MEDIA REACTION: SRI LANKA UNREST,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000844 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: SRI LANKA UNREST, PAKISTAN/TALIBAN, IRAQ; 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. -------------- SRI LANKA UNREST -------------- ¶1. "CLASH IN SRI LANKA," editorial in the April 25 right- of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "The UN should concentrate on restoring normalcy in Sri Lanka. It should also make all out efforts to stop the military action. The Lanka government and LTTE rebels should be brought to the table for talks. If the UN fails in accomplishing its duties and responsibilities, the very existence of this international forum will become meaningless." ¶2. "LANKA EPISODE: TAMIL STRUGGLE HEADED FOR BLOODY END," editorial in April 25 centrist Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR. "The worse part of the Lanka imbroglio is that innocent Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka are caught in the fight between the Sri Lankan troops and the revolting LTTE cadres... While India has preferred to maintain a low-key approach, the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu is witnessing a furor over the plight of its brethren in Sri Lanka.... India needs to emulate the Sri Lankan example in dealing with such problems back home, whether they be derived from ethnic issues, naxal menace, or terrorism." ¶3. "SRI LANKAN TAMILS WOULD CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTS," opinion piece in April 25 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT by Lt. General A.S. Kalkat: "The Sri Lankan government should seek a political solution to the Tamil conflict. Only achieving a victory over the LTTE forces is not enough. If the Tamil people in Sri lanka continue to feel that they have been denied equal rights then another person like LTTE leader Prabhakaran might rise from amidst the people. The priorities for India are clear: it should urge the LTTE to lay down arms, free the Tamil people and declare a ceasefire. India should also offer all help to Sri Lanka and initiate talks with the Lankan government." -------------- PAKISTAN/TALIBAN -------------- ¶4. "TALIBAN IN PAKISTAN," op-ed article in April 26 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by strategic specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "The world and especially India should seriously consider the possibility of Pakistan becoming a failed nation. That will have a grave effect on the international security system. The Talibanisation of Pakistan will result in a flood of refugees to many countries and it will affect India and Iran the most. The U.S. and the Western world is worried that if the Pakistan's nukes fall into terrorists' hands, the U.S., Western Europe and Israel will be their targets. Pakistan's political and military leaders feel that this concern is their trump card to blackmail U.S." NEW DELHI 00000844 002 OF 003 ¶5. "DANGER REMAINS IN PAK," editorial in April 25 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "The international community, especially the U.S., should find out that what is going on between the Pakistan government and the terrorists. After the U.S. warning, President Zardari said his government would not allow a parallel rule in any part of the country, but it is meaningless because there is already a parallel Taliban rule... The international community should ask the army chief General Kiyani where was he when the Taliban was taking over Buner and Shangla. The Pakistani army handed over Swat valley to Taliban militants on a platter." ¶6. "U.S. ASSESMENT," editorial in April 25 DAINIK HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "The Obama Administration is adopting a fresh, new approach in foreign policy. It shows in Obama's engaging CUBA and other Latin American countries, and Secretary Clinton's accepting that the U.S. is also partly responsible for the present mess in Pakistan. The U.S. once cultivated the Taliban, but now the Taliban are stuck in America's throat like a thorn." ¶7. "EXPANSION OF TALIBAN," editorial in the April 26 right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "The statement of the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that the government of Pakistan is helpless against terrorists is indicative of America's intentions. Before accomplishing its vested interests in any country, America creates such an environment in the target country, which provides the way for U.S. interventions. America wants to intervene in the internal affairs of Pakistan, on one ground or the other. Terrorism is a serious problem for the whole world. But hatching a conspiracy, deliberately, against Pakistan is somewhat more serious than terrorism itself." ¶8. "TALIBAN'S GROWING CLOUT IN PAKISTAN SENDS SHIVERS DOWN THE SPINE OF AMERICA" editorial in April 26 centrist Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA. "Pakistan is no longer just the epicenter of global terrorism but it has also become a nation emitting terror waves inimical to world peace and security... This has been corroborated by none other than U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who expressed serious concern over the rising control of the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Pakistan. The possibility of Pakistan's nukes falling into the hands of the Taliban and Al Qaeda has rattled the American administration.... Both Clinton and Secretary of Defense Gates have warned Pakistan to take stringent measures to nip this threat in the bud... This is an alarming situation for India because any development in Pakistan will have its impact here. If only we had the option of changing our neighbor!" ¶9. "USELESS PAKISTAN GETS AID," editorial in April 27 right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR. "Recently Pakistan received $5 billion massive aid during a Pakistan donors' conference in Tokyo. This is nothing short of bribing a nation at the international level. Pakistan is rescued every time it gets an American dollar injection. Despite Japan and American being fully aware NEW DELHI 00000844 003 OF 003 that Pakistan is a nuclear weapons state, they continue to supply Pakistan such aid. When India conducted nuclear tests in 1974, Japan imposed economic sanctions on India. Why isn't the same yardstick applied to Pakistan? Japanese and American taxpayers need to ask this question to their respective governments... Pakistan has over the years hoodwinked America and other European nations and extracted maximum political advantage in the process." ¶10. "IN THE GRIP OF TALIBAN," editorial in April 25 left- of-enter Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "After getting the Swat valley for a song, the Taliban's ambitions are on the rise. They now plan to attack Islamabad... President Obama has summoned Afghanistan President Karzai and Pakistan Prime Minister Gilani to the United States. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made Pakistan aware that the real danger to its sovereignty lies not from India but from the Taliban; accordingly, Pakistan should ensure the withdrawal of Taliban from Buner by taking military action. But now the Taliban has decided to withdraw from Buner. Whether the Taliban is really scared of the Pakistani administration or is this a tactical and a diplomatic withdrawal, only time will tell. " ¶11. "SUBJECT OF GLOBAL CONCERN" editorial in the April 27 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "Pakistan currently has 85 nuclear bombs and missiles to carry them. If tomorrow the Taliban gain control of these missiles then the concern of the resulting catastrophe is equally felt by Hillary Clinton as well as the rest of the world. The area where Pakistan developed these weapons is located near Waziristan and Swat. Although the government of Pakistan claims that they have brought these weapons near Islamabad, it cannot be trusted. First, because no country discloses the location of its nuclear weapons. And even if the weapons are near Islamabad, it is just three hours away from Buner, which is under the Taliban." -------------- IRAQ -------------- ¶12. "WHEN WILL IRAQ TERROR STOP?" editorial in April 26 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Though President Barack Obama has declared that American forces will leave Iraq by August next year, it seems that the dance of death and destruction will continue even after the withdrawal of American forces.... When the British left India, they divided Hindus and the Muslims. America too will create an acrimonious atmosphere in Iraq, which may result in the division of Iraq into three countries." BURLEIGH