PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 11, 2010

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000330

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 11, 2010

Summary: Coverage of intense fighting between security forces and
Taliban in Khyber Agency dominated headlines in newspapers on
Thursday morning. Media highlighted reports of a military
helicopter crash, an ambush, and a suicide bombing that killed
nearly 22 people including a brigadier, and 15 other security
personnel. Some papers reported that the helicopter was shot down by
suspected militants. Nearly all major newspapers, and TV networks
reported arrival of U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones, and
his meeting with Pak Army Chief General Kayani. Several dailies
carried a New York Times report claiming that Pakistan has offered
to mediate between Kabul administration and Taliban factions.
Reports and photographs of U.S. Special Representative for Muslim
Communities Farah Pandith's visit to a seminary in Karachi, and her
vow to "build long-term ties with the Islamic world that is based on
mutual respect, interest, and trust at the people-to-people level"
received wide coverage. Media also reported that the secret British
files revealed U.S. abuse of a detainee, and the White House warned
that the "disclosure could affect U.S.-British
intelligence-sharing." "The Nation," reported that Pakistan's
Ambassador to Washington Haqqani met with PM Gilani in Islamabad "in
a bid to clear his position after he badly failed to pursue Dr.
Aafia's case efficiently." All mainstream newspapers reported that
the Pak Army Corps Commanders discussed India's offer for talks, and
reviewed the prevailing security situation. The proposed Pak-India
dialogue, and its possible agenda including Kashmir and water issues
remained another much-debated theme both in print as well as
electronic media. End Summary.

TOP STORIES

News Story: Helicopter Crashes QArmy Rescue Team Ambushed QSuicide
Attack On Khasadars: Brigadier Among 22 Killed In Khyber - "Dawn"
(02/11)

"The focus of intense fighting between security forces and Taliban
suddenly shifted to Khyber Agency on Wednesday when 15 security
personnel, a brigadier and a pilot among them, and seven civilians
lost their lives in a gun attack, a suicide bombing and a helicopter
crash. The brigadier was killed and two other officers, a Major and
a Lieutenant, were injured when Taliban insurgents ambushed an army
rescue party searching for bodies of the pilot and a gunner of a
helicopter gunship which had crashed in the Tirah valley, Jamrud's
Assistant Political Agent Rehan Khattak confirmed."

News Story: Jones Discusses Afghan Security With Gen. Kayani -
"Daily Times," "The News" (02/11)

"U.S. Adviser on National Security James Jones called on Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani at the General Headquarters
in Rawalpindi on Wednesday, a private TV channel reported. According
to the channel, the two military leaders discussed important
matters, including the United States' new policy for Afghanistan,
the overall regional security and the Pakistan Army's operation
against terrorists along the Pak-Afghan border."

News Story: Troika Sets Agenda; Zardari-Jones Meet - "The Nation"
(02/11)

"Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Foreign Minister
Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday apprised President Asif Ali
Zardari of the issues that would be taken up during the meeting with
the visiting U.S. President Obama's National Security Advisor, James
Jones.
The meeting is most likely to be held today (Thursday). Since Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani was also present at a dinner at the
Presidency, the troika sharpened Pakistan's stance over the
bilateral issues with the Obama Administration including the release
of Coalition Support Fund."

News Story: Pakistan Seeks Role In Afghan Endgame: Report - "Dawn,"
"The News" (02/11)

"In a departure from its previous reluctance to approach the
Taliban, Pakistan has told the United States it wants a central role
in resolving the Afghan war, the New York Times reported on
Wednesday quoting American and Pakistani officials.... Army Chief
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani expressed Pakistan's willingness to
mediate at a meeting late last month at the NATO headquarters with
top American military officials, a senior U.S. military official
familiar with the meeting told 'Dawn.' The meeting was attended by
the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen,
the head of Central Command, Gen. David H. Petraeus, and the
Commander of U.S. and allied troops in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley A.
McChrystal, the official said."

News Story: U.S. Undecided On Pakistan Offer To Mediate With Taliban
Factions: NYT - "The Nation" (02/11)

"The United States has not made up its mind about Pakistan's offer
to mediate with Taliban factions like the Haqqani group, over which
it has some influence, in an effort to resolve the Afghan war, a
leading American newspaper reported Wednesday. The offer, aimed at
preserving Pakistan's influence in Afghanistan once the Americans
leave, could both help and hurt American interests as Washington
debates reconciling with the Taliban, The New York Times said in a
dispatch from Islamabad."

