MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN, INDO-PAK RELATIONS; NEW DELHI

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000964 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, AFGHANISTAN, INDO- PAK RELATIONS; 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 -------------- ¶1. "PAKISTAN ON COURSE CORRECTION," editorial in the May 12 right-of-centers DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari recently conceded in Washington that India is not a threat to Pakistan. This does not, however, mean that Pakistan's Army necessarily subscribes to this viewpoint. Zardari says he has total control of the nation and the Army is meaningless... it remains to be seen how Zardari's admission, made after U.S. persuasion, plays out in his own country." ¶2. "THE NURTURED ONE DESTROYS," editorial in May 13 right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR: "Despite possessing 40,000 nuclear weapons, America has not succeeded in reining in the Taliban. If the U.S. wishes, it can prompt Pakistan on the issue of fighting terrorism. But Washington understands that the Taliban cannot be confroted without the help of the Pakistani army. America is in a real quandary; it has to rely on Pakistan while dealing with the monster it once nurtured." ¶3. "ZARDARI SPEAKS THE TRUTH" editorial in May 13 centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. "He may go back on his statements later, but for now Pakistani President Asif Zardari has admitted that the U.S. -- along with Pakistan's ISI and others -- created the Taliban in the eighties. The statement underlines a bitter truth: Pakistan today is fighting those it funded 20 years ago. Zardari blames Musharraf for the rise of the Taliban. The world, however, knows each successive Pakistani administration embraced militant organizations for its own short-term interests." -------------- AFGHANISTAN -------------- ¶4. "AMERICA'S ASIAN HUNTING-GROUND," editorial in the May 12 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "U.S. foreign policy is based on its military might. History stands witness`YQQG;ing... there is no international forum in which to challenge the U.S. The Non Alignment Movement, too, is dead." -------------- INDO - PAK RELATIONS -------------- NEW DELHI 00000964 002 OF 002 ¶5. "ADMISSION OF TRUTH," editorial in the May 12 nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "President Asif Zardari said in Washington recently that the Taliban, and not India, is the real threat to Pakistan. It remains to be seen if Pakistan follows this statement in spirit. In making these remarks, Zardari was probably toeing President Obama and Secretary Clinton's line to make them happy. For the moment it even seems Pakistan really means it -- it withdrew troops from the Indian border. But then, decisions made under duress don't last. Let us see if Zardari walks the talk." ¶6. "THREAT FOR PAKISTAN," editorial in May 12 right-of- center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "For the first time in the 60-year history of Pakistan, its head of state has admitted that India is not a threat to the country. Pakistan itself has nurtured its enemies -- it is high time the ruling authority and the army of Pakistan try to eradicate them." BURLEIGH