PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 01, 2010

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000232 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 01, 2010 Summary: The reported death of Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud dominated media on Monday morning. Several dailies reported that Mehsud has been buried, while others highlighted the Taliban's claim that he is alive. Newspapers also covered the Pakistan Army Spokesman's remarks that they are investigating these reports. "The News" "The Nation" and Urdu daily, "Jang," published reports of drone strike casualties in January 2010. Each paper reported that 12 strikes were executed last month, with statistics ranging from 90 to 123 persons killed. The U.S. strategy and India's role in Afghanistan continued to garner news coverage. Media reported Assistant Secretary Crowley's remarks that the "new U.S. strategy for Afghanistan aims at taking advantage of shifting loyalties within the country's tribal set-up for putting pressure on the Taliban leadership." "Dawn" front-paged a report that "Indian goods (are) being taken to NATO troops in Afghanistan via Pakistan under Afghan Transit Trade (ATT)." Foreign Minister Qureshi's comments that the West must reciprocate Pakistan's anti-terror efforts were also displayed prominently. Four Urdu language newspapers carried the U.S. Mission in Pakistan's condemnation of the Saturday suicide bombing in Bajaur, and "Daily Times" reported the American Voices Foundation's visit to Karachi. U.S. action in Haiti continues to draw headlines in Pakistan. All major English dailies and several Urdu newspapers carried reports of 10 American citizens arrested for child trafficking in Haiti. "Dawn" also published a report from "The Guardian News Service," entitled "Haiti sovereignty takes a back seat; US in charge," perpetuating the "perception that the U.S., not Haiti's government, is running the country." Several dailies also reported that U.S. airline security measures have angered important U.S. partners in the fight against Al Qaeda. "The Nation" and "The News" ran opinion pieces based on a recent audit report, highlighting difficulties in a USAID development program in FATA. In "Why U.S. aid fails," "The Nation" tied the failure of U.S. aid programs to negative fallout from "increasing drone attacks" and disregard for the "laws of the land and the procedures." The piece also places blame on USAID's Pakistani advisors and partners that give the "impression that rules and procedures can be bypassed." "The News" took a more balanced stance in its piece entitled "Aid to nowhere," focusing on a myriad of difficulties in administering aid in FATA, including the lack of foreign development professionals able to operate in a conflict zone and "corrupt", "poorly-managed" local development delivery systems. The piece stated that "if the faltering FATA project is anything to go by, the future of aid-project delivery is looking bleak." End Summary. TOP STORIES News Story: Army Investigating Reports Of Hakeemullah's Death - "Dawn" (02/01) "The government said on Sunday it was trying to confirm new reports on state television that the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan's Chief Hakimullah Mehsud had been killed by a U.S. drone strike, but the militia again denied his death. The PTV, citing sources, reported that Hakimullah had been buried on Friday in Orakzai Agency." News Story: U.S. Condemn Suicide Bombing in Bajaur - "Jang," "Islam," "Ausaf," "Aaj-Kal" (02/01) "The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan condemned the suicide bombing targeting innocent people on Saturday in Bajaur. We extend our condolences to the victims' families and friends, and to the Pakistani people." News Story: Indian Goods Being Taken To NATO Troops Via Pakistan - "Dawn" (02/01) "Despite Pakistan's refusal to let Indian products be taken to Afghanistan through its territory under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT),Indian goods are being taken to the country via Pakistan under the tags of ISAF and NATO. Documentary evidence placed in the National Assembly library may have failed to catch the attention of honorable parliamentarians, but International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) personnel are receiving Indian goods transported through Pakistan under special arrangements.... Documents available with Dawn reveal that the facility was being regularly used since the start of the war on terror and Pakistan playing the role of a frontline state." News Story: U.S. To Take Advantage Of Shifting Tribal Loyalties; Plan For Bringing Taliban to Negotiating Table - "Dawn" (02/01) "The new US strategy for Afghanistan aims at taking advantage of shifting loyalties within the country's tribal set-up for putting pressure on the Taliban leadership, says Assistant Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley. At a briefing at the State Department over the weekend, the senior U.S. official explained how the United States planned to approach a new initiative launched in London on Thursday