MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000006

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP, AC, PM

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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.

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INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS
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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

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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?"

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PALESTINE
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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-

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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,

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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