PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: January 22, 2010

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000148 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: January 22, 2010 Summary: Coverage of U.S. Defense Secretary Gates' Islamabad visit dominated front-pages on Friday morning. Headlines included: "U.S. considering giving Pakistan drones: Gates" (Daily Times); "Blackwater, DynCorp operating in Pakistan: Gates" (The Statesman); and "Gates wants Pak operation extended to NWA" (The News). All major dailies reported the Pakistan Army spokesperson's statement that the military has no plans to launch a new offensive against militants in the next 12 months. Secretary Gates' statement, made during his visit to New Delhi, regarding the limits of India's patience with respect to another Mumbai-like attack was the subject of several editorials. Dawn observed that "maybe (Mr. Gates) was playing to an Indian audience and saying what it wanted to hear." The Nation maintained that "Gates needs to realize that Pakistan's own patience with Indian games on that count is running out." Urdu daily, Express, opined that "history shows that whenever American officials visit India, they issue statements in favor of Indians, and when they come to Pakistan; they always seek to please Pakistani audiences." The mass-circulated Urdu daily, Jang, noted that Gates' remarks on the subject can be "interpreted as a warning, a prediction, or a piece of advice, but one cannot deny its severity." Commenting on the Secretary's remarks that "Al Qaeda can trigger a war between India and Pakistan," Daily Times called it a "frank admission of the role of spoilers can play in inherently difficult and intractable situations where peace is on the agenda." President Zardari's request to "let Pak forces use drones," and Prime Minister Gilani's statement urging "steps to bridge Pak-U.S. trust deficit" also received wide coverage in today's papers. Media also reported that the Supreme Court directed the government to furnish details of Pakistanis handed over to the United States during the Musharraf period. Some papers reported that U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq were given Bible coded gun sights. END Summary. TOP STORIES News Story: "Blackwater, Dyncorp Working In Pakistan': Us Considering Giving Pakistan Drones: Gates" "Daily Times" "The Statesman" (01/22) "Visiting US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said the US is considering giving Pakistan drones for intelligence and reconnaissance purposes, a private TV channel reported on Thursday." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) News Story: Gates Wants Military Operation Extended To NWA - "The News" (01/22) "US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday said that he would explore a possible Pakistani plan to move against Afghan Taliban in North Waziristan later this year." News Story: Gates Warns Of Militant Havens Dangers - "The Nation" (01/22) "US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates visited General Headquarters and called on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani Thursday. The visiting dignitary remained with him for some time and discussed matters of mutual interest. . . Earlier talking to reporters on his flight from New Delhi, US Defence Secretary warned that Taliban safe havens along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border must be tackled or both nations would suffer 'more lethal and more brazen' attacks" News Story: No New Operation For Now, Says ISPR - "Dawn" (01/22) "The military said on Thursday during a visit by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates that it could not launch any new offensive against militants for six months to a year." News Story: Zardari Asks U.S. To Let Pak Forces Use Drones - "The News" (01/22) "President Asif Ali Zardari yesterday said that drone attacks in Pakistan territory undermined the national consensus against the war on militancy and called for creating a mechanism whereby the drones were used by Pakistan's security forces rather than by foreign troops which raised question of sovereignty." News Story: No Guarantee Against Repeat Of Mumbai Like Attacks, Gates Told - "Dawn" (01/22) "The government said on Thursday it could not guarantee against repeat of 26/11 like attacks in India and the best safeguard against such strikes was de-linking of peace process from action against terrorism and the Kashmir and water disputes." News Story: US Troops In Afghanistan Were Given Bible Code Gun Sights - "Dawn" (01/22) "A US firm on Thursday sought to quiet a controversy over coded Biblical references inscribed on gun sights used by US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, announcing it was providing the military with kits to remove them." TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Pakistan Army Does Not Share Operational Plans: US Official - "Daily Times" (01/22) "The Pakistani military does not inform Washington of its plans before launching operations against the Taliban along its western border, a senior US military official said on Thursday." News Story: Islamabad Hands Over Shopping List To US - "The Nation" (01/22) "Pakistan while handing over a list of its defence and military needs to the US has demanded that latest weapon and helicopters should be provided for effective action against terrorists in tribal areas. According to sources, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates along with his delegation met Defence Minister Ch Ahmed Mukhtar at the Defence Ministry." News Story: Positive Steps Needed To Overcome Pak-US Trust Deficit: Gilani-"Daily Times" (01/22) "De-listing Pakistan from the group of countries whose nationals have been designated for special screening at US airports, uniformity in dealing with Pakistan and India, an END to counterproductive drone attacks and quick disbursements under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) will help bridge the trust deficit in relations between Pakistan and the US, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Friday." News Story: SC seeks details of Pakistanis handed over to US -"Daily Times" (01/22) "The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the government to furnish complete details