MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN/TALIBAN; NEW DELHI.

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000952 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: PAKISTAN/TALIBAN; 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. -------------- PAKISTAN/TALIBAN -------------- ¶1. "PAKISTAN'S WAR A SHAM," editorial in May 11 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's rulers know very well that if U.S. aid is stopped even for a few months, the country could collapse. Zardari has, therefore, declared an open war against the Taliban to keep the U.S. in good humor... the U.S. may take Pakistan at its word, but India should not be fooled by this sham war." ¶2. "DOG'S TAIL STAYS BENT," editorial in May 11 right- of-center VIR ARJUN Hindi daily: "Thanks to the U.S. pounding the message home, now Pakistan is saying that India is not a threat to it. But old mindsets are hard to change. Pakistan will always claim Kashmir; it is unlikely that there will be any change in their policy on that score." ¶3. "ZARDARI SPEAKS" editorial in the May 12 left-of- center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "There is nothing new in President Zardari's recent statement that India is not a threat to Pakistan. Zardari has made such statements in the past, but each time the statement was followed by a terrorist offensive from across the border. It is as if the terrorist outfits compete with each other to discredit the Pakistani President." ¶4. "A PUPPET SHOW," editorial in the May 11 right-of- center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "The Taliban are not a cohesive force, nor do they have any area under their control. Thousands have been killed because of the relentless bombings in the region. It is left to be seen what the outcome of the combined U.S.-Pakistan strategy may be, but India cannot be a mute spectator to the killings. War could come to our door next. China and Russia have also been observing an unnerving silence over the entire episode." BURLEIGH