MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, GAZA;

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000052 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: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, GAZA; NEW DELHI - JANUARY 10-12, 2008. 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. -------------- INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "DOES AJMAL KASAB DESERVE SYMPATHY?" editorial in the January 10, 2009, Mumbai edition of right-of-center Marathi daily SAAMNA. "Pakistan-based terrorists, the ones who wreaked havoc in Mumbai on 26/11, came with the definite purpose of full-scale mayhem and bloodshed. Similarly, the ones who attacked the Indian parliament in 2001 wanted to unsettle India. Despite all these hard- hitting instances, some liberal human rights activists in India wish to pardon Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist in the 26/11 attack. These humanists have no idea of the sacrifice made by Indian commandos and policemen who died while fighting the terrorists. These terrorists from across the Indo-Pakistan border have challenged and endangered the sovereignty of India..." ¶2. "GILANI'S 'MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION'" editorial in the January 12, 2009 Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR. "The recent statements by Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, questioning why is there so much hullaballoo over Mumbai attacks, smacks of characteristic behavior emblematic of Pakistani politicians.... Why we call it the million-dollar question is, if not Gilani, who else can be expected to make such comments? History is replete with examples that the survival and success of Pakistani politicians rests on "hate India, defame India" sentiments and the Kashmir issue.... In this light, it is not unnatural for a responsible politician to utter such statements.... Pakistan's criminal mentality is echoed through such utterances. Pakistan has become a safe heaven for terrorists and terrorism, such that it even leaves behind terrorists organizations like the Taliban and Al Qaeda in this reckoning.... The world will have a herculean task in eliminating this danger forever." ¶3. "HALF-ACCEPTANCE OF TRUTH," op-ed in January 11 right- of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by strategic affairs specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "Pakistan earlier completely denied, but now it is accepting that Kasab is a Pakistani national. Pakistan may admit till the FBI team completes investigation in Mumbai that all ten militants were Pakistani, but it is unlikely that it will hand over perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to India... Pakistan is completely dependent on the U.S. aid to save its economy, but Pakistani people are full of resentment against the U.S. Thus, it may acknowledge that the Pakistan-based militant group plotted the Mumbai massacre, but it will continue to deny the government's links to it. It would also not allow the FBI to interrogate the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba. Now the U.S. is realizing that the real problem is not Afghanistan but Pakistan, and without tackling Pakistan NEW DELHI 00000052 002 OF 002 first, the Afghanistan problem cannot be resolved." ¶4. "EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP LACKING PAKISTAN'S DEEPENING CRISIS," opinion-article in January 9 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily by Subhash Dhuliya: "Pakistan's resistance to accept Kasab as a Pakistani national and the sacking of supporters of peace such as National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani indicate that many power centers have emerged in Pakistan when it badly needs united leadership. What Pakistan has done post-Mumbai is nuclear blackmail... Being a terror hub, Pakistan is a far bigger problem for the U.S. than for India, because the Afghanistan war cannot be won without destroying the Pakistan-based terrorist camps. Besides the international community, another option could be to get Pakistan's liberal-democratic forces also involved in the joint strategy to fight terrorism. There is no effective leadership, which could take tough decision, left in disturbed Pakistan. A failed nuclear Pakistan will be very dangerous for the entire world and, especially, for India. Therefore, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement -a stable and prosperous Pakistan is in favor of India- should not be ignored. -------------- GAZA -------------- ¶5. "ISRAEL'S ACTION IN GAZA," editorial in January 10 centrist DAINIK BHASKAR daily: "Israel's strikes are continuing despite the United Nations Security Council's call for implementing ceasefire with immediate effect. The U.S. backed the proposal, but did not participate in voting. More than 750 Palestinians and 14 Israeli citizens have been killed in the ongoing fierce conflict between the Israeli forces and the Hamas in Gaza. Nobody is safe in Gaza and the life of thousands of people over there is in danger. The other tragic thing is that since Israel restricted the foreign media's entry to Israel it is difficult to get unbiased news from Gaza. Thus, it has become difficult to assess the real situation over there. It is a terrible situation in Gaza and the immediate measures need to be taken to avoid an appalling human tragedy." ¶6. "CRITICISM OVER STEPS TAKEN BY BARACK OBAMA" editorial in January 12 Kolkata pro-left Urdu AABSHAAR. "There is uproar in the U. S. over some recent steps taken by President-elect Barack Hussein Obama. At the same time the whole world is shocked at Obama's silence over Israel's attacks on Gaza. The world including some sections in America is raising questions about this." MULFORD