of Pakistanis handed over to the US during Pervez Musharraf's tenure and those detained in other countries." News Story: Senators Slam Robert Gates' Comments On Possible Indian Attack -"Daily Times" (01/22) "Senators from opposition benches on Thursday severely criticized a statement by US Defence Secretary Robert Gates that it would be difficult to stop India from attacking Pakistan in case of a Mumbai-like attack in the future." News Story: 'Gates' Statement Conspiracy Against Pakistan' - "The Nation" (01/22) "Opposition Senators Raja Zafarul Haq and Prof Khurshid on Thursday severely criticized the statement of US Secretary Defence Robert Gates that it would be difficult to stop India from attacking Pakistan if incident like that of Mumbai terror attack happened in the future." News Story: Pakistan's Response To Attack Will Be Intense, Says Report - "Dawn" (01/22) "Pakistan's response to a possible Indian attack could be disproportionate and Islamabad would retaliate to even the least invasive of India's military options, warns a US think-tank. News Story: Militants Warn Mehsuds Against Returning Home - "Dawn" (01/22) "Thousands of Mehsud people who have left their native towns because of the ongoing military operation have been warned by militants not to return to South Waziristan." News Story: Nine Terrorists Killed In Mohmand Clashes- "Daily Times" (01/22) "Clashes between the security forces and terrorists left at least nine terrorists dead in Mohmand Agency during the last 24 hours, an FC spokesman said on Thursday." News Story: Five Militants Killed In Swat Operation - "The News" (01/22) "Five militants, including a commander, were killed in a clash with security forces in Madyan in Swat district on Thursday. Official sources said security forces carried out search operations in Madyan area and killed five militants, including a commander, in an exchange of fire. Some of the militants were identified as Nadir Khan and commander Sultan Akbar." POLITICAL ISSUES News Story: Govt To Ensure Foolproof Security For Dr AQ Khan - "Daily Times" (01/22) "In view of serious threats to the physical security of Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan and other scientists and the recent incidents of abduction and killing of scientists in neighboring countries, the government on Thursday decided to ensure foolproof security for the nuclear scientist." News Story: India Wants Talks But Pakistan Must Probe 26/11: Krishna - "Daily Times" (01/22) "India wants to resume the peace dialogue with Pakistan but will only do so if Islamabad is serious about bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks to justice, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said on Thursday." News Story: US Must Push Pakistan To Act Against Terrorists: Antony - "Daily Times" (01/22) "India on Thursday asked the US to advise Islamabad to dismantle "the terror infrastructure" in Pakistan and stop the use of its soil by terrorist groups planning to mount attacks inside India. Defence Minister AK Antony told reporters that although India did not want any confrontation with neighboring countries, it would be difficult to progress unless Pakistan acted." News Story: 'Conspiracy Of The Pen' Will Be Foiled: Zardari - "Dawn" (01/22) "President Asif Ali Zardari has said he will not be deterred by what he called the "conspiracy of the pen" and the people will foil all plots." News Story: A Testing Time For The Judiciary: Justice Iftikhar - "The News" (01/22) "The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday expressed his determination to deliver justice to the masses regardless of how heavy the price paid for it." News Story: Pakistan Not To Blame For Terror Acts In India: Malik - "The News" (01/22) "Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said Pakistan could not be held responsible for any terrorist attack inside the Indian Territory, as members of the Senate on Thursday strongly criticized the statement of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates that it would be difficult to stop India if a Mumbai-type incident occurred again." MISCELLANEOUS News Story: US Intelligence Chief Meets Pak-Americans - "Daily Times" (01/22) "US National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair on Tuesday held a roundtable discussion with Pakistani-Americans as part of an effort to boost the recruitment and retention of Pakistani-Americans in US intelligence agencies." EDITORIALS/OPINIONS Editorial: Mutual Failure - an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (01/22) "Maybe he was playing to an Indian audience and saying what it wanted to hear. The true import of US Defence Secretary Robert Gates's recent statements in New Delhi will be known only after assessing the remarks he makes during the Pakistani leg of his ongoing South Asian tour. While in India he praised the government there for showing restraint in the wake of the Mumbai attacks. He also said it would 'not be unreasonable to assume that Indian patience would be limited were there to be further attacks'. This argument is flawed on two counts. One, even after the heat of the moment had subsided; India did not show restraint and went out of its way to conflate terrorist organizations based in Pakistan with the operations of the Pakistani state. . . . India seems hell-bent on isolating Pakistan in any way possible. This outlook is an invitation to disaster." Editorial: Nothing Much To Offer - an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/22) "Defence Secretary Gates has arrived in Pakistan with an inexplicably large delegation, after visiting India. Bringing nothing new, he has admitted to the presence of 'independent' operations by Blackwater and Dyncorps in Pakistan and hinted that the US is merely considering giving drone technology to Pakistan. . . . As for Mumbai, Gates needs to realize that Pakistan's own patience with Indian games on that count is running out. More disturbing has been the unconfirmed information that the US and UK are insistent upon India having a major military role in Afghanistan. . . .Gates seems to have come with the same "do more" mantra and brings no good news on the offensive discriminatory screening procedures for Pakistanis. . . An additional agenda seems to be to compel Pakistan to concede