MEDIA REACTION: U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, TERRORISM,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000670 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: U.S. FOREIGN POLICY, TERRORISM, G-20, NORTH KOREA; NEW DELHI - APRIL 4-6, 2008. 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. -------------- U.S. FOREIGN POLICY -------------- ¶1. "OBAMA'S PAKISTAN POLICY" op-ed in April 5 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by strategic affairs specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "Now Pakistan will obtain U.S. aid only if it delivers against the Taliban. America is isolating Pakistan, putting together a 'contact group' and getting Muslim countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia on its side. If Pakistan does not accept Obama's strategy, it will be ruined economically. There is an urgent need for complete democratization of the government and the people of Pakistan. The army and the intelligence service should be under strict government control." ¶2. "STATEMENT BY AMERICAN PRESIDENT", editorial in April 1 Islamist Urdu bi-weekly DAWAT: "President Obama released a new strategic policy on Afghanistan and Pakistan while the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit was underway in Moscow. The Afghanistan- Pakistan situation has deep implications for Russia, West Asia and India, as well as Iran. An international conference is being organized by the UN in The Hague soon, and President Obama is likely to participate. That's because Afghanistan and Pakistan occupy center stage in world affairs today. Perhaps that is why Russia is keen on emphasizing that the issue of Afghanistan cannot be resolved by military means alone, and that the U.S. should explore other alternatives. It appears that the American president has taken these suggestions into account." ¶3. "UNNECESSARY ADVICE" editorial in April 3 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "The U.S. attitude on Pakistan-based terrorism is not favorable to India. Does President Obama's advice for an effective dialogue process between India and Pakistan make any sense when Pakistan is making excuses to avoid taking action against those elements which have become a serious threat to India? India should stand firm against this U.S. advice. It cannot be overlooked that the Obama administration's policy on terrorism in Pakistan is no different from that of the Bush administration. The U.S. believes that terrorism can be easily eradicated in Pakistan by giving it economic aid. The Pakistan government's one-point program is to covertly support terrorist organizations, but the U.S. is turning a blind eye to this fact." -------------- TERRORISM -------------- ¶4. "NOW BAITULLAH'S TERROR FOCUS IS INDIA" editorial in the April 6 Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR. "The monster of terrorism, nurtured by Pakistan over the years, is now NEW DELHI 00000670 002 OF 003 haunting its creator. The Taliban is rapidly advancing in Pakistan. Bin Laden's absence is filled by fundamentalist local leader Baitullah Mehsud, who is spewing the venom of terrorism. He has even threatened the U.S. However, with reports that Taliban terrorists have entered the Indian part of Kashmir, the threat from this dreaded fugitive appears even more serious. India needs to take corrective measures on a war footing, putting all other issues aside for the time being..." -------------- G-20 -------------- ¶5. "MESSAGE OF G-20" editorial in April 3 NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "The G-20 summit, leaving all disputes behind, made some decisions which could prevent the present economic slowdown from turning into a great depression. Leaders made the IMF stronger by tripling its war chest from 250 to 750 billion dollars. The summit also set a target to more than double the IMF's lending to poor countries. Unprecedented steps, like a decisive role for emerging powerhouses like China, India and Brazil in the management of the IMF, World Bank and other international financial institutions, can certainly bring revolutionary changes. It is also a historical initiative because the IMF and the World Bank have been traditionally controlled by the U.S. and Europe until now. The good news for Indians is that all the black money hubs, including Swiss banks, will either have to stop those activities soon or make them transparent. Is the G-20 London summit the beginning of the end of recession? Let us hope so!" ¶6. "NEW MILESTONE," editorial in April 06, Bangalore- based left-of-center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI: "The real success of the G-20 summit is that the heads of states of the G-20 countries came together and unanimously agreed to address the global economic meltdown. The mixed outcome of the summit was much expected, as key players like France, Germany, the U.S. and the U.K. have strong disagreements among them on several issues. Hence the London summit could be viewed as part of an ongoing effort to resolve the crisis. This process should continue." ¶7. "TOWARDS RESOLVING ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN: WILL G-20 SUMMIT GIVE A POSITIVE SPIN?" editorial in April 06, Bangalore- based independent Kannada daily VIJAY KARNATAKA: "Meeting US president Obama on the sidelines of the G-20 summit, Prime Minister Singh touched upon the issue of terror emanating from Pakistan. However, President Obama's reaction is not very helpful to improve already strained India-Pakistan relations. Obama should understand that terror originating from Pakistan soil is the main concern for India. Extending a hand of friendship to India will be meaningless if he can not visualize these basic issues." -------------- NEW DELHI 00000670 003 OF 003 NORTH KOREA -------------- ¶8. "INTERNATIONAL DRAMA," editorial in April 06, Chennai- based pro-DMK Tamil daily, DINAKARAN: "Despite resistance from several countries, North Korea test-fired a rocket. This technology can be used for deploying both satellites and missiles. North Korea's greatest supporter, China, will use its veto power if the Security Council attempts to impose economic sanctions on North Korea. With China's support, both Pakistan and North Korea are escaping from international sanctions. The Big nations are doing their best to counter North Korea's aggression, while other countries are watching this international drama as mute spectators." ¶9. "TRICKY SITUATION FOR AMERICA," editorial in April 6 left-of-center Marathi daily LOKSATTA. "U.S. foreign policy has been consistently unreasonable. Of late, North Korea has been creating a scare for the U.S. American intelligence says North Korea's latest missile test is intended as a threat to countries 'near and far'. Very often, U.S. intelligence varies according to vested interests. At one point, the Bush Administration had declared North Korea a threat to global security. But in February 2008, it entered into a treaty with North Korea. Today, Obama again finds North Korea a security threat. U.S. policy is selectively alert to these security threats. No wonder the U.S. is exceptionally tolerant toward Pakistan." BURLEIGH