for reintegrating the Taliban in the Afghan mainstream." News Story: Qureshi Seeks West's Help To Boost Economy - "Dawn" (02/01) "Underscoring Pakistan's contributions to the war against militancy, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said the country has rendered more sacrifices than the international forces in Afghanistan and the West should now reciprocate by helping revitalize its economy and enhance its capacity to counter terrorism. The foreign minister was delivering a speech on the 'Situation in Pakistan and its role in the war against terrorism' at the Oxford University on Saturday evening." News Story: U.S. Drones Killed 123 Civilians, Three Al-Qaeda Men In January - "The News" (02/01) "Afghanistan-based U.S. predators carried out a record number of 12 deadly missile strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan in January 2010, of which 10 went wrong and failed to hit their targets, killing 123 innocent Pakistanis. The remaining two successful drone strikes killed three al-Qaeda leaders, wanted by the Americans." News Story: Air Security 'Blacklist' Angers U.S. Allies - "Daily Times" (02/01) "Airline security measures introduced by Washington - after a failed attempt to blow up a flight on Christmas Day - risk backfiring because they have angered important U.S. partners in the fight against Al Qaeda. Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Nigeria have voiced their displeasure at their inclusion on a 14-strong list of countries where passengers departing for the U.S. are to be subject to especially rigorous pre-flight screening." TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES News Story: Troops Snatch Key Taliban Area; 20 Killed - "Dawn" (02/01) "Security forces gained control of Taliban's headquarters in the Sewai area of Bajaur Agency on Sunday after intense shelling and clashes in which at least 20 militants, an important 'commander' among them, were killed. Artillery, jets and helicopter gunships provided cover when troops advanced on Sewai, Jani Shah, Azarnau, Sapari, Khaza and Damadola areas of Mamond tehsil, sources said." News Story: N. Waziristan Taliban Seek Shelter In Afghanistan - "Dawn" (02/01) "The Taliban in North Waziristan have asked local people to send a Jirga of elders to Afghanistan to hold talks with the Karzai government and seek shelter for themselves across the border, because many non-combatants were killed as a result of 'indiscriminate action' being taken by the Pakistan army. The Taliban Shura of North Waziristan issued a pamphlet on Sunday accusing security forces of bombing civilians." News Story: Taliban Warn Of 'Big War' If Truce Violated - "The Nation" (02/01) "The Taliban in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) have warned the government, through a pamphlet distributed on Sunday, of starting a 'big war' if the latter did not stop violating peace agreement with Taliban of NWA and resort to any military operation henceforth in any area falling under their control." POLITICAL ISSUES News Story: Peace Talks Will Ensure Early Troop Pullout, Taliban Told - "Dawn" (02/01) "Taliban fighters should drop their demand that U.S. and NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan before peace talks can be held, President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday, adding talks would make it easier for troops to leave." News Story: Talks With Afghan Taliban Proof Of U.S. Failure: JI - "The News" (02/01) "The Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Syed Munawar Hasan has said that the rulers of the Muslim countries are the greatest test of Muslims, while addressing to the national workshop of the Jamiatul Mohsanat at Mansoora on Sunday.... Terming the London Conference on Afghan issue a failure, Munawar said the representatives of 60 countries were unable to put forth a concrete solution. The U.S., he said, had been defeated in Afghanistan but now it wanted the whole world to share his defeat, adding that the London Conference and the talks with the Taliban showed that the policy of military aggression had failed. He advised the Pakistan government to abandon military operations and find out solutions to issues through dialogue." ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT News Story: Petrol To Cost 9 Per Cent More - "Dawn" (02/01) "The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) increased prices of petroleum products on Sunday by Rs3 to Rs7.4 per liter, or up to 9.37 per cent, with immediate effect in line with a rise in the international market." News Story: ADB Exposes The dirty Side of Rental Power Scam - "The News" (02/01) "Asian Development Bank's (ADB) highly damning report on the controversial Rental Power Plants (RPPs) agreements and the entire selection process reads more like an indictment than the mere energy audit it had originally meant to be. From calling the agreements heavily biased in favor of RPPs to pointing out inexplicable post-tender award changes in the offered terms, the report clearly reveals that transparency was clearly the first casualty in this high power, high stakes, rental