PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 03, 2010

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000265

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 03, 2010

Summary: Summary: Coverage of drone strikes in Dattakhel village,
North Waziristan Agency (NWA) dominated media on Wednesday morning.
"Dawn" highlighted a report from its Washington-based correspondent
that the "U.S. defense budget for 2011 seeks more funds to enhance
drone operations by 75 percent." Admiral Mullen's statement on
Pakistan's reversal of Taliban gains, and his remarks that the "U.S.
must welcome 'back-door' negotiations between Pakistan and India on
Kashmir" received prominent display. Reports of advancement of
Pakistani security forces on the Taliban stronghold in Bajaur Agency
also made front-page news. Media reported detained American
nationals' allegation of torture by the FBI and Pakistani police.
Papers also carried the police and the Embassy spokesperson's denial
of these allegations. A Lahore-based paper, "The Post" published a
report claiming that a "U.S. diplomat" was found dead at Qasim Air
Base in Baluchistan. Coverage of the row between the provincial
ministers of PPP and the Muthidda Quami Movement (MQM ) in the Sindh
Assembly also made front-page headlines in several major dailies.
End Summary.

TOP STORIES

News Story: 17 Die As Drones Rain 18 Missiles On NWA - "The News"
(02/03)

"In the biggest attack so far by the American spy planes in the
Pakistani tribal areas, the US drones on Tuesday rained a barrage of
missiles on different locations of Dattakhel Tehsil of North
Waziristan Agency (NWA),killing 17 people, including militants, and
injuring several others. Government officials in Miramshah, the main
town of North Waziristan, said nine spy planes took part in the
brazen attack, firing 18 missiles and causing heavy human loss."

News Story: U.S. Plans 75pc Increase In Drone Operations - "Dawn"
(02/03)

"The U.S. defence budget for 2011 seeks more funds to enhance drone
operations by 75 per cent, citing its success in targeting militants
in Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal belt. 'With this funding, we
will increase the unmanned Predator and Reaper orbits from 37 to 65,
while enhancing our ability to process, exploit and disseminate
information gathered by this game-changing technology,' said
Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen."

News Story: Pakistan Has Reversed Taliban Gains: Mullen - "The
News" (02/03)

"Pakistan has reversed the Taliban territorial gains through a
series of military operations, Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs Staff
Admiral Mike Mullen said on Tuesday at a Congressional hearing,
where he also advocated Washington's help towards resolving the
Indo-Pak tensions for South Asian stability."

News Story: U.S. Must Welcome 'Back-Door' Negotiations On Kashmir:
Mullen - "The News" (02/03)

"The Obama administration should welcome all steps that Pakistan and
India take to regenerate 'back-door' negotiations on the Kashmir
dispute, U.S. Joint Chiefs Staff Chairman Mike Mullen said on
Tuesday. Talking at a congressional hearing, he called for
supporting moves to improve trust between the two South Asian
nuclear powers."

News Story: More Efforts Needed To Defeat Taliban: U.S. - "Dawn"
(02/03)

"The U.S. military chief told a congressional panel on Tuesday that
defeating the Taliban would mean 'more sacrifice and more
bloodshed.' Admiral Mike Mullen, however, warned that the U.S. could
not afford to lose this war as 'the stakes are too high for
failure.' Appearing with Defence Secretary Robert Gates before
Senate Armed Services Committee, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chief of
Staff warned that the Taliban had a growing influence across
Afghanistan and Pakistan's tribal belt remained an epicenter of
global terrorism. Admiral Mullen warned that the next 18 months
would be critical in the fight against the Taliban."

News Story: Terror Suspects Complain Of Torture In Custody -
"Dawn," "The News," "The Nation," "Daily Times" (02/03)

"Five Americans accused by Pakistan of links to Al-Qaeda or linked
groups pleaded their innocence on Tuesday, saying they were being
set-up and tortured by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of
United States and the Pakistani police. As they arrived for a remand
hearing at an anti-terrorism court in Sargodha, one of the suspects
tossed a scrap of toilet paper scrawled with writing from the window
of the police van, an AFP reporter said."

News Story: U.S. Diplomat Found Dead In Balochistan - "The Post"
(02/03)

"A U.S. diplomat was found dead at Qasim Air Base in Balochistan
province on January 31, highly placed sources told 'The Post' on
Tuesday. According to sources, the U.S. Embassy sent the dead body
of the diplomat back to U.S. without mentioning any cause of death.
When 'The Post' contacted with the U.S. Embassy spokesman, he
confirmed the death of the diplomat in Balochistan."

TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES

News Story: Security Forces Advance On Damadola - "Dawn" (02/03)

"Security forces are advancing on the Taliban stronghold of Damadola
in Bajaur tribal region and have inflicted heavy casualties on
militants in gun-battles since Monday, security officials told
journalists."

News Story: U.S. Trainers In Sihala To Be Shifted To Simli Dam -
"Ausaf" (02/03)

"The process of shifting the U.S. trainers, providing anti-terrorism
training to the Punjab Police, to Simli Dam Training Center is being
finalized. It will be pertinent to mention here that after threats
from different organizations including the lawyers' community, the
government has decided to shift the U.S. trainers to the Simli Dam
Training facility due to the ideal location and congenial
environment of this place. Strict security arrangements have been
made at this training center."

News Story: Odd Travel Timing Of NATO Oil Tankers Being Investigated
- "Dawn" (02/03)

"Investigators are probing as to why the bombed oil tankers carrying
fuel for NATO forces across the border travelled before sunrise and
without escort by a private security company as per the directives,
a source confided to 'The News.' The authorities are now looking
into the option of transporting goods for NATO forces in Afghanistan
via Gwadar Port, a relatively much secure route. A meeting is likely
to take place next month to discuss the issue."

News Story: Offensive Kills Up To 80 Militants: Military - "Dawn"
(02/03)

"A Pakistani military commander said Tuesday a new air and ground
offensive had killed up to 80 militants in the northern extremity of
the lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border."

News Story: Troops Kill 3 Militants In First Swabi Operation -
"Dawn" (02/03)

"Three militants were killed and eight persons, including four
soldiers, sustained injuries during an operation in Malikabad area
of Swabi district on Tuesday, officials said. They said that four
militants surrendered and laid down arms during the first-ever
operation in the district, jointly launched by army and police in
Malikabad near Gadoon Amazai industrial zone."

News Story: Defence Team Wants Facts In Aafia Case - "Dawn" (02/03)


"As a 12-member jury in the trial of Pakistani neuroscientist Dr
Aafia Siddiqui resumed deliberations on Tuesday morning, the lead
defence lawyer called for taking into account facts of the case
rather than fears created about her. Attorney Charles Swift said in
a press statement: 'There is no physical evidence that Aafia
Siddiqui picked up the gun and fired. At the time of incident she
was 100 lbs, fighting soldiers weighing 180 lbs, the way prosecutors
portrayed her as if she was a Special Forces soldier. She could not
have fired M4 at them.'"

POLITICAL ISSUES

News Story: President, PM Step In To Save Sindh Coalition - "Dawn"
(02/03)

"The federal government stepped in to prevent the Sindh coalition
government from unraveling following bitter recriminations between
key ministers belonging to the Pakistan People's Party and the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Tuesday. As the provincial leadership of
the PPP and the MQM, locked in what is viewed as a marriage of
convenience in Sindh, took swipes at each other, the wave of
violence continued unabated on a fourth consecutive day in Karachi
and left at least 12 people dead."

News Story: Army Asked To Take Over Karachi - "The Nation" (02/03)

"Sindh Home Minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza on Tuesday called upon the
Army to play its due role and take over Karachi as Swat-like law and
order situation is developing in the metropolis. In his hard-hitting
speech on the floor of the Sindh Assembly, in response to a personal
explanation of PML-Q member Shaharyar Mehar, the Home Minister
admitted that law and order situation in the province was not
satisfactory."

News Story: Malik Vows Action Against Disruptive Elements - "Dawn"
(02/03)

"Taking steps to crush elements involved in target killing, the
government is reportedly going to empower Rangers under
Anti-Terrorist Act to control law and order situation in Karachi,
source in the Interior Ministry told."

News Story: Indian Influence In Afghanistan Matter Of Concern:
Mukhtar - "Dawn" (02/03)

"Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar said on Tuesday Pakistan
had serious concerns over the growing influence of India in
Afghanistan during a meeting with United Kingdom's Naval Chief of
Staff Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, the Minister said."

News Story: Karzai In Riyadh For Talks With King On Taliban Issue -
"Dawn" (02/03)

"Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who has called for Riyadh's help in
restoring peace to his country, arrived on Tuesday for talks in
Saudi Arabia, the official SPA news agency said."

ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT

News Story: Economic Instability Imperils Pak's Future: Pentagon -
"The News" (02/03)

"Pakistan has an important role in the security and stability of the
region, a Pentagon report says and identifies economic instability,
resource scarcity, and illicit trafficking as factors that imperil
the country's future. The Quadrennial Defence Review (QDR),which
shapes the policy of the Pentagon for the next four years, says a
secure and stable Pakistan is vital to U.S. national security, the
region, and the world."

News Story: USAID Signs MoU For CNG Workers' Training - "Daily
Times" (02/03)

"The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
through its 'Jobs Project' on Tuesday signed an agreement with Yasin
Akram Associates (YAA) to train CNG workforce in the twin cities of
Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The project will improve employees and
employer's income, safety of the CNG stations and customer service,
said a press release issued in Islamabad."

News Story: U.S. Firm Offers Assistance For Harnessing Wind Energy
- "Dawn" (02/03)

"U.S. public sector project financing agency, Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC),and General Electric (GE) have
expressed willingness to partner with Pakistani companies for
developing wind energy sector in Pakistan. The OPIC has offered
financing facilities and the GE will provide wind turbines to
Pakistani investors, officials of the Alternative Energy Development
Board said."

News Story: IMF Asks Govt. To Get Parliament's Nod On NEPRA Law -
"Dawn" (02/03)
"The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to submit
the draft of the amended law of NEPRA Act to parliament in order to
get its nod on automatic electricity tariff adjustments on the basis
of regulator's calculation. The Fund has also sought data of various
sectors of the national economy on the basis of which both the sides
will hold the next round of parleys from next week at Dubai."

News Story: Pakistan Identifies 80 Projects For FoDP Investors -
"Daily Times" (02/03)

"Pakistan has identified at least 80 projects in the energy,
infrastructure, agriculture, health and education sectors for
potential investors from the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP)
forum under the Public-Private Partnership program, 'Daily Times'
has learned."

MISCELLANEOUS

News Story: U.S. Citizen, Pakistani Handed Over To Admin. - "The
News" (02/03)

"The officials of the investigation team handed over the detained
U.S. citizen and his Pakistani friend to the political authorities
of Khyber Agency after a 24-hour interrogation on Tuesday. Official
sources said U.S. citizen Barite Mathew and his Pakistani friend,
Rafa Malik, resident of Abbotabad, were arrested from Wazirdand area
in Jamrud tehsil during routine patrol by the Khassadar Force on
Monday."

News Story: Complaint Against U.S. Officials: Ministries Pass The
Buck - "Dawn" (02/03)

"The interior ministry has told the Lahore High Court that the
foreign affairs ministry is in a better position to explain the
facts regarding a petition by a lady doctor alleging harassment and
unlawful detention for two hours by the Federal Bureau of
Investigation personnel at the U.S. consulate in Karachi.... The
court had asked the ministries of interior and foreign affairs last
month to respond to the petition within three weeks. The foreign
affairs ministry is yet to file comments."

News Story: U.S. Probing Missile Test Failure In Pacific - "Dawn"
(02/03)

"The U.S. military failed to shoot down a ballistic missile in a
test resembling an Iranian or North Korean strike after a radar
malfunctioned, a spokesman said on Monday. The test was carried out
on Sunday at a U.S. Army site at the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall
Islands but the target missile was not intercepted as planned, said
Rick Lehner, spokesman for the Missile Defence Agency (MDA)."

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS

Editorial: Fighting Funds, an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/03)


"Any help we can get to pay for the war we are fighting is welcome,
and President Obama has proposed helping us with the cost of bullets
by dipping into the American pocket to the tune of $1.2 billion in
fiscal 2011 to support the training and equipping of our security
forces. The Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund allocated
$700 million in 2009 for the same purpose. So the increase is
considerable by any standard. President Obama has also requested
$1.322 billion from the Economic Support Fund (ESF) which is
designed to promote economic and political stability in countries
where the U.S. has a strategic interest. Again, this is an increase,
by almost a third, over funding in the previous fiscal and is
consistent with the American commitment to increase economic aid to
Pakistan. There is more - the U.S. administration has asked Congress
to approve $296 million for us under a program called Foreign
Military Financing which disburses grants for the purchase of
American military equipment, services and training. And all this
before we receive a single cent of the money that should be coming
our way via the Kerry-Lugar Bill. Like it or not - and many of us
don't - America is our biggest donor and will be for the foreseeable
future."

Editorial: Pakistan's Point Of View On Afghanistan, an editorial in
the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000)(02/03)
"The views expressed by Gen. Kayani before the foreign media are a
reality that can be ignored only at the cost of the international
efforts in the war on terror. This is not something that concerns
just Pakistan or Afghanistan - it is a universal truth that
neighboring countries are deeply affected by events going on next
door.... According to a news report, President Obama has presented
the 2010 budget to the Congress and proposed $1.2 billion for the
Pakistan Army. This proposal is a positive reflection of the U.S.
administration's confidence on the army's performance.
Implementation of this proposal would help Pakistan organize itself
better against terrorism. However, it is also important that the
U.S. and its allies also try to remove Pakistan's misgivings on
their Afghan policy."

Editorial: Alleged Elimination Of Terrorism; National Interests Or A
War To Get Dollars? Call A Session Of The Parliament To Discuss This
Sensitive Issue, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist
Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (02/03)

"Gen. Kayani's statement makes it seem as if he is intent on
continuing the war on terror just to get U.S. dollars, instead of
safeguarding national interests, because his remarks came at a time
when President Obama was proposing to the Congress to provide$1.2
billion to the Pakistan Army to fight the Taliban. This must
undoubtedly have created an impression in the nation's mind that the
Army is being involved in a war of American interests not for
national interests but to get dollars in return.... The Army Chief
should avoid making any statement on the government's policy and
focus his attention on fulfilling his professional duties."

Editorial: America Should Look After Pakistan's Interests, an
editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000)(02/03)

"Other countries will leave the region after meeting their
objectives, but Pakistan will still be here. Hence, while making
decisions on Afghanistan, the international community must take care
that these decisions do not harm Pakistan's interests. It is also a
fact that the road to success in Afghanistan goes through Pakistan.
No power can protect its interests in Afghanistan without Pakistan's
cooperation. Hence, the international community must pay attention
to Pakistan's suggestions."

Editorial: No Peace In Afghanistan Sans Pakistan's Cooperation, an
editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often
sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (02/03)

"Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has said that Pakistan does not
want to control Afghanistan. He said that the huge losses suffered
in the war on terror could not shake our determination. On the other
hand, the U.S. policies regarding Afghanistan are contradictory to
the interests of Pakistan. But Washington's relentless patronage of
the anti-Pakistan forces in Afghanistan will no longer be acceptable
to the political parties, religious circles and the Pakistani
masses. We think that it is high time for Kabul and Islamabad to
join hands to promote their mutual cooperation with a view to
safeguard their own interests."

Opinion: Targeting Cuba in Pakistan, an op-ed by Shireen M. Mazari
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir.
20,000) (02/03)

"After all, who would target Cuba and seek to destroy its relations
with Pakistan? The answer requires little contemplation. The U.S.
has been trying to undermine the Castro regime since the success of
the Revolution.... Nothing is too petty for the U.S. when it comes
to Cuba, especially when it concerns a state like Pakistan that the
U.S. feels should be solely within its sphere of influence and loyal
to its agendas. Pakistan is having to pay a hefty price for this
alliance with the U.S., and the Cuban issue is simply one small part
of the larger game plan."

