PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 04, 2010

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000010

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 04, 2010

Summary: Media coverage of the U.S. in the new year began with
reports in all major English language dailies of Thursday's signing
of an implementation letter worth $55 million for FATA
infrastructure. Media also carried reports regarding the closure of
a U.S. training facility at Sihala and the Foreign Office's
statement that Pakistan has an extradition treaty with the U.S.
Reports that U.S. drone strikes killed a top militant leader also
garnered coverage, while "The News" ran the headline, "44 U.S. drone
hits killed 700 civilians, 5 al-Qaeda men in 2009." A suicide
bombing at a volleyball match in Lakki Marwat dominated headlines on
Saturday. Nearly all newspapers covered the attack on a CIA base in
Afghanistan's Khost Province, reporting that the base may have been
used to launch drone strikes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
On Sunday, all major English dailies carried the U.S. condemnation
of the Lakki Marwat attacks, quoting statements from Secretary
Clinton and Embassy Islamabad. Prime Minister Gilani's statement
that the "delay in the implementation of Charter of Democracy,
signed between Pakistan People's Party and Pakistan Muslim League,
was 'the biggest mistake' (of his government) dominated headlines in
all major dailies on Monday. The closure of the U.S. and UK
embassies in Yemen owing to security threats also figured
prominently. Reports and photographs of the killing of a former
provincial minister of NWFP in a bomb blast in Hangu (Kohat)
received prominent front-page coverage. All newspapers reported
that the five U.S. nationals arrested last month "will be indicted
under different sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act" today. Remarks
by the U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Brennan that "CIA is on
the front line in war along Pak-Afghan border" garnered wide
display. Also front-paged were reports that "three foreigners among
five" were killed in a "CIA-operated" drone strike in North
Waziristan Agency. End Summary.

TOP STORIES

News Story: U.S., U.K. Close Embassies In Yemen - "Dawn" (01/04)

"The United States and Britain closed their embassies in Yemen on
Sunday after receiving information that Al Qaeda is planning attacks
at American and British targets in that country, President Barack
Obama's top counter-terrorism Adviser John Brennan told journalists
in Washington."

News Story: CIA On The Front Line In War Along Pak-Afghan Border -
"Dawn" (01/04)

"The CIA is on the front line in the war along the
Pakistan-Afghanistan border and will continue to play this role
despite a temporary setback, U.S. President Barack Obama's top
counter-terrorism adviser said on Sunday. Last week, a Taliban group
attacked the spy agency's main base in Afghanistan, killing eight
Americans, including the CIA's station manager and six agents. John
Brennan, the U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser for Homeland
Security and Counter-terrorism, told reporters that the CIA was
looking very carefully at the circumstances surrounding the Khost
attack and was trying to make sure that such incidents didn't happen
again."

News Story: U.S. Increases Resources In Region - "Dawn" (01/04)

"U.S. President Barack Obama has said that his country has
dramatically increased its resources in the Pak-Afghan region
because this was where Al Qaeda was actually based. In his Saturday
radio address, Mr. Obama drew a direct link between an Al Qaeda
group and a foiled attempt to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner."

News Story: American Nationals To Be Indicted On Terror Charges -
"Dawn" (01/04)

"The five U.S. nationals arrested last month will be indicted under
different sections of Anti-Terrorism Act on Monday (today) when they
will be presented in Sargodha District and Sessions Court. Waqar
Hussain Khan (22),Virginia, Ahmed Abdullah Mani (20),Virginia,
Ramay S. Zamzam (22),Egypt, Iman Hasan Yamar (17),California and
Omar Farouk (24),Virginia, were arrested in Sargodha on Dec 9 for
'plotting terror attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan.'"

TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES

News Story: 44 U.S. Drone Hits Killed 700 civilians, 5 Al Qaeda Men
In 2009 - "The News" - (01/01)
"Of the 44 Predator strikes carried out by the American drones in
the tribal areas of Pakistan in 12 months of 2009, only five were
able to hit their actual targets, killing five key al Qaeda and
Taliban leaders, but at the cost of around 700 innocent civilians
lives."

