberation of democracy, finally abandoned the majority
of people to the control of the rigorous Talibani Shariat
law. It is not hard to understand that President Zardari
has been caught between Islamic fundamentalist pressure
on Islamabad and heat from the Pakistani army, and is not
in a position to make any independent decision. The
Taliban will seek to destroy Indian democracy. So New
Delhi must increase its pressure immediately on
Islamabad. The dimension of the danger warrants a
combined U.S.-India-Pakistan effort to combat the
problem."
NEW DELHI 00000297 002 OF 002
MULFORD
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: PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN; 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.
--------------
PAKISTAN
--------------
1. "TALIBAN'S TRUCE WITH THE DEMON PAKISTAN" editorial in
the February 18, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi
daily SAKAAL. "The Pakistani government's handshake with
the Taliban is the worst piece of news for India and the
global community. Pakistan's President Asif Zardari had
earlier expressed complete helplessness in the face of
Pakistani Taliban extremism that has engulfed his
country. But a formal agreement with the Taliban NOW
marks nothing less than a "military surrender." Some
political commentators suggest it could be a tactical
retreat. But many in India and the rest of the world
perceive this treaty as Pakistan's inability to go after
Baitullah Mehsud's Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in
Waziristan without conceding ground in Malakand. The
truce is supposed to end the violence in Pakistan, but
one cannot expect any such positive outcome from a treaty
between two extremist elements."
2. "PAKISTAN COMPROMISES WITH HARDCORE FUNDAMENTALISTS,"
editorial in the February 18 pro-BJP Kolkata Bengali
BARTAMAN. "Ultimately, India's concerns were proved to
be true. The Pakistani government has surrendered to
hardcore fundamentalist pressure. Naturally, President
Obama's Special Envoy Holbrook is also worried. India
will have to remain more cautious and prepared to deal
with any exigencies. It is not going to a war, but India
needs to properly defend itself."
--------------
AFGHANISTAN
--------------
3. "THE TALIBAN CRISIS," editorial in the February 18
independent Kolkata Bengali ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "At
this moment, one of the biggest concerns for New Delhi
happens to be the Taliban in Pakistan... the Pakistan
government must be aware that the peace pact is merely
temporary and the Taliban will not move an inch from its
ideology and methodology. It is not only dangerous for
Pakistan alone but also for neighboring countries that
the government, committed to lead its people to the
liberation of democracy, finally abandoned the majority
of people to the control of the rigorous Talibani Shariat
law. It is not hard to understand that President Zardari
has been caught between Islamic fundamentalist pressure
on Islamabad and heat from the Pakistani army, and is not
in a position to make any independent decision. The
Taliban will seek to destroy Indian democracy. So New
Delhi must increase its pressure immediately on
Islamabad. The dimension of the danger warrants a
combined U.S.-India-Pakistan effort to combat the
problem."
NEW DELHI 00000297 002 OF 002
MULFORD