PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 12, 2010

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000054

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 12, 2010

Summary: Coverage of Senators Carl Levin and Al Franken's meeting
with Prime Minister Gilani dominated front-page headlines in all
mainstream dailies Tuesday morning. Newspapers reported that,
during the meeting, PM Gilani underscored the need to bridge the
trust deficit between the two countries, urging the U.S. to expedite
CSF reimbursements, share drone technology, and remove Pakistan from
the list of countries subject to new screening measures. The issue
of harassment of U.S. diplomats re-emerged with reports of the
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman's statement that the U.S. Embassy
in Islamabad has not requested special privileges for American
diplomats at checkpoints and that U.S. diplomats are not being
harassed in Pakistan. Negative reaction to new U.S. airport
screening regulations continued to receive wide coverage. All major
English dailies reported PML-N leader, Ahsan Iqbal's statement that
Pakistan should be treated as a partner, not a problem. Dailies also
carried statements of Pakistani senators who termed the new security
measures an insult to Pakistan. The media reported a wide variety
of statements by American military official on progress in
Afghanistan and Pakistan. General Petraeus remarked to CNN that
considerable pressure has been brought on Al Qaeda leadership.
Admiral Mullen echoed signs of progress in both countries, while
General McChrystal stated that the U.S. surge in Afghanistan is
succeeding. "Daily Times," quoted Secretary Clinton remarks that
the "Obama administration has concluded that the best way to
pressure Iran to come clean on its nuclear ambitions is to impose
sanctions aimed at the country's ruling elite." Some English
language papers penned editorials on General Petraeus' comments on
possible bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, calling the remarks
"very provocative," and "most irresponsible." "The Business
Recorder," in a comment titled "Our tax to GDP ration is indeed
abysmal," argued that Ambassador Patterson's remarks to the OICCI in
Karachi on the state of Pakistan's economy were correct, but,
despite U.S. financial assistance, "demanding military operations"
and "increased drone attacks" are not winning the hearts and minds
of the Pakistani people. End Summary.

TOP STORIES

News Story: PM Urges U.S. To Bridge Trust Deficit - "Dawn" (01/12)

"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani called on Monday for U.S.
steps to bridge a trust gap in its relations with Pakistan in the
interest of long-term strategic partnership. Talking to a U.S.
delegation led by Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of U.S. Armed
Services Committee, Mr. Gilani reiterated Pakistan's demand for
early disbursement of payments under the Coalition Support Fund,
transfer of drone technology, sharing of credible and actionable
intelligence and removal of Pakistan from the list of countries
whose citizens were required to undergo special screening at U.S.
airports. These steps, he said, would improve the public image of
U.S. in Pakistan."

News Story: Gilani Deplores U.S. Doubts Over Pak Sincerity - "The
News" (01/12)

"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday regretted the doubts
emanating from the U.S. over Pakistan's sincerity in the war against
terror and asked as to which other country of the world has made
more sacrifices than Pakistan in the campaign to eradicate
terrorism. Talking to the U.S. delegation, led by Senator Carl
Levin, Chairman of Armed Services Committee, at the Prime Minister
House, Gilani refuted the misperceptions about the existence of the
Quetta Shura or the Afghan Taliban leadership in Pakistan. He
reiterated Pakistan's desire to fence its border with Afghanistan in
case the U.S. could persuade the Afghan government to do so."

News Story: U.S., German Delegations Meet Kayani - "The Nation"
(01/12)

"Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl
Levin, has appreciated the services and sacrifices of Pakistan Army
in the war against terrorism saying his country would continue its
cooperation in this subject. The visiting dignitary, heading a
congressional delegation, made these remarks during a meeting with
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at GHQ on Monday."


News Story: Consider Pakistan A Partner, Not A Problem, PML-N Tells
U.S. - "The News" (01/12)

"Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal has said
that the United States should consider Pakistan its partner to
resolve all issues in the region instead of taking it as a problem.
Talking to a U.S. congressional delegation lead by Senator Carl
Levin in the Punjab House, Islamabad on Monday, he said the
screening process of Pakistani nationals at U.S. airports had
created serious reservations in the people of Pakistan. 'The U.S.
should avoid taking such measures which could damage trust of the
people of Pakistan,' he added."

