MEDIA REACTION: TERRORISM/LAHORE ATTACKS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000646 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: TERRORISM/LAHORE ATTACKS, INDIA/PAKISTAN, G-20 SUMMIT, SRI LANKA; 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. -------------- TERRORISM / LAHORE ATTACKS -------------- ¶1. "LAHORE ATTACK," editorial in April 1 RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "The Lahore attack once again shows the extent to which the terrorists' writ runs in Pakistan... organizations like Al-Qaida and the Taliban are laboring to take full control of Pakistan. One can imagine the Pakistani people's plight if the police are not safe! They are also targeting the army. These attacks are a matter of serious concern for India. President Obama has announced his intent to wipe out terrorism from Pakistan, but Islamabad needs to play a major role in this fight." ¶2. "LAHORE ATTACKS A REACTION TO OBAMA'S AF-PAK POLICY?", op-ed in April 1 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF by Vidya Sagar: "The Lahore attacks happened just three days after the new U.S. Af-Pak policy was announced. The way these attacks were executed clearly indicates the terrorists' state of preparedness. It could be a part of the larger plan to make more strikes in Pakistan on similar patterns. These fighters were obviously anguished at the agreement between Pakistan & America in recent days." -------------- INDIA/PAKISTAN -------------- ¶3. "PAKISTAN ABLAZE; INDIA ALSO BURNS" editorial in April 2 centrist Marathi daily NAVASHAKTI. "It does not take an astrologer or a political commentator to assess India's stakes in the current political crisis unfolding in Pakistan. Each development has an inevitable impact on India's peace. Worse is the fact that as extremist forces take the reins in Pakistan, [Indian] groups like SIMI and Indian Mujahideen will take to large-scale violence on Indian soil. Mayhem in Pakistan signals mayhem in India, too..." -------------- G-20 SUMMIT -------------- ¶4. "INDIA IN G-20," editorial in April 1 NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "The G-20 summit is important for us. India with its huge population can remain a safe haven for the developed countries' capital even in this crisis, if they stop sacking Indian employees and cutting down on Indian exports. Protectionism and the basic structural change in financial institutions like the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank are the key issues. China's intention is to end the dollar's supremacy in international trade by making the IMF completely independent. India can make its case strong by signaling support for this proposal. The NEW DELHI 00000646 002 OF 002 purpose of the G-20 will be achieved for India if foreign markets remain open for Indian exports and the capital flow continues inward." ¶5. "G-20 AND GLOBAL RECESSION," editorial in the April 2 right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR. "This is the time to evaluate how the flawed policies of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund after 1950 have proved detrimental to Asian and African nations. Besides, media in the west are paying little attention to the fact that America and Europe are responsible for the unprecedented global economic crisis that we are witnessing today." ¶6. "G-20: THE BURDEN OF EXPECTATIONS," editorial in April 2 left-of-center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI: "The Global economic crisis will be the most important subject for discussion at the G-20. The world is spilt on how to tackle this crisis. EU countries are not ready to agree with the U.S. line of action: providing aid to private sector companies that are almost bankrupt. This summit is bound to fail if the U.S. is inflexible. Prime Minister Singh is scheduled to address the summit, and will oppose the restrictions imposed by the U.S. on employment and trade. He is not alone." -------------- SRI LANKA -------------- ¶7. "KILLINGS OF LTTE REBELS", editorial in April 1 right- of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "Sri Lanka is tops in Asia in terms of ethnic violence. The LTTE has always fought for a separate Tamil state, but its struggle has borne no fruit. Looking at the present situation in Sri Lanka, it seems certain the annihilation of the LTTE rebels is coming. However, their hideouts in the swampy regions and jungles of the country suggest they might be eliminated temporarily, but can never be complete wiped out. Unique not just in Asia but the entire world, the LTTE are a force to be reckoned with, one with more firepower than even military outfits like the Taliban & Al-Qaeda." WHITE