News Story: U.S. Desirous Of Long-Term Relationship With Muslims -
"Daily Times," "Dawn" (02/11)

"The United States wants to build a long-term relationship based on
mutual respect, interest and trust with Muslims, U.S. Special
Representative to Muslim Communities Farah Anwar Pandit said on
Wednesday while addressing the students and faculty of Jamia
Islamia, Karachi on 'Religious Education and the Challenges of the
Current Era.' Pandit said, 'These relations will not be limited to
the time of crisis.'"

News Story: U.S. Torture Allegations U.K. Court Asks Govt. To Make
Secrets Public - "Dawn" (02/11)

"The British government failed on Wednesday in a legal challenge to
keep secret U.S. intelligence material relating to allegations of
'cruel and inhuman' treatment involving the CIA. London's Court of
Appeal rejected a request by British Foreign Secretary David
Miliband to prevent senior judges from disclosing seven paragraphs
of information relating to the case of former Guantanamo Bay
detainee Binyam Mohamed."

News Story: Haqqani In Capital After Aafia Case Flop - "The Nation"
(02/11)

"In a bid to clear his position after he badly failed to pursue Dr.
Aafia Siddiqui's case efficiently, Pakistan's Ambassador to U.S.
Hussain Haqqani called on Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on
Wednesday."

News Story: Corps Commanders Discuss India's Offer, Security -
"Daily Times" (02/11)

"Military commanders on Wednesday discussed India's offer to
Pakistan for talks among other issues at a meeting of the top brass
held at the General Headquarters. The commanders met as part of
126th Corps Commanders' Conference and reviewed the prevailing
security situation. Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani
chaired the conference."

TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES

News Story: U.S. Marines Under Fire Ahead Of Afghan Assault -
"Daily Times" (02/11)

"U.S. Marines came under attack from insurgents armed with sniper
guns and rocket-propelled grenades as they geared up on Wednesday to
overwhelm a Taliban bastion in Afghanistan. Thousands of Marines
along with foreign and Afghan soldiers are massing around the town
of Marjah in Helmand, which officials say is one of the last areas
of the southern province under Taliban control."

News Story: Afghanistan Says It Is Ready For Thousands Who Will Flee
Assault - "Daily Times" (02/11)

"Afghanistan is ready to feed thousands if they flee a major assault
by NATO troops, but officials hope fighting will be limited and
civilians can safely stay home, President Hamid Karzai's spokesman
said. NATO forces, led by thousands of US Marines, are massing for
an attack on Marjah, billed as the last big Taliban stronghold in
Helmand."

News Story: U.S. Detainees Tortured To Admit Links To JD: Counsel -
"The News" (02/11)
"Khawaja Khalid, counsel for the five US nationals facing terrorism
charges, said that the detainees were tortured by the FBI in the
custody of the police to force them to admit their links with the
Jamaatud Dawa. He was talking to journalists on phone. He said that
he would move the Lahore High Court soon, seeking quashment of the
case. He said that Ahmad, Rami, Waqar, Umar Farooq and Aman were
innocent and the case against them was bogus. He disclosed that the
Sargodha Police had also tortured them to force them to confess that
they had links with the Tehrik-e-Taliban and other banned
organizations."

News Story: Truck Carrying NATO Supplies Looted - "Daily Times"
(02/11)

"A truck carrying supplies for NATO forces fighting in Afghanistan
was hijacked and looted on the Northern Bypass (Karachi) on
Wednesday."

News Story: Reports of Hakimullah's Death Credible, Says Malik -
"The News" (02/11)

"Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on Wednesday claimed he had
credible reports that the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
chief, Hakimullah Mehsud, had been killed in the drone attack on
January 14, though he hastened to add that the death was yet to be
confirmed officially, while talking to reporters in Peshawar."

News Story: TTP Rejects Claim Of Hakeemullah's Death - "Daily
Times," "The News" (02/11)

"The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) lashed out at the government
on Wednesday for referring to 'credible reports' that their leader
Hakeemullah Mehsud had died after a U.S. drone attack in
mid-January. The group has denied its leader's death but appeared to
hold off on the idea of releasing another message proving he is
alive, after an audio recording last month."