News Story: Drone Attacks Intensified After Khost Blast: U.S. -
"Dawn" (01/12)

"A U.S. general, who oversees America's war efforts in the
Pakistan-Afghan region, has acknowledged that there has been an
increase in drone attacks at suspected militant targets inside Fata
since the assassination last month of seven CIA agents. Separately,
the U.S. Military Chief has said that a relationship with Pakistan
is 'absolutely critical' to the United States and that's why he has
invested so much in grooming up this relationship. 'We don't talk
about the source of the explosions in western Pakistan. But
certainly, many commentators have noted the considerable pressure
that has been brought on the leadership, in particular, of Al Qaeda
and also of some other important extremist elements there,"' Gen.
David Petraeus told CNN when asked if the United States had
increased drone attacks inside FATA after the CIA blast."

News Story: No Deal With U.S. Over Checking Of Americans - "The
Nation," "The Post" (01/12)

"Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit has categorically denied that
he has received any request from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad with
regard to special privileges for American diplomats at checkpoints
set up across the country for security reason. Talking to a private
TV channel, Basit said American officials and diplomats are not
being harassed in Pakistan but there are some issues on which they
were in touch with the U.S. government and their Embassy in
Islamabad."

TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES

News Story: AfPak Strategy Greatest Challenge: Mullen - "The Nation"
(01/12)

"Executing the President's strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
presents his biggest challenge, said the Chairman of the U.S. Joint
Chiefs of Staff. However, Navy Admiral Mike Mullen said he sees
progress being made in both countries."

News Story: U.S. Surge In Afghanistan Succeeding: McChrystal - "The
News" (01/12)

"The commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan said on Monday that a
U.S. troop build-up in Afghanistan had started to turn the tide
against the Taliban. 'We have been at this for about seven months
now and I believe we have made progress,' General Stanley McChrystal
said in an interview with ABC Television. But he added: 'It is not a
completed mission yet.'"

News Story: U.S. Rushing More Drones To Afghanistan: Report - "The
Nation" (01/12)

"The increasing number of U.S. drones over Afghanistan are producing
so much video intelligence that military analysts are finding it
hard to keep up, a leading American newspaper reported Monday. Air
Force drones collected nearly three times as much video over
Afghanistan and Iraq last year as in 2007 - about 24 years' worth if
watched continuously, the New York Times said in a dispatch. That
volume is expected to multiply in the coming years as drones are
added to the fleet and as some start using multiple cameras to shoot
in many directions."

News Story: U.K., U.S. Officials' Visits Criticized In Senate: Call
For Judicial Probe Into Karachi Incidents - "Dawn" (01/12)

"Senators called on Monday for a judicial inquiry into the Karachi
attack on an Ashura procession and subsequent acts of arson and loot
and target killings and expressed concern over the deteriorating law
and order situation in the city.... Mian Raza Rabbani of the ruling
Pakistan People's Party stunned the house when he condemned frequent
visits to Islamabad by American and British officials, like Richard
Holbrooke and David Miliband, and termed their statements as
interference in internal affairs of the country. He asked the
Foreign Office to take notice of such statements which infringed on
the independence and sovereignty of Pakistan. Mr. Rabbani and Deputy
Chairman of Senate Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali moved an adjournment
motion condemning harsh security checks introduced by the United
States at its airports for citizens of several countries, including
Pakistan. They called upon the government to give a matching
response to the humiliating steps introduced for Pakistanis
travelling to the U.S."

News Story: Pay U.S. In The Same Coin, Senators Demand - "The
Nation" (01/12)

"The Senate members also expressed great concern over the enhanced
screening procedures including full-body pat-downs and extra hand
luggage searches for Pakistanis flying to America and called for the
similar treatment with the U.S. nationals. The members were of the
view that such a treatment is tantamount to insult to the whole
nation and the country."

