MEDIA REACTION: TERRORISM/PAKISTAN, US

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000779 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/PAKISTAN, US FEDERALISM, NUCLEAR ISSUES, GLOBAL ECONOMY, CUBA/SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS; 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/PAKISTAN -------------- ¶1. "PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT'S SURRENDER," commentary in April 19 right-of-center Hindi daily DAINIK JAGRAN by strategic affairs expert K. Subrahmanyam: "By giving in to the demand to enforce Islamic law in Swat Valley and other tribal areas, Pakistani President Asif Zardari has indicated that Islamabad is not willing to take on the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. For the Obama Administration to resolve its Afghanistan problem, the biggest challenge is to deal with Pakistan at a time when the Taliban are poised to capture the country. If the U.S. fails to control the situation, it will be like a confirmation for the Pakistani army that the U.S. is not committed in the region and will soon leave Afghanistan. Since the Taliban in Pakistan are gaining in strength, the risk of terrorist attacks on the West is also on the increase. This is a test for the Western countries, and their looking away from the problem will let the Taliban gobble up Pakistan." ¶2. "INCREASING PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN," op-ed article in April 18 right-of-center Hindi daily DAINIK JAGRAN by Member of Parliament Rajeev Shukla: "Eventually, the Pakistani government had to bow to the Taliban and implement Sharia law in Waziristan, Swat and FATA. Through Sharia law, the Taliban have established their rule in the tribal areas, and sooner or later will reach Islamabad. The same Red Mosque that Musharraf wrested from the Taliban under U.S. pressure will again turn into a Taliban base. That will make it easy to take over Islamabad. The Taliban's entry means Al-Qaida's entry. The Islamic hardliners have no fear of the army or police. Under these circumstances, the U.S. will have to make a special initiative. Obama's special envoy Richard Holbrooke has understood the seriousness of the situation. Now the U.S. is left with no option but to �A;rapidly increase direct attacks before the Taliban takes over Pakistan." ¶3. "PAKISTAN LOSES WORLD CUP CO-HOST TAG" editorial in the April 20 centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "Pakistan's notoriety as the epicenter of global terrorism has again taken a toll. This time, it is the cricket world cup series (2011). Earlier scheduled to be co-hosted by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the International Cricket Council has struck off Pakistan's name from the organizers' list for security reasons. The terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team in Pakistan last month forced other cricket playing nations to rethink their options considering Pakistan's dismal record in containing such attacks... while this is a sad day for cricket fans in Pakistan, Pakistan has itself gained the NEW DELHI 00000779 002 OF 003 reputation of a nation aiding and abetting terrorism." ¶4. "PAKISTAN IN THE CLUTCHES OF TALIBAN" op-ed article by columnist Manisha Tikekar in the April 19 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT: "The Taliban is now the established enemy of the whole world, whatever Pakistan wants us to believe. The unfolding scenario in Pakistan is so fast- changing and scary that the Pakistani administration is itself unable to keep pace with the Taliban onslaught. At one point, Pakistan was aiming to create a `strategic depth' against India in Afghanistan. The Taliban was created and strengthened as part of that strategic design. Now, of course, things have changed. The Taliban is becoming increasingly unmanageable for the Pakistani administration..." -------------- US FEDERALISM -------------- ¶5. "UPRISING IN THE U.S.," editorial in the April 18 right-of-center Hindi daily AMAR UJALA: "The way U.S. President Barack Obama has imposed taxes and asked all the states to contribute to the stimulus package has incited anger among the middle class. Texas, the southwestern U.S. state, is leading an anti-Obama wave. It is not just a question of Obama's stability, but one that has to do with U.S. federalism... the Texas fire could pose a serious danger to U.S. federalism. Texas is a Republican base, but its secessionist roots and strong economy, as compared with other states, are the two main factors behind the revolutionary attitude of Texans... what is the guarantee that these secessionist flames will not reach other states? Can Obama handle it?" -------------- NUCLEAR ISSUES -------------- 6."NOT TIME YET FOR DISARMAMENT," analysis in the April 18 centrist, pro-Congress party Hindi daily DAINIK HINDUSTAN by Harsh V. Pant: "President Barack Obama is again in the news over disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation issues. Since India has always raised the nuclear disarmament issue, it should welcome Obama's declaration in Prague. On India's western border, a failed nuclear state [Pakistan] may come into existence. Thus, U.S.- India cooperation is a must to prevent nuclear weapons falling into terrorists' hands... disarmament rules and regulations are totally ineffective because of the instability in world politics. Anyway, the question arises -- is complete disarmament necessary? There is stability after the cold war because of large stocks of nuclear weapons. Being a nuclear state, India should welcome Obama's proposals. But at present it should not waste time on a hypothetical ideology of a nuclear-free world. India should follow the nonproliferation policy and firmly say it will not sign the CTBT and FMCT in their present form. Nuclear disarmament is good for India, but its time has not yet come." NEW DELHI 00000779 003 OF 003 -------------- GLOBAL ECONOMY -------------- ¶7. "EVEN CHINA NOW" editorial in the April 20 right-of- center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "Even China now has been gripped by the impact of global recession. The Chinese authorities are concerned as its economy is growing more slowly than at any time in the last ten years. There was a time when Chinese products flooded the world market due to heavy demand. This declining demand has a direct correlation to production that in turn has pushed the Chinese economy towards recession." -------------- CUBA/SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS -------------- ¶8. "AFTER 49 YEARS," editorial in April 18 nationalist Bengali daily ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "Democracy cannot be realized by issuing threats. Democracy will come naturally, and hurdles will need to be cleared to help Cuba. Obama may have realized this, something his predecessor did not... for he hopes communication will make Havana walk the path to democracy. Obama is to address Pan American leaders shortly, when he will certainly spell out his idea of better ties with Cuba. The road ahead is rocky, but Obama has made a good start on it. That shows Obama did not just make hollow promises in his election campaign." BURLEIGH