MEDIA REACTION: STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000885

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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.

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STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM REPORT
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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are outdated."

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INDO-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL
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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."

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PAKISTAN
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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

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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."

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PAKISTAN-U.S RELATIONS
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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