power drama." News Story: Committee Soon To Review Six Rental Power Projects - "Dawn" (02/01) "The government is considering to form a committee to carry out a legal and contractual review of six rental power projects and re-submit them to the cabinet for approval, a spokesman for the Water and Power Ministry said on Sunday. He said the committee would also co-opt a consultant from the Asian Development Bank to go through legal and financial implications of the contracts that had not been cleared in ADB's third-party audit." MISCELLANEOUS News Story: 10 U.S. Citizens Held In Haiti - "Dawn" (02/01) "The U.S. Embassy said in Port-Au-Prince on Sunday that 10 U.S. citizens were being held in Haiti for 'alleged violations of Haitian laws related to immigration,' following reports they tried to leave the country with 33 Haitian children. 'American diplomats have visited the detained Americans and are in communication with Haitian authorities,' said the Embassy in a statement." News Story: Haiti Sovereignty Takes Back Seat; U.S. In Charge - "Dawn" (02/01) "Officially, Haiti's government is directing earthquake relief efforts but the hand-written sign in Delmas, one of Port-auPrince's devastated districts, told a different story: "Hello America! We need help here. Urgent! Thank you America!" The plea cut through diplomatic circumlocutions and political spin to reflect the perception that the US, not Haiti's government, is running the country." News Story: American Musical Theatre Experts In City To Share Experience With Youths - "Daily Times" (02/01) "A three-member delegation of the U.S.-based American Voices Foundation (AVF) is on a visit to Karachi for a week. They will attend several workshops on music, theatre and dance to teach and share their experience with young musician, dancers and vocalists. The delegation comprises pianist and executive director of AVF John Ferguson; vocalist, dancer, choreographer and director Michael Parks Masterson and director, choreographer and writer Carole Hanna McCann. They will also perform a short play with Nida Butt's group and hold a jazz concert during their visit." EDITORIALS/OPINIONS Editorial: Aid To Nowhere, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/01) "Delivering aid effectively is no easier than finding the money to fund it. From a damning report published on the USAID website we find that 'little progress' has been made in a development program funded by the U.S. and running in FATA since 2008.... Most of NWFP is a no-go area for anybody other than our own development professionals and most foreign workers have now withdrawn. It is difficult to see how foreign-funded programs are to be implemented let alone monitored. Our systems for the delivery of development programs are corrupt, often poorly managed by political appointees who have little knowledge or understanding of development processes and are unable to offer continuity as they change with the political weather. The failure of the USAID program in FATA should serve as a warning, though whether it will be heeded even if heard must be a very moot point." Editorial: Why U.S. Aid Fails, an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/01) "Just as the U.S. military policy in Afghanistan is meeting with failure, leading to a reassessment and shift in focus; so in Pakistan the U.S. Aid programs are showing little success.... One major example of this is the negative fallout of continuous and increasing drone attacks in FATA, which hardly endear the U.S. and its associates to the local people. But which NGO would actually inform the U.S. government that no amount of money would alter the local thinking as long as the drone attacks continued. So, instead, the U.S.-based and local NGOs and local authorities in charge of the tribal agencies merely kept taking the aid money papering over the real issues that remain unresolved. The same problem is evident elsewhere in Pakistan where USAID wants to initiate programs through their private contractors - both American-s and local - but are not prepared to conform to the laws of the land and the procedures." Editorial: Finding 'Common Ground', an editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (02/01) "Policymakers and bankers called a truce after a week of mutual recrimination at the World Economic Forum annual meeting, saying they agreed on the need for global financial regulations.... United States President Barack Obama, in his State of the Union address, stated his administration's intent to levy a fee on banks making profits, while the United Kingdom government has approved a one-time tax on bank bonuses.... Additionally, Obama stated that the recovery from banks of the bail-out package has begun and added that the money returned would be pumped right back into the economy by lending to small businesses, which would spearhead the economic recovery." Editorial: It's Time To Safeguard Our Own Interest, an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (02/01) "Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan will use its influence to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table