News Story: 90 Killed In Lakki Marwat Bombing - "Daily Times"
(01/02)

"At least 90 people were killed after a suicide bomber detonated an
explosives-laden pickup truck in the middle of a volleyball game in
the village of Shah Hasan Khel, in Bannu division of Lakki Marwat on
New Year's Day. 'It's just a disaster. I can see flesh, bodies and
wounded all around,' Fazl-e-Akbar, a witness, told Reuters by
telephone. 'It's dark. Vehicles' headlights are being used to search
for victims.'"

News Story: Top Militant Leader Killed In Drone Attack - "Dawn"
(01/02)

"Two people were killed and four others injured when a U.S. drone
fired two missiles on a car parked outside a residential compound in
Hakimkhel area of North Waziristan on Friday. According to sources,
militant leader Haji Mohammad Umar was among those killed in the
attack."

News Story: Clinton Condemns Suicide Bombing - "The News," "Dawn,"
"The Nation," "Pakistan Observer" (01/03)

"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denounced the suicide car
bombing Friday of a volleyball game in Pakistan that left at least
88 people dead. 'The United States strongly condemns today's
terrorist attack on civilians in Pakistan, and we offer our
condolences to the families of the victims and all the people of
Pakistan,' Clinton said in a statement."

News Story: Travellers From 14 Nations Will Face Additional
Screening In U.S. - "The Nation" (01/04)

"Travelers from 14 nations including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria
and Saudi Arabia flying into the United States will face additional
screening starting today, U.S. officials have said."

News Story: 3 Arabs Among 5 Killed In Drone Attack - "Dawn" (01/04)


"Five people, three of them Arabs, were killed when a drone fired
two missiles on a house in Mosaki village of North Waziristan on
Sunday night, official sources said."

News Story: Militants' Bomb Kills Ex-Minister In Hangu - "Dawn"
(01/04)

"Former provincial irrigation minister Ghani-ur-Rehman and his
cousin were killed when an improvised explosive device, believed to
have been planted by militants, went off on the Bagato road in Hangu
district on Sunday."

News Story: 12 Terrorists Killed In Swat, SWA - "The Nation" (01/04)


"At least 12 terrorists were killed and one soldier embraced
martyrdom while scores of soldiers and terrorists were injured in
encounters between the security forces and terrorists in South
Waziristan and Swat-Malakand region, ISPR reported on Sunday."

News Story: Fazlullah's Driver Surrenders - "Dawn" (01/04)

"The driver Khadim Hussain of Swat Taliban Chief Maulana Fazlullah
along with a companion surrendered to security forces in Kabal
tehsil of the district while seven suspected militants were arrested
in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on Sunday, officials confirmed the
surrender of Khadim Hussain."

News Story: Karachi Violence A Pre-Planned Conspiracy? - "Daily
Times" (01/04)

"A private TV channel has claimed violence and a fire that erupted
after a blast targeting a Muharram procession in Karachi on December
28 were 'thoroughly pre-planned.' Basing its claim on CCTV footage,
the channel said police and Rangers deployed in the area had
'started leaving their positions in a hurry,' as no security
personnel were visible in footage taken one minute and 12 seconds
after the blast. The 'pre-planned arson' began 39 minutes after the
blast, when 'suspicious people' started arriving at the site.
Showing a CCTV grab taken 39 minutes and 23 seconds after the blast,
the channel said, 'There were well-equipped people with ringleaders
distributing phosphorous packets, petrol and gloves.'"

POLITICAL ISSUES

News Story: Pakistan Has Extradition Treaty With U.S., says FO -
"Dawn" (01/01)

"Weeks after denying that Pakistan had an extradition treaty with
the United States, the government said on Thursday that the two
countries had an accord for return of fugitives as per a 1973
notification, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit said at a media
briefing."

News Story: Ignoring CoD Biggest Mistake, Admits PM - "The News"
(01/04)

"Admitting for the first time that his government had committed a
serious mistake by not implementing the Charter of Democracy (CoD)
immediately after taking over the reins of power, Prime Minister
Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday vowed to expeditiously correct the
'big mistake.'"

News Story: Gilani, Nawaz Discuss Accountability Law - "Dawn"
(01/04)

"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-N
chief Nawaz Sharif discussed on Sunday salient features of the draft
of a new accountability law which the government plans to introduce,
a spokesman for the Prime Minister's House told 'Dawn.'"