News Story: Complete Shutter Down In Quetta - "The Nation" (01/12)

"A complete shutter-down and wheel jam strike was observed in Hub
town while protest rallies were taken out in different districts of
Balochistan by Baloch nationalist parties and student organizations
to protest the alleged target killings of Baloch in Karachi
allegedly by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)."

News Story: Six NATO Troops Killed In Afghanistan - "Daily Times"
(01/12)

"Six members of the NATO-led military force in Afghanistan were
killed on Monday in battles with Taliban insurgents and a roadside
bomb attack, making it one of the bloodiest days for foreign troops
in months."

News Story: Troops Kill Eight Taliban In South Waziristan - "Daily
Times" (01/12)

"Security forces on Monday killed eight Taliban while a soldier was
martyred in clashes with terrorists in the ongoing operation in
South Waziristan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations."


News Story: Moot Urges U.S. To Hold Talks With Taliban - "Daily
Times" (01/12)

"Speakers at a seminar on Monday said the U.S. should negotiate with
the Taliban before it ended up in another Vietnam-like situation.
According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Institute of
National Affairs (PINA),Lahore, the seminar was attended by a
number of retired army officers, political personalities and
citizens."

POLITICAL ISSUES

News Story: World Talks On Afghanistan, Pakistan Today - "Daily
Times" (01/12)

"Delegations from 40 nations will meet in Abu Dhabi today (Tuesday)
to discuss the problems currently being faced by Afghanistan and
Pakistan, an Emirati official said on Monday. The official said the
Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Qatar and the
United Arab Emirates would also attend the gathering."

News Story: Row In NA Over 'Fight-Back' By Zardari - "Dawn" (01/12)


"The government and the opposition crossed swords over a perceived
political fight back by President Asif Ali Zardari at the start of a
National Assembly session on Monday after both sides agreed to put
off a debate on Karachi violence until Wednesday."

ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT

News Story: Pakistan Expects $1.8 Bn From Fodp By June: Tarin - "The
News" (01/12)

"Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has said Pakistan expects to get
U.S. $1.8 billion by June this year. 'We are gradually and slowly
receiving pledges and commitments from the Friends of Democratic
Pakistan and by June 2010, we will get U.S. $1.8 billion,' he said
while addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Finance in
Islamabad on Monday."

News Story: Terminally Ill Pak Steel Displays Might Of Corruption In
Pakistan - "The News" (01/12)

"Corruption has been taken to new heights in Pakistan as Prime
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's government has allowed key accused
persons in corruption cases worth billions of rupees registered by
his own government to continue managing the affairs of the
collapsing and bankrupt Pakistan Steel. The business group accused
by the government investigators of causing billions of rupees of
losses to the national institution has not been blacklisted or even
barred from doing business with Pakistan Steel."

News Story: Steel Mills Corruption Being Legalized - "The News"
(01/12)

"Top secret official documents to be unfolded in the Economic
Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet here Tuesday (today),
reveal how conveniently a 'clean chit' was now quietly being given
to the dismissed top management of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSP) by
none other than Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on corruption
charges. The PSP, according to these papers, had earned a profit of
Rs2.4billion in 2007-2008 but suffered a mind-boggling loss of Rs20
billion in the following year (2008-2009)."

News Story: Gas Supply To Textile Units Stopped - "Dawn" (01/12)

"Textile mills and other production units in Punjab and the NWFP are
facing a grim situation because of the suspension of supply of
natural gas by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL).
Criticizing the suspension, chairman of the Punjab chapter of the
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Gohar Ejaz called for direct
intervention of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Natural
Resources and restoration of gas supply."

MISCELLANEOUS

News Story: Fake Passports Issued To Indians By Mission In Houston -
"Dawn" (01/12)

"Pakistan's Consul General in the U.S. city of Houston appeared in
an accountability court in Rawalpindi on Monday as a witness and
confirmed that fake Pakistani passports had been issued to Indian
citizens."

News Story: U.S. On Verge Of Iran Sanctions, Says Clinton - "Daily
Times" (01/12)

"The Obama administration has concluded that the best way to
pressure Iran to come clean on its nuclear ambitions is to impose
sanctions aimed at the country's ruling elite, Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton said on Monday."

