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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000964

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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.

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PAKISTAN
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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."

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AFGHANISTAN
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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."

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INDO - PAK RELATIONS
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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