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.

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TERRORISM / LAHORE ATTACKS
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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."

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INDIA/PAKISTAN
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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..."

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G-20 SUMMIT
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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

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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."

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SRI LANKA
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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."
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