MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, NEW ADMINISTRATION'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000309

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USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, NEW ADMINISTRATION'S
FOREIGN POLICY, INDO-U.S. RELATIONS; 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.

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PAKISTAN
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1. "DEFEAT IN SWAT," editorial in the February 18
centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Not even a week
has passed since Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari
admitted that the Taliban has established sway over large
parts of his country and aims to take it over entirely.
Now we hear that Islamabad has concluded a peace deal
with the Taliban in the Swat valley. Zardari previously
said the offensive against the Taliban in Swat was not at
anyone's command, but rather in Pakistan's own national
interest. So is this peace deal with the Taliban a part
of the Pakistani government's offensive? What will Mr.
Zardari call it? U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan
and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on Monday said India,
the United States and Pakistan all faced a common enemy.
After this Pakistani action of giving in to the Taliban,
will Mr. Holbrooke still maintain his view? Making peace
with the Taliban is a dangerous development, not only for
Zardari and Pakistan, but also India, South Asia, America
and indeed the world."


2. "HOLBROOKE'S ADVICE," editorial in the February 18
right-of-center AMAR UJALA Hindi daily: "Obama had grand
plans to focus his energies on Afghanistan. Now he
probably realizes the complexities in actually
implementing his plans. Soon after assuming power, he
sent special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan
Richard Holbrooke to the region. Holbrooke said India,
the US and Pakistan all have a common threat now: an
enemy which poses a direct threat to our leadership,
people and capitals. It is clear that Holbrooke is not
aware of the reality, because while he is saying the
Taliban is Pakistan's enemy, Zardari goes extending an
olive branch to them. Islamabad has concluded a peace
deal with the Taliban in the Swat valley. Islamabad is
very clearly hoodwinking the United States. Holbrooke's
thinking that Pakistan is on the same side as India and
the U.S. shows that Pakistan has been able to throw dust
in his eyes. Only Pakistan can deal with the Taliban,
because it is Pakistan's creation."


3. "PAK ON THE WRONG TRACK," editorial in the February 18
right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan has
been totally uncooperative and dishonest on the Mumbai
terror dossier. It is necessary for India to move swiftly
to tame Pakistan, because there is no other way. The
world knows that the Pakistani coalition government has
lost control over large parts of the country and that the
Taliban has established its sway and aims to take it over
entirely. Despite this, the Pakistan government has
succeeded in convincing the world that it is a legitimate
government that is firmly in the saddle. It is India's
duty to expose Pakistan's duplicity to the world, because

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on its own the world is not able to comprehend its game
plan. If American policymakers think that the danger is
only from the Taliban, then they are mistaken."

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NEW ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY
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4. "RELEASE OF DETAINEES: OBAMA'S FOREMOST CHALLENGE,"
editorial-page article in the February 19 independent
Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA by columnist
Pradip Dutta. "America has pursued a war on terror
chiefly with the help of its military power. That
cornered terrorists to some extent but they are yet to be
eliminated. Terrorist attacks have rather spread to other
countries. The country whose President was attacked by a
shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist will have to secure the
confidence of the whole world, including that of Islamic
nations. It will have to stop aggressive military
interference in other countries. This has become the U.S.
habit over the past six decades -- almost like a drug
addiction. It reached its climax during Bush's regime...
though recent surveys suggest U.S. perceptions of African
Americans have improved, whether the Muslims are placed
in that category remains to be seen. One fears they may
be converted into the 'New Black'. The new Administration
faces huge challenges. Obama has even referred to the
rights of nonbelievers; we are not bothered about the
rights of atheists, but Obama thinks about it. It seems
no problem evades his attention. There lies the hope.
Now, action is needed."

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INDO-U.S. RELATIONS
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5. "LOVE FOR ISRAEL UNDER U.S. PRESSURE," editorial in
the February 19 CPI (M) Bengali Organ GANASHAKTI,
Kolkata. "Despite Leftist opposition, the UPA government
in Delhi like the former NDA government is committed to
building closer and stronger defense ties with Israel.
Israel's role is going to assume a new dimension in the
evolving paradigm of U.S. dominance aimed at
counterbalancing China in Asia. India will become a new
active U.S. ally in the region. Israel is being
positioned in the middle in order to steer strategic
plans and keep the Indo-U.S. alliance hidden as far as
possible. The more India gets closer to the U.S. the more
the danger from terrorism increases. That escalates
India's defense budget. The government has become so
desperate to award arms contracts to Israel that it does
not hesitate to flout all established norms... this is
the result of getting trapped by the U.S."
MULFORD