News Story: Kayani Backs Democracy: Gilani - "Dawn" (01/04)

"In an interview with Al Jazeera television, Prime Minister Yousuf
Raza Gilani has said that Army Chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani is a
highly professional soldier and ardent supporter of democracy."

ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT

News Story: U.S. To Release $1.2 Billion In January Under CSF -
"Daily Times" (01/01)

"U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson on Thursday announced that
Washington would release $1.2 billion in January 2010 as part of the
Coalition Support Fund (CSF). The release had been delayed due to
non-availability of responsible personnel in the U.S. Embassy to
process the case, she told reporters after signing an agreement for
$55 million Infrastructure Rehabilitation and Construction Program
in South Waziristan."

News Story: U.S. To Fund Rebuilding In SWA - "Dawn" (01/01)

The U.S. will support a $55 million infrastructure rehabilitation
and construction program in the South Waziristan Agency. This was
announced by U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson at a ceremony held in
Islamabad on Thursday."

News Story: IMF OK With Pakistan, Miffed With Donors - "The News"
(01/04)

"Key members of IMF's Executive Board have criticized the Fund for
allowing Islamabad to use its augmented resources for budgetary
purposes, stating that it resulted into 'relaxing' those donors who
pledged at Tokyo conference to provide $5.3 billion within two years
to Pakistan. An International Monetary Fund (IMF) official based in
Washington D.C. shared contents of speeches made by the members of
the Executive Board of the Fund with 'The News.'"

News Story: OGDC Blamed For Oil, Gas Output Decline - "Dawn" (01/04)


"The oil and gas production in the country has significantly
declined over the past two years mainly because of the inability of
the state-run Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) to
meet its drilling targets, resulting in increased outflow of foreign
exchange for imported fuels, informed sources told 'Dawn' on
Sunday."

MISCELLANEOUS

News Story: Hundreds of Afghans Rally Against NATO Forces -
"Pakistan Observer" (01/04)

"Hundreds of people, mostly students rallied in central Kabul and
eastern Nangarhar provinces against the killing of civilians in
foreign forces operations.... Activists of youth branch of Jamiat
Eslah (Afghan Society for Social Reform and Development) staged a
demonstration in Kabul, condemning the airstrikes and demanded
withdrawal of the troops."

U.S. Mulling Stiffer Curbs On Tehran: NYT - "The Nation" (01/04)

"Growing political opposition in Iran may present an opportunity for
the United States to strike hard with sanctions, The New York Times
reported Sunday, citing unnamed American officials. The Obama
administration is considering sanctions that would specifically
target the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, which plays a key
role in the nuclear program and in repression of anti-government
demonstrations, the newspaper said."

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS

Editorial: Control & Reciprocity, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/03)

"The Interior Ministry's decision to take back the facilities
provided to the so-called US trainers at Sihala Police Academy is a
welcome development but it needs to be implemented. At the moment
the decision has not been conveyed in writing and all the U.S.
equipment remains in Sihala. But the Interior Ministry's decision
also shows that effective public pressure through protests and the
media does have an impact on the government. This is simply a first
hesitant step and the government needs to do a lot more to rid the
country of the threat from covert U.S. operatives.... Clearly, there
is a need to restructure the whole relationship with the U.S. at all
levels and to regain our lost space within our own country....
Unless the Pakistani state can re-establish its authority on its own
soil, it will continue to see its citizens victimized by external
powers."

Editorial: Another Massacre, an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (01/04)

"Another massacre and this time it has taken place in unlucky Lakki
Marwat, a part of the Frontier region which is the special - and
easy - target of terrorists and bombers.... Suicide bombers have
kept attacking us everywhere across Pakistan but we have not yet
been able to find a way to stop them.... Clearly, the security
arrangements have failed to cope with the terrorist challenge to our
existence. The militants are capable of hitting us anywhere and
everywhere and we are unable to defend ourselves. The time has come
to review and revise the entire gamut of our security policies and
strategies to make them really effective against the menace of
terrorist attacks."