EDITORIALS/OPINIONS

Editorial: Our Tax To GDP Ratio Is Indeed Abysmal, an editorial in
the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir.
25,000) (01/12)

"Patterson reiterated the Obama administration's commitment to the
development of Pakistan - a strategy considered to be targeted
towards ending fundamentalism and terrorism. She added that the U.S.
government was working closely with farmers on a cost-sharing basis
to replace or repair 11000 tube wells in the country as well as
underwriting several significant quick-impacting energy projects.
The U.S. public and private investment in Pakistan is considerable,
especially in comparison to other countries. And yet few in this
country endorse the drone attacks or indeed what they perceive as
American intransigence in insisting that the Pakistani armed forces
take on the Haqqani group in North Waziristan - or the Taliban, who
are targeting Afghanistan and not Pakistan. This makes it evident
that the U.S. strategy of extending financial assistance on the one
hand and demanding military operations on their targets, on the
other, coupled with increased drone attacks is not winning the
hearts and minds of the people of this country. Perhaps, financial
assistance, coupled with military assistance on the same pattern as
that provided by Bush to India may help to placate the people of
this country."

Editorial: President Zardari's Appeal Against Terrorism, an
editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir.
55,000) (01/12)

"During the course of the ongoing war on terror, the U.S.-Britain
alliance has assumed the status of a very dangerous and organized
imperialism. In Pakistan, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson enjoys
more freedom in her movements than the envoys of our brotherly
Muslim countries. Due to her unrestricted strolls in the corridors
of power as well as in other political powerhouses in the country,
including Nine-Zero in Karachi and Raiwind in Lahore, majority of
Pakistani people considers her the reminiscent of the viceroys
during the 'British Raj' in the Sub-continent. On the other hand,
the U.S. has made it mandatory for the Pakistani air travelers to
undergo an intense body-screening at its airports. We think that the
indomitability of China, North Korea and Iran must serve as a model
for our rulers in order to get rid of the American high-handedness."


Editorial: Threats On The Afghan Border, an editorial in the
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 5000) (01/10)

"It is not surprising if President Zardari is demanding that the
Pak-Afghan border be secured. Heroin, Kalashnikov, anti-human jihad
and illegal trade have all entered Pakistan through this border....
Pakistan forces have made full-fledged efforts to stop the movement
of terrorists along the Afghan border. For this purpose, Pakistan
has built 189 check-posts along the border even where the terrain is
difficult to navigate. On the other hand, Afghan and Allied forces'
check-posts are only a few dozen in number. There have also been
some reports that India is involved in creating unrest and
instability in Pakistan through Afghanistan. The international
community must give serious thought to President Zardari's demand if
it wants to save the region from a new crisis, and wants more
cooperation from Pakistan."

Editorial: "David Petraeus' Remarks, And The Point To Understand, an
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/10)


"According to David Petraeus' strange logic, while the Al Qaeda
leadership is shifting from South Asia to Yemen, Pakistan and
Afghanistan's tribal areas will remain the terrorist hub. This shows
that American policymakers are not serious in withdrawing troops
from Afghanistan, and they will continue to create problems in
Pakistan's tribal areas. [In contrast] what is actually needed is an
improvement in monitoring the routes Al Qaeda members and terrorists
use to go from one place to another. Al Qaeda can be dealt a severe
blow if these routes are checked thoroughly. The U.S. should pay
attention to this important point."

Editorial: General Petraeus' Threats: OIC Should Wake Up, an
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (01/12)

"U.S. CENTCOM Chief General Petraeus has said that the focus of U.S.
war on terror are the tribal areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan,
not Yemen.... It was only by declaring the war on terror a Crusade
that Bush secured the support of more than two dozen Christian
states.... Islamic countries and the OIC need to be cautious in this
scenario. OIC should unite the Muslim countries to fight these
conspiracies."

Editorial: The 'What Ifs', an editorial in the populist, often
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/12)


"The world is awash with 'what ifs' and our part of it rather more
than many others. The plethora of conspiracy theories that swirl
around our ankles are a subset of the 'what if' school of thought,
and now we have General Petraeus diving in. He tells CNN in an
interview aired on Sunday that Iran's nuclear facilities...'can be
bombed.'... The aftershocks, were the U.S. to bomb Iranian nuclear
facilities, may well trigger the definitive break between it and the
Muslim world. One might wonder if the 'what ifs' of that scenario
have been the subject of a table-top exercise or computer modeling."


Editorial: U.S. Adventurism, an editorial in the center-right
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/12)

"A most irresponsible statement has come from General Petraeus, head
of U.S. Central Command, in which he has declared that Iran's
nuclear sites can be bombed and that the Pentagon has plans for such
a contingency.... With such adventurism coming from the CENTCOM
Commander, the political route of dialogue with Iran already stands
undermined."

Editorial: An Unwise Petraeus, an editorial in the Lahore-based
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/12)

"General David Petraeus, who heads the U.S. Central Command
overseeing U.S. forces in the Middle East, Gulf, and Central Asia,
has made a very provocative statement regarding Iran.... It is
usually said that war is too serious a business to be left to the
generals. The same could be said of politics, which should not be
left to the generals either. General Petraeus has proved this
point.... The U.S. should work towards solving the issue through
diplomacy. An aggressive posture by the U.S. is bound to push the
world into chaos and disaster."

Editorial: Serious Implications Of Bombing Iran's N-Sites, an
editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan
Observer" (cir. 5,000) (01/12)

"Head of the U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus told CNN
television that his country can bomb Iranian nuclear sites and has
considered the impacts of any action taken there. Though it is an
open secret that the United States has serious reservations about
Iranian nuclear program but it is for the first time that a top U.S.
Commander has hurled naked threat of this kind. This shocking
statement clearly points out that Washington is bent upon making
mischief and its misadventure could further imperil the already
fragile peace in the region.... It, however, appears that the United
States is eager to find excuses to trigger a wider and deeper
conflict in the region to advance its nefarious designs."

Editorial: Possibility of U.S. Military Intervention in Yemen, an
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/12)

"It seems that for the time being the U.S. and its closest ally
Britain have postponed the idea of undertaking any adventure in
Yemen. Due to the fast-deteriorating security situation in
Afghanistan, Washington badly needs the Pakistan army's help to get
out of this quagmire. After military actions against Afghanistan and
Pakistan, the U.S. designs against Yemen must be an eye-opener for
the Muslim world. We think it is high time for the Muslims to forge
unity to foil the American conspiracies."

Editorial: Use Of The Word Allah, an editorial in the center-right
Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (01/12)

"According to an AFP report, angry protestors set another two
churches on fire in Malaysia on Sunday. The reason for this anger is
that according to some people, non-Muslims cannot use the term
"Allah."... One verse of the Holy Quran enjoins Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon him):" Ask the non-believers Who created the earth
and the skies, and they will cry out, 'It is Allah.'" If [the Holy
Quran] permitted the non-believers of Makkah to call the Creator
"Allah," what is the justification of stopping non-Muslims from
using this term?"

Opinion: McCain's Visit, A Letter to the Editor by Brig (Retd)
Liaqat Ali in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post"
(cir. 5,000) (01/12)

"The leader of the visiting four member delegation of American
Congress, Senator John McCain has stated that drone strikes are an
important tool in the overall U.S. strategy for victory and that
they have been very effective so far.... The Senator's 'proven
effective tool' of drone strikes will do no less, he may rest
assured. I am compelled to say this because the minimum damage to
innocent civilians (which he indirectly admits is caused by his
country's drones) does have the potential to germinate a desperate
urge for revenge in the hearts of the surviving kith and kin of
those innocent victims. And some part of what is fashionably called
'terrorism' in today's political jargon, does originate from this
urge for revenge. This is the reason that America must reconsider
her strategy of using drone strikes as a tool for winning the global
war on terror."