News Story: Six Killed In Bajaur Airstrikes - "Daily Times" (02/11)


"Aircraft bombed hideouts of the Taliban in Supri, Gutki and Mina,
killing four Taliban and two women were killed in bombings in
various areas of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur Agency on Wednesday."

News Story: 4 Militants, 2 Women Killed - "Dawn" (02/11)

"Four militants were killed in exchange of fire with security forces
while two women were killed as mortar shell hit their house in
Bajaur tribal region on Wednesday, official sources said."

POLITICAL ISSUES

News Story: U.S. Should Respect Sentiments Of Pakistani People:
Gilani - "Daily Times" (02/11)

"The U.S. should respect the sentiments of the people of Pakistan in
order to bridge the trust deficit between the two countries, Prime
Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday. Talking to Pakistan's
Ambassador to the U.S. Hussain Haqqani, who called on him at the
PM's Secretariat, Gilani said the country wanted to maintain
friendly relations with the U.S. and strengthen its strategic
partnership in multidimensional sectors."

News Story: Dr. Aafia's Case Echoes In National Assembly - "Daily
Times" (02/11)

"An adjournment motion will not resolve the Dr. Aafia Siddiqui issue
and the government needs to play its role in repatriating her to
Pakistan, Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar
Ali Khan said on Wednesday."

News Story: PM Becomes Vulnerable To Contempt Case In SC - "The
News" (02/11)

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has become vulnerable to a
possible contempt of court proceedings not only on account of his
failure to implement the apex court's decision on the NRO but also
for delaying the appointment of judges in violation of the
Constitution and the judgment in the Al-Jihad case."

News Story: PM Gilani Promises Consensus Accountability Law -
"Dawn" (02/11)

"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani promised in the National Assembly
on Wednesday that his government would bring a new consensus
accountability law as he hailed as historic first reports of the
opposition-led house Public Accounts Committee (PAC) whose chairman
spoke of finding 'horrible scandals' and 'astonishing' bureaucratic
misuse of funds."

News Story: CJ's Appointment: Accord On Removing President's Powers
- "Dawn" (02/11)

"All parties represented in the Parliamentary Committee on
constitutional reforms agreed on Wednesday to take the powers of
appointment of the Chief Justice of Pakistan away from the
president, but remained divided as to where that power should
reside, sources told 'Dawn.'"

News Story: Pakistan Prefers Dialogue To War With India: PM -
"Daily Times" (02/11)

"Pakistan has always preferred dialogue to war with India, Prime
Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Wednesday, and praised New
Delhi's 'intention' to resume dialogue with Islamabad."

News Story: No Strings Attached To India's Talks Proposal - "Daily
Times" (02/11)

"The Pakistani high commissioner to India said on Wednesday that New
Delhi is ready to hold talks with Pakistan on all bilateral issues
without any 'precondition,' according to diplomatic sources. 'India
is ready to move forward and discuss all issues ... they have
dropped their previous stance that talks with Pakistan would just
focus on terrorism,' Shahid Malik told a high-level,
inter-ministerial meeting at the Foreign Office."

News Story: Agreement On Roadmap To Settle Pak-India Water Dispute -
"Dawn" (02/11)

"India and Pakistan agreed on Wednesday on a 'roadmap for resolving
water disputes' and decided to hold two additional meetings, besides
a routine meeting due in May, over the next six months. Pakistan's
Indus Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah told 'Dawn' that the
decision is the biggest achievement made during five days of
deliberations."

ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT

News Story: U.S. Urged To Consider 'Conditions-Based' Civilian
N-Deal With Pakistan - "The Nation" (02/11)

"An American expert has proposed that the U.S. consider a
conditions-based civilian nuclear deal with Pakistan as a way of
bringing international recognition to the Pakistani nuclear weapons
program and bolstering cooperation in anti-terrorism and
non-proliferation goals.
'Nuclear cooperation could deliver results where billions of dollars
of American aid have failed,' Professor Christine Fair wrote in the
Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, saying U.S. assistance to
Pakistan's civilian nuclear energy program could achieve the goals
that Kerry-Lugar legislation could not because Islamabad's strong
objections to some of its provisions."

News Story: Govt. Vows To End Dependence On IMF - "Dawn" (02/11)

"The cabinet decided on Wednesday to develop national economy to a
level where by the end of next fiscal year it could come out of
dependence on foreign institutions like the International Monetary
Fund. The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf
Raza Gilani."