Editorial: Self-Inflicted Fear?, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/04)

"If there is a threat of "undemocratic forces" - from wherever - the
politicians should inform the people with some proof. Yes, in terms
of the US and India, the President has genuine concerns but he can
act to counter these. But at a time when the military is doing the
political government's bidding it makes no sense to deliberately
provoke a conflict through unfounded accusations and efforts to
undermine military institutions. At present, the President's daily
dose of imagined threats is itself undermining the political process
and making stable governance impossible. That is where the present
threat to the system and the state is coming from."

Editorial: A Beleaguered Karzai, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/04)

"There must be little doubt, however, that a lot of Mr. Karazai's
headaches are directly related to failure of the U.S.-led occupation
forces to beat the insurgency. The swelling of the ranks of
insurgents follows from the Afghans' age-old spirit of resistance to
any alien rule, and a Pushtun figurehead, widely and rightly
perceived as an American puppet, cooped up in the Presidential
Palace and living at the mercy of foreign forces, would have little
respectability and influence in the eyes of the independent minded
people."

Editorial: President Zardari's Aggressive Manner: He Should Avoid
Undermining The System Himself, an editorial in the second-largest,
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (01/04)

"President Asif Ali Zardari and his party do not so far face a
threat to their government. Those who could be dangerous for their
rule have resolved to save the system.... According to the
President he does not have any threat coming from the Army, then, on
may ask, who is posing a threat to his government. If some state or
non-state actors are posing a threat to the system then he should
clearly identify them. He should abstain from himself destabilizing
the system on the basis of some self created danger."

Editorial: Indian Army Chief's Statement And Pak Army's Reaction, an
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/04)

"Indian Army Chief said recently that Indian Army is preparing to
wage a war with Pakistan and China simultaneously wherein it will
get indirect help from America and Russia.... The Indian Army Chief
and his government should better reconsider the statement and their
policy and should talk about peace instead of destruction.... The
Indian leadership should abstain from the policy of creating water
scarcity for Pakistan, for this issue can lead to a war between the
two countries."

Opinion: The Year In Retrospect, an op-ed by Talat Masood in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (01/04)

"The ultimate success against militancy would depend on economic
development, and the strengthening of political and social
institutions which is far too slow. The militants in tribal
agencies, though linked by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),have
different motives and dynamics. The army will have to devise a
strategy that is different for each group. The Jihadi and sectarian
elements are also posing a serious threat to our integrity. No
serious effort was made to harness and bring them back to the
mainstream. The danger is if they are not dealt firmly, they could
further strengthen nexus with the Taliban and Al Qaeda. There is
also ambiguity regarding whether or not the army is fully on board
in abandoning its past policy of relying on militant proxies as a
strategic tool for India."

Opinion: Replicating The Vietnam Finale!, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir.
20,000) (01/04)

"The faulty American strategy in Afghanistan has had tremendous
negative fallouts in Pakistan. In fact most of Pakistan's woes of
these days are a direct and indirect outcome of American follies in
Afghanistan. So after perceiving this reality the hard way, the
Pakistani public has evolved almost a nationwide consensus on
several cardinal aspects of this war.... As of now, Americans are
most likely to gate crash into a Vietnam like finale. Post-U.S.
occupation of Afghanistan is destined to resemble its post-Soviet
era model. It is indeed painful for the well-wishers of Pak-U.S. and
Pak-Afghan relations to predict this gory scenario. Out of
stubbornness, the Americans are in a denial mode. Therefore,
Pakistan needs to take corrective and preventive measures to avoid
the inevitable fallout."

Opinion: West Ignores Pakistan Sacrifices, an op-ed by Sajjad
Shaukat in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan
Observer" (cir. 5,000) (01/04)

"Whenever any terror-incident takes place or any plot is foiled in
Europe and America, their high officials deliberately links it with
Pakistan on one or the other way.... Quite contrarily, U.S. and
European leaders only want to use Usama Bin Laden as a scapegoat to
target and destabilize Pakistan because it is the lonely nuclear
country in the Islamic World.... However, these false allegations
are part of a conspiracy against our country. Particularly U.S.
which tactically favors anti-Pakistan campaign of India has been
playing a double game with Islamabad.... Although fact remains that
in the last eight years, unlike other countries, Pakistan has borne
the brunt of major losses during war on terror, yet America and its
western allies ignore the sacrifices of our country."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson