MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000447 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, U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST BUDGET; NEW DELHI - MARCH 7-9, ¶2009. 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. "BIG MISTAKE," op-ed in March 8 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by strategic affairs specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "The terrorist attack on the Lankan cricket team came as the biggest shock for Pakistanis. Pakistan is paying a heavy price for its mistake. The same terrorists whom it created and supported have turned against it and challenged its government. On the other hand, U.S. is continually launching missile attacks in the tribal areas. America has also warned that Pakistan will get U.S. aid only if its army will take effective actions against jihadis. If Pakistan, actually, wants to get rid of terrorism, it will have to confront the jihadi organizations. The U.S. claims to have tapped General Kiyani saying on phone that the Taliban is Pakistan's strategic possession. Thus, America also does not trust it. The Lahore incident shows that the jihadis do not even care about the public opinion and want to violently impose their Islamic belief on Pakistan." ¶2. "PAKISTAN RUNNING AWAY FROM TRUTH," editorial in March 7 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "With Pakistani newspapers themselves blasting the Zardari government for turning a blind eye to the truth, there are no doubts left about its worthlessness. After Mumbai the recent terrorist attack on the Lankan cricketers in Lahore is sufficient to prove that terrorists have the government's support at some level. Zardari has failed to combat terrorism and trusting the Pakistani army means fooling yourself. Merely expressing concern is not enough! The international community needs to put pressure from all fronts on Pakistan to get its government and the army on the right track. The liberal section of the Pakistani society, which wants to see the terrorists defeated, needs to be strengthened to save Pakistan. Pakistan is trying to divert attention by presenting itself as a victim of its own created terrorism." ¶3. "ANARCHIC NATION," editorial in March 7 NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Pakistan is on the verge of collapse, but its rulers refuse to accept it. The Lahore terrorist attack on the Lankan cricketers has shown that the situation over there is much more serious than expected. The government may say anything, but its helplessness is pretty evident at every step... In fact, in Pakistan there are many centers of power, which have a lot of differences among them. The democratic forces are busy weakening each other instead of fighting together against the extremists. The common belief about Pakistan is that if the anarchy intensifies the army can again come in power. But, the lower level of the army has a lot of Jihadi influence. If the radicals somehow come in power, NEW DELHI 00000447 002 OF 003 ¶2009. a fraction of army could also turn treacherous. Now, the only way out is that the democratic forces should forget their differences and should stand firm, taking people in confidence, against fanatics." ¶4. "MUSHARRAF LEARNS THE RIGHT LESSON IN INDIA" editorial in the March 9, 2009, Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily LOKSATTA. "Immediately after Pakistan's former President Pervez Musharraf called for an end to 'atrocities' against Muslims in India, Maulana Asad Madani (a Muslim cleric and a member of India's parliament) asked Gen Musharraf to leave Muslims in India alone, as they were capable of solving their own problems. Musharraf, in New Delhi addressing a conclave, said alienation of minorities in India was leading to terrorism and that core disputes like the Kashmir issue need to be urgently settled by the Indian political leadership. There was nothing new in what Musharraf said.... He reiterated that terrorist outfits like Jaish- e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Toiba had come into being because of their sympathies for the Kashmiri people. While Musharraf's remarks are not surprising, but what came as a pleasant surprise was Maulana Madani's straight advice to Musharraf not to instigate Indian Muslims..." -------------- U.S. FOREIGN POLICY -------------- ¶5. "AMERICA'S CORRUPT FOREIGN POLICY" editorial in the March 9, 2009 Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMCHAR. "After the 9/11 attacks, America had declared that any nation sheltering and/or nurturing terrorists shall not be spared. However, the present U.S. President and the Secretary of State seem to have forgotten this statement.... Pakistan has become synonymous with epicenter of terrorism and is on the verge of being a failed state. Despite this, it is surprising to learn that it continues to receive American aid.... It is surprising that Obama, who had threatened to carry out missile attacks on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, did not bother to act when the Swat region in Pakistan was taken over by the Taliban ultras.... There are large numbers of Taliban sympathizers in Pakistan's army itself.... Has anyone raised questions about the utilization of 71 billion dollars that Pakistan has received until now from America? Has America benefited from this? If America doesn't introspect, it won't be surprising to see America and its citizens bearing the ill effects of its foreign policy tilted in favor of Pakistan ...." -------------- PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FIRST BUDGET -------------- ¶6. "THE NEW 'NEW DEAL'?" editorial in the March 7 independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "President Barack Hussein Obama's first budget proposals are clearly different from that of his predecessor George NEW DELHI 00000447 003 OF 003 ¶2009. Bush. The first difference is probably in the honesty of the budget. During Bush's regime the characteristics of his budget proposals were intentional suppression of some inevitable expenses. Obama did not tread along that path. His budget shows deficits clearly ... Obama's decisions are significant at this hour of crisis. Democrat Obama's budget brings back memories of the 'New Deal' ... Today's rich community principally banks on the financial market. So, the rich community has been more impacted by the current financial crisis as compared to the great depression. It is important that the policy of tax collection reflects this reality." WHITE