Opinion: A Useless Summit?, an op-ed by Rizwan Asghar in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (02/03)

"As expected earlier, the long-awaited London Conference, convened
by the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has failed to find a
concrete solution to the problems faced by Afghanistan. However, it
has very successfully laid down a map for foreign occupants over
Afghanistan for many years to come.... The Taliban have rejected all
kind of negotiations until the withdrawal of foreign troops from
Afghanistan. They have already announced that from spring onwards
there would be more attacks on foreign troops.... The role of the
regional stakeholders has been relatively ignored.... The U.S. has
no concrete plan for the betterment of the Afghan people and the
tall claims made by the Obama administration of bringing 'change'
and withdrawing troops from June 2011 seem quite preposterous.
Instead the U.S. continues to play havoc with the lives of people in
pursuit of its imperialistic designs.... It seems that having failed
to subdue Afghanistan by force, the U.S. is also failing to find a
political solution to the problems. The only service the U.S. can do
to the Afghan people is to withdraw its forces from their land as
soon as possible."

Editorial: COAS On War On Terror, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/03)

"COAS General Kayani has brought out in comprehensive terms the
Pakistan government's current position with regard to the war on
terror, which he had explained at a recent conference of NATO
commanders in Brussels.... He was also right in highlighting the
fact that our economic losses were the maximum. It is a pity that
neither the U.S., which dragged us into the war, nor other Western
countries supporting it, have come forward with anything close to
compensating the damage we have suffered.... However, General
Kayani's delineation of Pakistan's strategic paradigm and
underlining the need for friendly relations with Afghanistan for
peace and harmony to prevail in the region, are the most apt and
must be welcomed. And, in this context, he explained what ought to
be understood when Pakistan talked of 'strategic depth'. It 'does
not imply controlling Afghanistan,' but he rightly added, 'If
Afghanistan was peaceful, stable and friendly we have our strategic
depth because our western borders are secure. You are not looking
both ways.'"

Editorial: This Resoluteness Is Our Asset, an editorial in the
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (02/03)

"Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani has said that Pakistan is
fully capable of doing anything, therefore the international
community must trust our country. It seems that after failing to
defeat the Taliban, the U.S. and its allies are planning to withdraw
their forces from Afghanistan and leave Pakistan alone to clean up
the mess they have created there. We think that it is the primary
responsibility of Washington and its allies to normalize the
situation in Afghanistan. But this goal will remain elusive until
these countries withdraw their troops from Afghanistan and hand over
the power to the elected representatives of the Afghan masses."

Editorial: Wise Words, an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/03)


"He (Army Chief) stressed that the reduction in attacks on NATO
forces in Afghanistan was an outcome of the actions of the Pakistan
military on its side of the border. This, of course, makes sense.
The General's suggestion that the Pakistan army be involved in
training its Afghan counterpart is also a sound one. It is indeed
imperative that these two work effectively together. Any involvement
of the Indians in Afghanistan, as has been suggested, would only add
to Pakistan's sense of insecurity.... The COAS has also made it
clear how important it is to consider the region as a whole in the
efforts against terrorism. Certainly, it is crucial that all those
involved in the battle consider this issue. The motives behind
terrorism that run through the Pak-Afghan area, and countries that
border them, are intricately inter-twined. It is important to
consider this realistically and to devise a strategy accordingly. A
failure to do so would tilt the balance in favor of the militants
who continue to pose a terrible threat to nations across the world
and the people who inhabit them."

Editorial: Kayani Speaks, an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(02/03)

"Gen. Ashfaq Kayani has reiterated the army's position on
Afghanistan: Pakistan wants a 'peaceful, friendly and stable'
Afghanistan; strategic depth isn't about 'controlling' Afghanistan
but about ensuring Pakistan doesn't have a long-term security
problem on its western border... It is significant that the Army
Chief's statement comes against the backdrop of calls from
Washington and other western capitals for the Pakistan Army to move
against militant bastions in North Waziristan.... Here, too, what
the Pakistan Army can achieve appears to be limited. Pakistan is
hugely disliked by the non-Taliban, non-Pakhtun forces in
Afghanistan, while its ability to influence the Taliban and the
broader Pakhtun community may be in question. What, then, are
Pakistan's options? Gen. Kayani called on the U.S. and NATO to come
out with a clear strategy on Afghanistan; we can only hope he has
told his Pakistani strategists the same thing."