News Story: Three-Year Budgetary Priorities To Be Set - "The News"
(02/11)

"The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved the Medium-Term Budgetary
Framework (MTBF) for three years aimed at setting directions for
ministries and departments. 'Under the MTBF the procedure of
preparing budget would be changed and it would be presented before
the month of May in the National Assembly. It would be reviewed by
National Assembly and Senate committees to have a correct oversight
of the budget and the departments should make their priorities,'
said Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, while briefing newsmen
after the cabinet meeting that was chaired by Prime Minister Gilani
here at the Prime Minister secretariat."

MISCELLANEOUS

News Story: Iran Spurns U.S. Isotopes Offer - "Dawn" (02/11)

"Iran on Wednesday spurned a U.S. offer to supply it with medical
isotopes if it stops further enriching uranium as world powers
warned the time for diplomacy was limited and the sanctions clock
was ticking. The foreign ministry shunned the U.S. offer as 'not
logical,' after State Department spokesman Philip Crowley floated
the idea on Tuesday when Iran said it had begun enriching uranium to
20 per cent for a Tehran research reactor."

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS

Editorial: Presence of Blackwater in Pakistan, an editorial in the
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000)
(02/11)

"The continuous denials of Interior Minister Rehman Malik and the
admissions of some important ministers of the Pervez Musharraf era,
including Aftab Sherpao, and Amir Muqam, regarding the presence of
Blackwater agents operating in Pakistan have plunged the masses into
a state of utter confusion. It seems that the government considers
that only the Taliban and Jundullah are terrorist organizations
while armed Americans roaming the streets of our cities are above
suspicion."

Opinion: Presence Of U.S. Soldiers In Pakistan, an op-ed by Sajid
Ansari in the Peshawar-based, independent regional daily "The
Frontier Post" (cir. 7,000) (02/11)

"The bomb blast in lower Dir has revealed the active presence of
U.S. soldiers in Pakistan under the guise of 'trainers.' When the
U.S. sent its 'trainers' in Pakistan, back in 2007, a common
question was being raised amongst the people of Pakistan: 'Does our
army really needs 'training' from the U.S. army?'... However, if the
U.S. wanted to train Pakistan army in meeting with 'terrorism' then
what experience do they have in 'war-on-terror' except ruthlessly
and indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians in Iraq and
Afghanistan.... Now, coming to the point of the 'U.S. army trainers'
in Pakistan, it is quite likely that U.S. did want to bring in its
forces in Pakistan and for that the U.S. administration carved the
strategy of bringing them under the guise of 'trainers,' for which
the U.S. would have sought permission for brining the 'trainers'
under the cover of an agreement.... Although the government of
Pakistan as well as the US administration have denied the presence
of US army in Pakistan but these are all 'white lies' and trying to
make fool of the people, whereas, as a matter of fact, the U.S.
Special Forces are 'operating' in Pakistan since 2007, getting all
sorts of information and know-how as how could they manage to reach
up to the nukes and the nuclear sites which was their prime
objective of coming over to Afghanistan under the guise of
'war-on-terror' and also to impart 'training' to Pakistan army which
was a joke as our army would never like to have training from the
cowards sitting in their dens on just 20% of Afghanistan for the
last nine years."

Editorial: Contradictory Reports About Killing of TTP Chief, an
editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir.
55,000) (02/11)

"The conflicting reports about the death of Tehreek-i-Taliban chief,
Hakimullah Mehsud, are dominating the local and international media.
However, his continuing absence from the scene bolsters up the
authenticity of these media reports regarding his killing in a drone
strike. We think that Mehsud's death may weaken the Taliban
movement, but it will not weaken their operational capabilities.
Hence, the government should continue military offensive in the
tribal areas till a decisive and total defeat of the terrorists."

Editorial: Hakimullah Mehsud's Death, an editorial in the
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (02/11)

"There have been several conflicting reports on Taliban chief
Hakimullah Mehsud's death in a drone strike.... Some sources,
including American diplomatic sources, have claimed that an injured
Mehsud was being brought to Karachi for treatment and he passed away
near Multan; the body was then transported back to Orakzai Agency
and buried.... [If these reports are true] It should be a matter of
concern for Pakistan government that it remained ignorant of
Mehsud's movement towards Karachi and then back, despite it being
such a long route."

Editorial: Crossover, an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/11)


"There are several points of interest regarding the arrest of six
suspected terrorists -- one of them a teenage suicide bomber --
along with a range of explosives and hand-grenades. The men are
alleged to have confessed to having Americans staying in a five-star
hotel in Lahore as their target.... Yet the most revealing piece of
information in terms of how terrorist networks operate is that the
group is said to have used an Afghan named as 'Commander Nazir' to
smuggle explosives to Lahore using his network of drug peddlers.
Here we see a crossover between the purely criminal - the
distribution and sale of illegal drugs - and what hides behind the
fig leaf of ideology and Jihad, namely the TTP. The terrorists are
using established criminal networks to further their aims, criminals
who have no thought of Jihad on their agenda and are in business
purely for profit. Both are ultimately engaged in criminal activity
but their motives are divergent - although it is more than likely
that the drug smugglers see themselves as 'fellow travelers' with
the extremists."

Opinion: Obama - Illegally Blonde In Afghanistan, an op-ed by
Miranda Husain in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily
"Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (02/11)

"It appears that the U.S. President is under pressure. In fact, we
should really spare a thought for the poor chap. No one, it seems,
understands just how weighty is the burden of that Nobel Peace
Prize. It forever looms large. Like some real-politik version of
Banquo's ghost.... Ditto the London Conference on Afghanistan. The
trump card there being his full support for the concept of nation
building, something that the swaggering W had always found too hard
to swallow.... It is not too much to expect that Mr. Obama's Harvard
education might have equipped him to recognize that any
reconciliation efforts will be rendered meaningless once the concept
of justice is eliminated from the narrative."

Opinion: Reconciliation with Afghan Taliban, an op-ed by Mohammad
Jamil in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir.
5,000) (02/11)

"Western politicians and key U.S. leaders have assumed that Taliban
can be bought through prudent use of incentives and shrewd
distribution of money. There appears to be a serious disconnect in
the conclusions drawn by the U.S. that Taliban are fighting for
material gains. They are no doubt war-tattered and earnestly need
resources to meet their basic needs but they are loyal to their
tribes and the country.... One would not know the real intent of the
American leadership but it appears that efforts are being made to
woo Taliban's rank and file soldiers to make them switch sides
through incentives of jobs and money.... In this backdrop there is
skepticism as to how the Taliban could be brought into the fold?
There is no denying that to end conflict, negotiations and
reconciliation efforts are important for reducing violence but the
Taliban would not negotiate on American and Karzai's terms....
Nevertheless, both have the fear that in either case the Taliban
position would be strengthened and it would provide the Taliban an
opportunity to consolidate its position. But instead of rhetoric,
there is need for practical measures to address each other's
concerns.... Not caring for the lesson from history, the U.S. and
the West are once again trying to subjugate Afghans, and during the
last eight years they have only been able to control 30 percent of
Afghanistan. President Obama's strategy of putting more boots on the
ground is not likely to work."

Opinion: Afghanistan: The Helmand Huff, an op-ed by I.M. Mohsin in
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(02/11)

"Gen. McChrystal, like Gen. Petraeus, is a very well-read officer.
On taking over command, he rightly condemned the approach of his
predecessors in Afghanistan. Insisting on 'winning the hearts and
minds of the people' by providing them viable security, no matter
what is the cost, and sincere implementation of reconstruction
programs to alleviate sufferings of the people who are subjected to
death and destruction over the last 30 years. In pursuance of the
same, he is planning to launch attacks on Helmand where, as usual,
the 'enemy' holds sway. Forces have been rushed there amid lot of
fanfare despite the fact that the security situation all over the
country remains murky. The Taliban, being in a defiant mood, have
reacted accordingly. No wonder they are also getting ready while
saying, as the Pashto proverb goes, 'it is better to be torn by a
loin than to be loved by a jackal.' The upshot of all such moves is
that the local population is seriously disturbed about their
security. Many are migrating to other areas to escape more
suffering. Being an internally displaced person poses many
challenges but the Pashtuns dislike it as a fall-out of war. So such
saber rattling by foreign troops would alienate the people even
further."

