MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000006 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, PALESTINE; 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. -------------- INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "SOFTENING OR ACTING?" editorial in January 1 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's National Security Advisor Durrani's not ruling out that captured Mumbai militant Kasab is a Pakistani national indicates a softening in Pakistan's attitude. But, that's not without reason. Besides many irrefutable evidences and India's firmness, American and British intelligence agencies have also accepted he is Pakistani. Durrani is still not accepting it clearly, just saying Pakistan is also a victim of terror and suggesting a joint fight against terrorism. This doesn't help. Pakistan has to accept that the Mumbai attackers were Pakistanis and the attack was entirely planned from its soil. Pakistan's stance is softening under the tremendous international pressure, but it is not ready to act according to India's justified demands. It is indeed a complicated situation, which India has to handle carefully." ¶2. "PAKISTAN'S DILLYDALLLYING" editorial in the January 2, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily NAVASHAKTI. "Lashkar-e-Toiba commander Zarar Shah has confessed the terrorist group's involvement in terror attacks in Mumbai. His admission had broadly confirmed the confession made by the sole captured terrorist Ajmal Kasab to Indian investigators. It is by now clear that the ten assailants trained in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir wreaked havoc in Mumbai. Despite these shocking revelations, Pakistan has not shown the right kind of readiness for prompt action against Pakistan-based terrorist outfits. Fortunately, the international pressure, particularly from the U.S., is building up on Pakistan. India can deal with the situation only by thinking of newer ways to rein in Pakistan. War is no solution, but Indian leadership has to think of something more ingenious to straighten out Pakistan. It could be something on the lines of a proposed international boycott of Pakistan - a boycott that even Pakistan will dread..." ¶3. "WAR OR NO WAR", editorial in December 31, 2008 right- of-center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN EXPRESS", New Delhi: "Last time, the South Asia kept experiencing a troublesome dilemma of war or no war, for at least two months. It seems, as the dilemma will last longer. No need to comment on the affects of nervous breaking tension on the political, economic and social life in both the countries. If political pressure on Pakistan was the objective, why the forces were ordered to come out from their barracks? However, war frenzy is decreasing on both the sides but withdrawal of forces may take time. Same strategy was adopted by Vajpayee government. What it could achieve? Why we are utilizing the same old NEW DELHI 00000006 002 OF 004 worthless modus operandi? Whom we are trying to befool with such deeds? Is it not a fraud against our own selves?" ¶4. "AVOIDANCE OF WAR: A WISE DECISION", editorial in December 31, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "Despite a number of appeals for a cease - fire, media as well as some military and political leaders of both the countries were making all out efforts to create a war frenzy, which was making the people on both the sides worrisome, restless and terrified. All of them were thinking about the horrible effects of ensuing war. The world pressure compelled both the leaderships particularly the civilian and military leadership of Pakistan to take sagacious initiatives. That is why political and military leaderships of India and Pakistan are compelled to talk against any war. However, Pakistan should take some concrete steps against terrorists instead of creating war frenzy." ¶5. "ARMS RACE", editorial in January 2, 2009 right- of- center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN EXPRESS", New Delhi: "In the backdrop of recent changes in the Indo-U.S. relations, America ants at any cost, to sell its F 16 and F 18 Super Hornet planes to India. For this purpose, America is pressuring India on one pretext or the other. In it endeavors, high level lobbyists of White House are also participating. It is also in the news that America has also acquired the services of some Indian politicians, because they ere helpful in getting the Indo-U.S. civilian energy accord finalized. White House thinks them effective in this transaction too. In other word, it can be said that there are two wars in operation - one is between India and Pakistan, while the other is between arms traders. No need to explain the effects of these arms races on South Asia and who are the beneficiaries?" -------------- PALESTINE -------------- ¶6. "EMBATTLED WEST ASIA," op-ed analysis in January 1 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "The situation in West Asia has reached a flashpoint, with Israel and Hamas rebuffing efforts to organise a ceasefire. The world is viewing Israel as the aggressor, a perpetrator of terror against the Palestinians. But it is pertinent to note that Israel is only reacting to the relentless rocket attacks by Hamas over the past few months. The current situation further dampens the atmosphere at a time when President Bush is about to demit office. The situation is not an easy one - with the Palestinians divided into factions. The Hamas and Fatah factions are more responsible than anyone else for the suffering and misery that has engulfed West Asia.... Is there anyone out there who will bring a rapprochement? The whole world is willing to condemn Israel at the drop of a hat, but there seems to be no one who is willing to make the Hamas see reason." ¶7. "ROLE OF UNO" editorial in December 31, 2008 right-of- NEW DELHI 00000006 003 OF 004 center Urdu daily "SIASAT", Hyderabad: "Amidst the recent Israeli aggression and butchery in Gaza, do the world powers still have any doubt as to who is the real and supreme terrorist of the world? Israel's barbarism for the last four days has proved that Zionist terrorism has tacit support of western anti Islam forces particularly the United States of America. Without American pats on Israel's back, the latter cannot dare making such havoc. The whole Islam Dom is full of anger, anguish and agony. Apart from the Middle East, a great number of people are demonstrating against the western aggression in almost all the major cities of the world. The UNO is hand in gloves with Zionist and Jewish forces in order to conceal the criminal deeds of Israel. On the pious occasion of Christmas, America, Britain and Europe supported Israel to envisage a deadly strategy to start its aggressive actions in Gaza. However, if Israel's aggression is not stopped immediately, its nefarious designs may expand to other parts of the Middle East. Israel, in fact, is playing with fire, a fire that can engulf not only the Middle East, but also the entire world. And the winds of hatred against Israel may turn into a threat to the world peace." ¶8. "SALUTE TO THE COURAGE OF PALESTINIANS", editorial in December 31, 2008 right-of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ", New Delhi: "Question arises why the world leaders and heads of states, contrary to their people, are mute spectators of the present Israel's terrorism? Why they do not utter a single word against Israel and its barbarism? Does this mean that conscience of champions of humanity and nobility is dead now? Or the hidden wild nature dominated over their humanity? Salute to those unarmed Palestinians who are still hoping against hopes, and who have given a message to Israel that your oppressions and tyrannies cannot discourage them. The world community wants to stop Israel by soft words, but those who are habitual of kicks do not understand the language of nobility." ¶9. "WESTERN DEMOCRATIC TERRORISM", editorial in January 1, 2009 right-of-centre Urdu daily "URDU TIMES", Mumbai: "What is happening in Gaza is nothing but terrorism and terrorism only. It is terrorism of Israel against 1.5 million Palestinians. This terrorism is supported by 'State Actors' like America, Britain, Europe, Australia and all other allies of Zionism. We are unable to understand why West, the champion of democracy, liberty, fundamental rights, civil rights, rights of river, flora and fauna, children, prisoners, animals and birds, dogs and cats, gays and lesbians and the preacher of culture, civilization, manners, tolerance and freedom of expression has Janus faced policies. It is the same West which gave a present of Zionist, imperialist American democracy to Afghanistan and Iraq on the form of one million dead bodies, three million disabled, three million widows, five million orphans, thousands of prisoners, genocides, unparallel violence, ruined buildings, thousand tons of Napalm, Cluster and bunker buster bombs, robotic weapons, arrest of children, sexual abuse of children, desecration of religious places, NEW DELHI 00000006 004 OF 004 burning of ripe crops, blind justice of military tribunal, loot of country's treasure troves, illegal control of oil reserves, depleted Uranium etc. And nobody raises his voice against this naked terrorism." ¶10. "ROWDINESS OF ISRAEL", editorial in January 2, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "In West Asia, Israeli terrorism is massacring the Muslims and the entire world is a mute spectator. In fact, so called civilized countries of the world consider only those acts of violence as terrorism in which the Muslims are allegedly involved. Rest is considered as a part of a lawful war. That is why, at the nod of America, rulers of Israel are continuously perpetrating violence in Gaza. There is none to stop the tyrant Israel. How sad it is that Israel is on the worst sort of prowl but so called leader of the civilized world, the USA is looking at the scenario of deaths and destruction like an action film with happy hurrah." ¶11. "ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT" editorial in January 2 Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN:"... The situation in Middle East has become tense again...and Israel alone should not be blamed for this ... Unprovoked attacks against Israel and its citizens triggered the retaliation ... There can be no plausible reason to challenge the existence of the Jewish state of Israel since it has accepted the fact that an independent Palestine is the only solution to the problem ... The international community should immediately interfere to bring both the parties to negotiation before the situation becomes more complex ... Although the Hamas's only target is to destroy Israel, the conflict will never end until the Palestinians accept Israel's existence..." ¶12. "A NEW YEAR AND DESTINY" editorial in January 1 Kolkata Bengali independent ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA:"... When self-defense is used as a shield to justify aggressive stand it becomes more dangerous...and that danger is very much present in Israel and Palestinian extremists' disposition ... Despite four decades of militancy demonstrated by both sides, there is no reason to believe that the things can not change ... All which is needed to break the vicious cycle (of violence) is pure common sense ... One party must show restraint and start negotiating with the other, if necessary, with a third party mediation ... U.S. President-elect Barack Obama has repeatedly said that his one of the major foreign policy goals is to resolve the West Asia crisis . There is a ray of hope if the United States can really take an impartial stand. Being a more powerful party Israel should also behave in responsible manner. It does not suit her if she answers brick with a brickbat." MULFORD