and in the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. His claim that majority of the Taliban support compromise with the Karzai government. But it is the need of the hour that the entire spectrum of the Afghan resistance forces must be taken on board which is necessary to restore peace to the war-ravaged country. Pakistan also needs to hold dialogue with local Taliban but this target cannot be achieved unless the drone attacks are not stopped. At this critical juncture, we have an opportunity to safeguard our national interests." Editorial: TTP Damaged, an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (02/01) "So the violence is not on the verge of ending; indeed, if Hakeemullah is dead the country will be bracing itself for retaliatory strikes. But neither should the severe damage inflicted on the TTP be underestimated. South Waziristan was the 'centre of gravity' and Swat/Malakand division a radical attempt at supplanting the state's writ in areas outside FATA. Both are no more under the TTP's control. In addition, the security forces have disrupted the communications network of the militants, making it more difficult for them to coordinate. All of this has seriously hurt the TTP. However, as we have argued before, lasting gains will only be had if there is success on another front: the capture or elimination of the TTP leadership. The hunt for them must be intensified." Editorial: The Taliban Babel, an editorial in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/01) "With all eyes on what comes in the wake of the London conference on Afghanistan and the accelerating engagement of the Afghan Taliban in talks about talks, our own problems with the Taliban and how we talk to them bear scrutiny.... Consider then our experience of deals done with the Taliban in the past - not one of them has ever moved to full implementation and all of them have quickly collapsed in a welter of recrimination and bloodshed. The Afghan Taliban may be war-weary, and the meeting between Kai Eide of the United Nations and members of the shadowy Quetta Shura in Dubai during early January is perhaps a harbinger of peace." Editorial: Afghan Peace Search, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (02/01) "At the London Conference some major developments took place, including the agreement by the participants to accept and support Afghan efforts to reach out to the 'moderate' Taliban and convince them to renounce violence by offering them employment and other facilities. This is a positive attempt to bring peace to the war-torn country. This is, in fact, the beginning of a process to bring the U.S. and the Taliban to the negotiating table and this has been reflected in the UN decision to remove some of the Taliban leaders' names from their terrorist list." Editorial: When Will We Get Rid Of This Bloodshed, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (02/01) "The fresh terrorist attack in Bajaur Agency has once again proved the ineffectiveness of our wrong and ill-advised policies. The relentless drone attacks and the government's strategy to raise tribal militias are also abetting the anger of the local population. Our rulers must keep it in mind that the U.S. does not want to see stability in Pakistan. Hence, the government needs to devise a comprehensive strategy to safeguard Pakistan's interests instead of capitulating to the United States' diktat." Editorial: Suicide Attack In Bajaur, an editorial note in the liberal Urdu language daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (02/01) "Sixteen persons were martyred and 44 were injured in a suicide attack in Bajaur... According to some, our security agencies absolve themselves of all responsibility after labeling an attack a suicide attack because the main culprit of the bombing has already met his fate.... Meanwhile, the President, PM and Interior Minister have, as always, condemned this suicide attack also and ordered an inquiry.... Pakistan Army's role in trying to control terrorist activities is praiseworthy but a lot still remains to be done." Editorial: Drone Attacks: A Constant Punishment, an editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 5000) (02/01) "So far, there have been more than 100 drone flights into Pakistani territory, martyring hundreds of innocent citizens in missile strikes. It is another matter that U.S. officials and media terms these martyrs as foreigners.... American drone strikes actually reveal that the NATO forces have failed to control terrorists in Afghanistan. Every sensible person in the world knows that the real reasons for terrorism and extremism are poverty, unemployment and the unfair distribution of resources. Terrorism will remain present in one form or another so long as these causes remain.... The superpower and its allies have become a symbol of hatred around the world due to their operations against Muslim countries and their citizens. It is ironic that countries that have spread terrorism around the world are labeling Pakistan a terrorist training ground." Editorial: China Acted Appropriately Against U.S. Arms