ground to India, especially in Afghanistan. But why should Pakistan continue to pay the price of following destructive US policies. . . ." Editorial: Conspiracy To Trigger War Between India And Pakistan - an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/22) "It seems that the views expressed by the U.S. Defense Secretary Gates are impressed by Indian point of view, and it is an attempt to win New Delhi's support. Nevertheless, Mr. Gates has ignored the ground realities, and has forgotten what his own country and its allies have been doing in Afghanistan for the last eight years. And what happened to its (American) tall claims of Pakistan's pivotal role, as a frontline state, in the war on terror. The history shows that whenever the American officials visit India, they issue statement in favor of the Indians, and when they come to Pakistan, they always seek to please Pakistani audiences. This approach, at the END of the day, creates misunderstanding between Islamabad and New Delhi." Editorial: What Message U.S. Defense Secretary Is Delivering To Pakistan - an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (01/22) "U.S. Defense Secretary Gates' recent statement, made at a press conference in New Delhi, that India's patience will be limited if there is a repeat of 26/11, can be interpreted as a warning, a prediction, or a piece of advice, but one cannot deny its severity. This statement is akin to the statements of New Delhi which it issued immediately after the Mumbai attacks. Now people of Pakistan are bound to think that if Pakistan committed a mistake by joining the U.S. bloc during the cold war? And if it was a mistake, it must be corrected now." Editorial: The Spoilers' GAME - an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/22) "US Defence Secretary Robert Gates' statement that al Qaeda can trigger a war between India and Pakistan is a frank admission of the role spoilers can play in inherently difficult and intractable situations where peace is on the agenda. Mr. Gates said that terrorists in al Qaeda's syndicate - which includes Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, the Afghan Taliban as well as Lashkar-e-Tayyaba - are trying "to destabilize not just Afghanistan and Pakistan, but potentially the whole region, by provoking a conflict perhaps between India and Pakistan." The question is whether the two neighbors are ready to resist these spoilers' machinations. . . ." Editorial: U.S. Defense Secretary's Warning To Us In Indian Tone: You Are Paving The Way For Indo-Pak War Yourself, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (01/22) "U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has warned that militant groups in South Asia possibly want to push Pakistan and India towards war in order to destabilize the region and India would not be patient if a Mumbai like attack happened again.... During his press conference in New Delhi the Defense Secretary looked to be Indian Defense Minister.... Who gave Robert Gates the authority to advocate India's nefarious designs against Pakistan's security...? Staging of a Mumbai like attack itself or with the help of America is not beyond India to have a justification for aggression against Pakistan.... President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and the Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani should not be apologetic in their meetings with the U.S. Defense Secretary and should tell him that it is America that is responsible for upheaval in the region." Editorial: American Interference: Region's Future Will Not Be Better Than Its Present, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/22) "U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that Muslim militant groups are planning to trigger a Pak-India war and that the Indians will be exhausted of their patience in case another Mumbai-like attack happens in their country. This statement of Mr. Gates is not only a clear manifestation of the contradiction in the U.S. policy but also a new tactic to put more pressure on Pakistan. Extremism is also rife in India but it seems that U.S. Defense Secretary intentionally winked at this reality. We think that the entire world has fully understood the element of hypocrisy in the U.S. policies." Editorial: Robert Gates Utterances, an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (01/22) The impression of Defense Secretary Robert Gates utterances seems right that al-Qaeda is trying to create a conflict between Pakistan and India. Gates' warning is worth noting and Pakistan and India should be vigilant about it. It is imprudent to extend attack threats in reaction to a possible Mumbai like act of sabotage. India should be told that it should desist from immediate action in the wake of any provocation in order to thwart terrorists' conspiracy." Editorial: Pak-India Ties Are Threatened By The U.S., Not Al Qaeda, an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (01/22) "It is not clear from the U.S. Defense Secretary's statement -- who adopted an Indian tone while speaking in India - whether this was a warning to Pakistan or a demand to 'do more?' Whatever the case, the Pakistan government must take strong note of his remarks. Robert Gates is in Pakistan today; has any senior official protested to him about his remarks? No one would dare make such statements in the future if our leadership boycotts foreign dignitaries making controversial statements... American leaders and politicians must avoid making provocative statements which might create fissures between the two countries and increase anti-U.S. sentiment in Pakistan." Editorial: U.S.-India Nexus And Conspiracies Against Pakistan, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (01/22) "Addressing a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Gates said that India's patience will be limited if there is a repeat of 26/11. It seems that the real objective of Washington's continuous wooing of New Delhi, especially after the 9/11 attacks, is to assign India the role of regional policeman. In fact, the U.S. wants to use India against Pakistan and China in order to safeguard its own interests. But any misadventure against Pakistan will be grave miscalculation on the part of the Indians." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson