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

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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.

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U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
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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."

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TERRORISM
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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

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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..."

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G-20
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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."

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NORTH KOREA
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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