Sales, an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (02/01) "China has reacted very firmly and appropriately to the U.S. plans to sell a package of arms to Taiwan worth about 6.4 billion dollars, which include Patriot missiles, Black Hawk helicopters and minesweepers. Beijing decided to suspend scheduled visits between the Chinese and U.S. armed forces and impose sanctions against U.S. companies supplying arms, saying it made the decision out of considerations on the severe harm of the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.... We hope that the Obama Administration would reconsider its decision as the U.S. needs Chinese cooperation more on a range of issues from climate change to the economy and international nuclear security and there must be a realization in Washington that Beijing cannot be cowed down by pressure tactics." Opinion: Rethink, Rebuild And Leave!, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/01) "The State of the Union address and the London conference have once again brought forth contradictions about the operational level execution of the American policy on Afghanistan. Nevertheless, it has yet for another time vindicated the perspective about centrality of mediation biased dialogue for the resolution of Afghan crisis.... Due to historic links with the people of Afghanistan, Pakistan feels the urge of playing a very effective role in all the domains of developments related activities.... The United States has an obligation to leave behind a viable and stable Afghanistan. Hence, the Americans need to realign their strategic gyros and rework functional modalities for a composite partnership with Pakistan." Opinion: Diplomatic Immunity?, an op-ed by Estasham Anwar in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (02/01) "The crux of the matter is that if a member of a foreign mission is caught undertaking an illegal activity, our law-enforcement agencies can require him to prove his diplomatic status.... Moreover if a diplomat is found using fake identity documents or vehicles with fake number-plates or documents, the means of deception can be confiscated; the immunity extends to the person of the diplomat, not to other items used in the commission of an offence. Similarly, carrying weapons without permission or proper documents is also against the spirit of the convention, thus making their confiscation a possibility. Finally, the Pakistan government would be well within its rights under the convention if it restricted the entry of diplomats into particular zones for reasons of national security. The foregoing discussion drives home the point that it is not the convention but the slavish mentality of our own authorities which keeps our hands tied vis-`-vis decisive action against 'diplomats' who display little respect for the country's laws." Opinion: Obama's Agenda For Change In A Limbo, an op-ed by Saeed Qureshi in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (02/01) "With two stunning setbacks happening in quick succession, president Obama's ambitious and ground breaking "Agenda for Change" appears to be put in the reverse gear.... All the decisions that relate to the foreign policy issues or domestic turf, Obama's tone has been conciliatory and mild. Perhaps in a bid to forge national unity and mindful of the fact that he belonged to the minority race, he didn't go out to the way to force his decisions with domination and authority. Most of his close aides have been the strong supporters and votaries of war in Iraq and Afghanistan. They might not be totally in unison at heart with the decisions of president Obama to wind up the overseas military operations that served the special businesses such as arms producing factories, the security agencies such as backwater and those engaged in supply and logistic support. So president Obama is up against a formidable challenge which looked feeble and dormant when he took over the presidency of the United States." Opinion: Waziristan: The Option Not Taken, an op-ed by Ayaz Wazir in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/01) "The people of the area complain, but nobody listens. They would not have uttered a single word of complaint if they were satisfied that the war had achieved the desired result. They would not have complained had militancy been eliminated from the area, and the country as a whole. They would not have complained had the war made Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lakki Marwat safer from the carnage that is being witnessed on a daily basis. Waziristan has suffered long enough. We cannot afford to ignore it any more if we are concerned about the future of our younger generation. We have to replace the "dismantled training camps" with good schools and hospitals. We have to provide basic facilities and means of livelihood to the people. Only then can we hope to achieve a permanent end to militancy. Banking on the military operation alone as a cure for militancy is tantamount to following a tunnel-vision approach on a road leading nowhere." (All circulation figures are based on estimation) Patterson