MEDIA REACTION: WAR AGAINST TERROR, PAKISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000759 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: WAR AGAINST TERROR, PAKISTAN, SRI LANKA UNREST; 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. -------------- WAR AGAINST TERROR -------------- ¶1. "SAME FLAW IN NEW RULE," commentary in the April 15 Hindi daily DAINIK JAGRAN by S. Shankar. "President Barack Obama is making the same mistake over which he criticized Bush's policy -- continuing aid to Pakistan to control the Taliban. A major part of this aid is used by Pakistan against India.... The biggest U.S. problem is that it only thinks in terms of protecting itself. Obama does not seem to be learning any lesson from the Bush administration's failure. His lack of administrative experience may lead to serious consequences. Such indications are coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan." ¶2. "NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND TERRORISM," editorial in the April 16 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "Pakistan's temporary truce with Taliban in the Swat valley is a very fragile agreement. The Taliban is an extremist element which does not believe in peace. Pakistani president Zardari therefore need not heave a sigh of relief, in fact he and the rest of the world have to be on the alert. The world is now anxiously watching Pakistan. The U.S. is trying its best to support Pakistan's government - a weak establishment that can barely survive the Taliban onslaught. As of now, the survival of this weakling serves the global interests. If the Taliban take over Pakistan, no one's interests will be served..." ¶3. "RUSSIA-AMERICA TIES: A NEED OF THE HOUR" op-ed article by columnist Lata Raje in the April 16 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "The meeting of Russian and American presidents on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in London is welcome and it could push the "reset" button to reverse the nearly decade-long downward spiral in Washington-Moscow ties.After a long time, both the countries have realized the need to build bilateral ties. And unlike the past, both the nations cannot afford any further nuclear armament of their respective neighbors. Therefore, disarmament, Afghanistan and global finance are some of the core concerns that spell the possibilities of future Russian-American cooperation." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶4. "AMERICAN CONDITIONS AND PAKISTAN," editorial in the April 15 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "America has put forth two conditions for its aid to Pakistan. First, the Pakistan government will allow American investigators to investigate Pakistan's atomic scientists and secondly, Pakistan will not help any individual or group fan terrorism against India. No doubt, these two conditions are not easy for Pakistan. NEW DELHI 00000759 002 OF 002 Simultaneously, there is no doubt that these conditions are a great diplomatic success for India. Now, what message does Pakistan want to give to the whole world community by its hesitation to accept these conditions? Perhaps, Pakistan is considering these conditions as a humiliation. It is high time Pakistan accepted each and every condition imposed by the United States. It should learn how to live in peace with its neighbor India." -------------- SRI LANKA UNREST -------------- ¶5. "TAMIL'S REBELLION IN SRI LANKA AND INDIA," editorial in the April 14 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF: "The Tamil rebels' mutiny is on the verge of death. LTTE chief Prabhakaran is now a lonely man deprived of all his key militant leaders. The Government of Sri Lanka refused any permanent cease-fire. It has an apprehension that the rebels may revive their strength during the proposed cease-fire, or their political and militant leaders may run away from the country. India is naturally concerned.... Any sort of support to Tamil rebels and separatists in Sri Lanka is not in India's interest. We should, therefore, avoid supporting separatist elements in Sri Lanka." BURLEIGH