Opinion: Countering Insurgency And Terrorism, an op-ed by Ikram
Sehgal in the populist, often sensational national English daily
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/11)

"Insurgency and terrorism having become endemic in Pakistan. The
mixed success in developing an inherent capacity to counter both is
surprising. We have to deal with two insurgencies, one feeding the
Taliban in Afghanistan, the other directed towards terrorism within
Pakistan and the world in general.... Terrorism must be the domain
of civilian law enforcement agencies. But at present it is beyond
the capacity of law enforcement agencies to combat terrorism. The
army will face another debilitating exercise 'in aid of civil
power.' A Counter-Terrorism Force (CTF) in Pakistan, officered by
the army must be developed on the pattern of the tremendously
successful Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) that almost eliminated poppy
cultivation and drug smuggling, this is vital not only for Pakistan
but for the world."

Opinion: Grievances, an op-ed by Zubair Torwali in the populist,
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000)
(02/11)

"The Pashtun living on either side of the Durand Line are bearing
the brunt of both terrorism and counter-terrorism. They have
suffered because of the "jihad" against the former USSR. They have
suffered also because they fulfill a government's need for
"strategic depth." Now it is mostly the so-called war on terror. In
this violent game the major players never bothered about the people
whom they used in the furtherance of their regional agendas. What
happened in the region, and what is happening in it now, is the
result of the sharply conflicting agendas of the major players in
the game.... The Pashtun see the policy of "strategic depth" as
representing a deep grave for the Pashtun people."

Editorial: Why Is Pakistani Water Being Stopped?, an editorial in
the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir.
150,000) (02/11)

"A delegation of the Pakistan Indus Water Commission will travel to
Occupied Kashmir to review dams being built on River Indus....
Pakistan fears that through these projects [dams] it is being
cheated out of its share of water...... The Indian water
commissioner himself got a surprise when he saw the condition of
Pakistan's rivers. Perhaps he was not aware earlier how Pakistani
rivers were being strangled.... Syed Jamaat Ali Shah and his team
will visit India and then inform the nation and the world of the
facts."

Opinion: Indian Intervention In Balochistan Proved, an op-ed by
Sajjad Shaukat in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily
"Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (02/11)

"While encouraging Baloch leaders to continue their struggle with
full zeal and enthusiasm, the Indian officials paid 25000 dollars to
each Baloch leader, assuring them more positive response by the next
secret meeting to be held in February 2010. Meanwhile on November
21, 2009, with the consent of the Baloch national leader Mir
Hyrbyair Marri, Laurie Deamer who is active member of the
Independence American Friends of Balochistan read out the resolution
in the first international conference at the Nation Press Club in
Washington DC. The resolution also raised same allegations in
connection with Pak Army and state terrorism by implicating
Islamabad and Tehran, emphasizing the necessity of an independent
Balochistan. Nonetheless, while taking the breaking of Pakistan as
inevitable and in the interests of the international community,
especially the Baloch people and the United States, the conference
called upon the U.S. government and its affiliated departments to
talk directly with Baloch independence, sending American leaders in
Balochistan and abroad. No doubt that after these conferences and
secret meetings among the Indian officials, foreign agents and
Baloch leaders, particularly Indian intervention in Balochistan has
been proved."

Opinion: A Laudable Initiative, an op-ed by Yusuf H. Shirazi in the
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir.
55,000) (02/11)

"The 'Aman ki Asha' initiative of the Jang Group and the Times of
India group is indeed laudable. It is a step in the right direction.
The people of India and Pakistan have long aspired for peace.
However, the realization of this 'Asha' is not possible without the
two governments sharing. Peace, and thus the welfare for the people
of the subcontinent, lies in political, economic and social harmony
between the two countries.... Without this any such endeavor would
be a pipedream, a desire unfulfilled. If Pakistan becomes the
architect of its own policies rather than have them imposed on it by
the developed world, the peace initiative will indeed lead to not
only political harmony but also socio-economic harmony between
Pakistan and India."

Opinion: Let The Talks Continue, an op-ed by I.A. Rehman in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (02/11)

"What is needed today is a blend of peace-preaching and people's
direct contribution to tackling, in a fair and just manner, all the
issues that have led to endless confrontation between the two
closest neighbors. In other words, those deliberating behind closed
doors need to associate ordinary citizens with their work and those
singing peace songs in open fields should shed their inhibitions
about talking politics. Peace will not be achieved by pushing
matters under the carpet, for this ideal the people will have to
sustain a strong movement that will give the political authorities
the courage to take the essential steps they are at the moment
afraid of taking."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson