MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, U.S./IRAN; NEW DELHI.

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000564 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./IRAN; 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. "SAUDI ARABIA'S INTEREST IN PAKISTAN IS DUE TO THE BOMB," op-ed article by columnist Lata Raje in the March 25 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are close, and that is for specific reasons. They have had a deep strategic military relationship for decades. Pakistan has entered into an unacknowledged nuclear partnership in which the Saudi government will be provided with a nuclear deterrent on short notice, if needed. It is said that the Saudi government wishes to acquire the nuclear bomb from Pakistan. Obviously, this would be meant to counter Iran's clandestine nuclear program. In this context, one has to understand the basic difference between the Saudi interest in Pakistan's peace, and the general escalating global interest in Pakistan." -------------- U.S./IRAN -------------- ¶2. "CHANGE IN U.S. ATTITUDE," op-ed article in the March 24 RAJASTHAN PATRIKA Hindi daily by strategic columnist Vinay Kaura: "Obama extended a hand of friendship to Iran, probably realizing that Iran's cooperation is a must for peace in Iraq and in the war against the Taliban. Experts believe that the purpose of Obama's message is to influence June's presidential elections in Iran. The challenge for Khamenei and Ahmadinejad is this: if they make up with the U.S., the hardliners will turn against them. Ahmadinejad could, however, portray it as America bowing to his stern approach. That could be the way out." WHITE