MEDIA REACTION: STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000885 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: STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM REPORT, INDO-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL, PAKISTAN, PAKISTAN-U.S RELATION; 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. -------------- STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM REPORT -------------- ¶1. "INCOMPLETE STUDY," editorial in the May 2 right-of- center Hindi daily DAINIK JAGRAN: "In its recent report on terrorism, the U.S. State Department has included India among the worst-hit countries in the world. But Pakistan does not figure in the list of countries whose governments support terrorism. This reflects America's double standards on terrorism; it avoids saying anything about the terrorists who target India." ¶2. "U.S. ON TERRORISM," editorial in the May 2 right-of- center Hindi daily AMAR UJALA: "The U.S. has warned Pakistan if it does not take effective action against the Taliban, the U.S. will launch direct attacks in Pakistan to destroy terrorists. The problem is, instead of cracking down on terrorists on its soil, Pakistan sees India as a threat. Although the Obama Administration has reminded Pakistan of this folly, there are still many Pakistan sympathizers in the U.S. political system. Thus, it is a challenge for India to make the U.S. aware of the real situation. At the same time, we should accept the U.S. assessment that India's counter-terrorism efforts are outdated." -------------- INDO-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL -------------- ¶3. "NUCLEAR DEAL DID NOT BENEFIT INDIA" editorial in the May 4 Guwahati Assamese independent DAINIK JANASADHARAN. "India has benefited little from the much-hyped nuclear deal one hundred days after its signing. In fact, surrendering India's independent nuclear policy (to the U.S.) seemed the only outcome of the pact... because America's traditional policy towards India has not changed much. On the contrary, the Obama Administration is pressing India to support its policies for the sake of Afghanistan and Pakistan." -------------- PAKISTAN -------------- ¶4. "TALIBAN OPPRESSION OF SIKHS IS NOT PAKISTAN'S DOMESTIC ISSUE, BUT A HUMAN RIGHTS MATTER" editorial in the May 4 Kolkata Urdu nationalist AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ. "The Jizya tax (tax levied for exemption from military duty) amount that the Taliban has demanded of the Sikh community in the Swat Valley is nothing but exhortation, and is entirely a tactic to blackmail. This has nothing to do with Shariah or Islamic jurisprudence, though the Taliban claims to do everything in the name of Islam. The NEW DELHI 00000885 002 OF 002 oppression meted out to Sikhs by the Taliban is a Pakistani domestic issue, but it's also an international human rights question." ¶5. "PAKISTAN AND JIZYA" editorial in the May 4 Kolkata Urdu centrist AZAD HIND. "This is the first time we are hearing that the Taliban is demanding Jiziya from the Sikh community. It is clear that the Taliban is taking advantage of the weak Pakistani administration... but it's the U. S. that was behind the grooming of the Taliban." ¶6. "TALIBAN'S ENTRY" editorial in the May 1 right-of- center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR. "At a time when India is voting to elect a new government, neighboring nation Pakistan is being hounded by the Taliban, who are surging ahead in a bid to take control of Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Even America seems helpless, and caught in the cobweb of Pakistani politics. America's millions of dollars of aid to Pakistan to fight terror has gone down the drain, with Pakistan's rulers having done nothing to contain this menace... all in all, Pakistan is inching towards a failed state scenario." -------------- PAKISTAN-U.S RELATIONS -------------- ¶7. "PAKISTAN & AMERICAN AID," editorial in the May 2 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF. "Despite the fact that Pakistan today is internally unstable and acts in a two- faced manner, it is still lucky enough to get American assistance. Even today, Pakistan is providing opportunities to the Taliban. President Obama is making all out efforts to get a bill passed by the congress that would pave the way for four hundred billion dollars to pour into Pakistan as part of extending military assistance. In addition, the president is in a way testifying that the Pakistani intelligence agency is not aiding and abetting the terrorists. The Pakistani action against the Taliban in Buner is likely to secure this largesse." BURLEIGH