Editorial: 'Strategic Death'?, an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (02/03)

"Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, in a rare
press briefing, said, 'We want a strategic depth in Afghanistan but
do not want to control it.' These words underlie the fact that the
Pakistan Army has still not given up on the idea of 'strategic
depth' in Afghanistan - a policy that has proved to be disastrous
for Pakistan in the past few decades. If one reads between the
lines, General Kayani's statement is also indicative that though
Pakistan may not want to control Afghanistan, it wants a government
of its own choice in place to control the war-torn country.... GHQ
should revisit the infection in the armed services of Jihadi
sympathizers. A nightmare scenario is looming if we do not give up
the idea of 'strategic depth', which may eventually turn out to be
'strategic death.'"

Editorial: Peace in Afghanistan, an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (02/03)

"Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani has denied that Pakistan
wants a 'Talibanized' Afghanistan, and said his country has no
interest in controlling Afghanistan.... Being a frontline state
against terrorism, Pakistan cannot be ignored when it comes to
maintaining peace and stability in Afghanistan and that Pakistan has
no hidden agenda against its neighbors, particularly Afghanistan....
For the regional stability and prosperity, Pakistan understands its
responsibility and never shuns from it.... The international
community should consider the concerns, challenges, contributions
and constraints of Pakistan in the fight against the terrorists as
shared by Gen Kayani with NATO commanders in Brussels for the
success of war on terror."

Editorial: Kayani Talks Of His Vision Of Afghanistan, an editorial
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer"
(cir. 5,000) (02/03)

"During his candid talks with foreign journalists on Monday, COAS
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani crystallized Pakistan's traditional
stand on Afghanistan and warmth towards people of that country.
Speaking in the backdrop of his trip to Brussels, where he put
across Pakistan's point of view on Afghan conflict, the COAS
reflected sentiments of the nation by summarizing the country's
interest in the well-being of the people of Afghanistan by saying
'We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we don't wish for
Pakistan.' The historic remarks of the COAS once again re-affirmed
Pakistan's oft-repeated assertion that its objective was to have
peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan.... Similarly, the
assessment of the Army Chief that support of the public opinion and
media and resolve and capability of the Army turned the tide in the
ongoing war against terror is also a clear message to the outside
world that Pakistan is a peace loving country."

Editorial: Strategic Depth: General Kayani's Explanation, an
editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000)
(02/03)

"Generally, the term "strategic depth" is used to create an image of
Pakistan's aggressive military might. It is also said that Pakistan
supports certain militant groups in Afghanistan to gain strategic
depth in Afghanistan. Gen. Kayani has very courageously expressed
Pakistan's viewpoint and said that we do want to attain strategic
depth, but it should not be construed as a desire to take control of
Afghanistan.... The government must discuss this issue in the
parliament and the starting point of this debate should be Gen.
Kayani's bold statement."

Editorial: Indian Supplies To NATO Forces Via Pakistan, an editorial
in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000)
(02/03)
"According to some media reports, India is using the Pakistani
territory to supply various equipments to the NATO forces deployed
in Afghanistan while the Pakistan Customs officials are not allowed
to check such consignments. We demand the opposition leader to raise
this issue in the Parliament and let the nation know the facts."

Opinion: How To End The War In Afghanistan, an op-ed by Ahmed Rashid
in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000)
(02/03)

"The London conference on Afghanistan was being billed as a dud -
hastily conceived, under prepared and potentially a political
face-saver for two unpopular leaders, Britain's Prime Minister
Gordon Brown and Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai.... Despite
the London conference rhetoric of 'Afghan ownership' of the peace
and development process, the last nine years has still not created
real ownership for the Afghans. There is still no semblance of a
working Afghan state with basic governance institutions such as a
functioning bureaucracy, judiciary and police. NATO's job in this
surge of commitment is to make sure that the Afghans do not just
increase their dependency on the West, but actually take charge,
become responsible and make themselves accountable for their
actions. President Karzai should realize this is a tougher job than
talking the Taliban."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson