MEDIA REACTION: INDO-PAK RELATIONS, TALIBAN /

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000947

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E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: INDO-PAK RELATIONS, TALIBAN /
PAKISTAN, PAKISTAN, NEPAL; NEW DELHI MAY 09-11, 2009.

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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INDO-PAK RELATIONS
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1. "FRESH DIALOGUE WITH INDIA," editorial in the May 8
right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "Pakistan today is
in the grip of grave dangers both within and from
outside. It is imperative for Pakistan to improve its
ties with India. Who is behind enervating and
destabilizing Pakistan? The needle of suspicion
oscillates between the Taliban & the United States. As
far as fresh dialogue between India and Pakistan is
concerned, Zardari is dropping hints. The days to come
will tell us what kind of relations the new government
in New Delhi wants with Pakistan. The leadership in
Pakistan has become totally flustered by a series of
failures. American influence and interference has
further complicated things. The situation -- and
bilateral ties between India and Pakistan -- are likely
to improve significantly once an amicable climate for
dialogue is created."

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TALIBAN / PAKISTAN
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2. "HOPE AGAINST TERRORISM," editorial in the May 9
nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's
military offensive against the Taliban raises hopes
that it is finally moving in the right direction. Both
Afghanistan and Pakistan need the international
community's guidance and cooperation to fight
terrorism. The U.S. has promised economic aid to
Pakistan, but it cannot provide it without seeing
honest and effective action by Pakistan on the
terrorism front."


3. "JOINT-WAR AGAINST TALIBAN," editorial in the May 9
centrist DAINIK HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "The Pakistani
army is the real obstacle in the trilateral -- U.S.-
Afghanistan-Pakistan -- initiative. Being the only
powerful and organized force in the region, the
Pakistani army can play an important role in the war
against the Taliban. But the U.S. would be well advised
not to depend on the Pakistani Army; the permanent
solution to Pakistan's miseries is democracy."


4. "NEED FOR A STRONG STANCE AGAINST TALIBAN,"
editorial in the May 9 right-of-center Urdu daily
RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "There have been incidents of
escalated tension between the Pakistani army and the
Taliban in Pakistan recently. That suggests the
Pakistani government has adopted a tough stance against
the Taliban, even though just a few weeks back the
Pakistani government entered into an agreement with the
Taliban allowing it to impose Shariah (Islamic law) in

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the Swat Valley and adjoining tribal areas. Despite
that agreement, Taliban fighters continued to indulge
in terrorist activities. In fact, they even went to the
extent of imposing the Jizya (religious tax)on the
region's Sikhs - a totally un-Islamic policy, as a
result of which thousands of Sikhs were forced to
migrate to safer havens."


5. "OPERATION AGAINST TALIBAN," editorial in the May 9
Guwahati Assamese centrist DAINIK JANASADHARAN.
"Obama's strong stand has forced the Zardari government
to take military action against the advancing Taliban.
The success of the army operation is important to
Pakistan's stability, and to winning the ongoing war
against terrorism. Though the current offensive
against the Taliban seems to be moving in the right
direction, it is an acid test for Pakistan, because a
large portion of Pakistanis -- including the army, the
ISI and government officials -- is none too happy about
taking such actions under threat from the U.S."

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PAKISTAN
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6. "A NEW BATTLEFRONT FOR AMERICA," editorial in the
May 9 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "The
most plausible reason for the United States to wage a
war against Pakistan is the nuclear prowess possessed
by the latter. America evidently does not have the
capability to fight a terrestrial war, knowing full
well it can only fight aerial wars. At this juncture,
it is imperative for America to think rationally and
avoid pushing the world to the brink of a third world
war. A minor mistake could ignite the world and push it
into global war. Before countries like China and Russia
begin to intervene and start asserting themselves, it
would be prudent for America to mend its course, thus
preventing a catastrophe which has the potential to
devastate the world."


7. "ZARDARI'S HALF TRUTH" editorial in the May 11 right
of center Marathi daily Saamna. "Pakistan is in no
danger from India. That comes from none other than
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. He has also
reiterated that Pakistan faces real danger from the
terrorists hiding in its own country. Just two days
back Pakistan moved some troops away from the Indian
border. This 'confession' from Zardari and the
decision to withdraw some of these troops comes after
that. But it does not come from a sense of remorse --
it is a result of American pressure."

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NEPAL
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8. "NEPAL CRISIS DUE TO OBSTINATE PRACHANDA" op-ed in
the May 9 centrist Marathi daily PRAHAAR by
Chandrashekhar Joshi. "India's one time trusted
neighbor Nepal is undergoing a political and

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constitutional crisis over the dismissal of Nepal Army
head Rukmagand Katwal. To solve this crisis President
Rambharan Yadav gave the parties one week - until May 9
- to form a government. But there was no response.
Even if there were a momentary understanding of sorts,
nobody knows how permanent it would be. The crisis in
Nepal is not limited to the dismissal or reinstatement
of the Army chief. The crisis is ideological. It
comes down to a choice between democracy and Chinese-
style Maoist dictatorship."
BURLEIGH