Opinion: U.S. Barricades Itself Into Self-Imposed Siege! Ominous
Beginning For New Year 2010!, an op-ed by Wajid Naeemuddin in the
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir.
25,000) (01/12)

"The new security measures will increase by a factor of hundreds
(maybe thousands),the resentment ordinary people will feel as they
are subjected to hours' long delays at airports, as well as the
humiliation of a body search by prying and intrusive hands. It is in
such an environment of pervasive hatred that the germs of terrorism
are born and thrive. America appears to be unmindful of the fact
that the restrictions of this kind are a two-edged sword and have an
unpleasant, both-ways impact.... By such Draconian measures, America
is increasingly putting itself under a self-imposed siege and is
itself getting a taste of the deprivation of freedom imposed in the
recent past on dozens of Asian and African countries, through
colonization and exploitation of every kind which has been a
prerogative of the West.... Perhaps the biggest blow dealt to date
to the American dream of subduing Afghan resistance was struck on 29
December 2009, when a CIA base in Afghanistan - the holy of holies
in terms of security - was penetrated by one, who was ostensibly
working for CIA, the powerful, biggest-ever,
clandestine-operations-specialist, super-secret American
organisation. Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal Al Balawi hated America for its
anti-Muslim policies and actions and struck when he saw his
long-awaited chance to deal a deadly blow aimed at CIA's very
heart."

Opinion: When Will They Learn?, an op-ed by Shaima Sumaya in the
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir.
5,000) (01/12)

"The Pakistani people in millions have no voice, no say, not even a
ripple effect in the running of the State. They must be provided
that. Pakistan must be run to their wishes and not to the wishes of
a political royalty. Most Pakistanis are enraged and offended by the
U.S. intervention in Pakistan. When the question was asked that will
Barak Obama's election boost democracy in Pakistan? Pakistanis
responded that any President means the same to them as the U.S.
threatens Pakistan's sovereignty. The "educated and moderate" class
of Pakistanis said that how can the U.S. be of any help to Pakistan
when they are in debt of U.S. $13 trillion and have a budget deficit
of U.S. $1 trillion FY 2009? However, it is essential that Pakistan
act like a responsible nation and assist the U.S. in the 'War on
Terror' without compromising their sovereignty, which it is at the
moment."

Opinion: Obama: Rhetoric Vs Reality, an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (01/12)

"In the transition from a powerful orator of soaring campaign
rhetoric to the real world of tough policy choices, questions were
raised about whether Obama had the determination to pursue the
agenda he had set. And priorities there were aplenty, inviting the
charge that he had scattered his focus. Critics portrayed him as a
leader good at launching initiatives but inconsistent in executing
or making them work. Meanwhile, his "lenient" treatment of bankers
in the financial bailout, failure to close down Guantanamo and
watering down of the healthcare plan evoked dismay within the
Democratic base, amid cries of betrayal of the 'transformational
agenda.' This was exemplified by an editorial in the New Republic
which said: 'A presidency that was born in enthusiasm has displayed
little evidence of it' in the first year."

Opinion: Lessons We Must Learn, an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News"
(cir. 55,000) (01/12)

"There are lessons to be learnt from the recent suicide bombing at
the secret CIA station in Afghanistan's Khost province bordering
Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region.... It showed how
widespread the animosity is among Muslims against the U.S. given its
policies and explained the way Islamic militants transcending
borders are increasingly joining hands to fight what they perceive
as a common enemy.... It should worry the U.S. and its allies that
Muslims the world over find it difficult to trust western nations.
This is benefiting the militants and providing justification to
their cause. The CIA agents were attacked because they were
directing U.S. drone attacks that kill some Al Qaeda and Taliban
members and many more civilians in Pakistan's tribal areas. The fact
that Islamic militants from different countries and cultures have
been planning and conducting joint operations against western
targets should be a matter of concern for the U.S. and its friends.
There should be some soul-searching on the part of all sides to the
conflict to think of other and preferably peaceful options instead
of embarking on revenge and continuing this vicious circle of death
and destruction."

Opinion: History Of The U.S. Afghan War, an op-ed by Arif Ayub in
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(01/12)

"Normally, one would expect a history to be written after the war is
over but the unusual step by the U.S. military basically illustrates
the strength of the U.S. institutions and the resilience of its
system. All bureaucracies make mistakes and the larger the
bureaucracy the bigger the mistake.... The history is a remarkable
document that provides an extremely frank assessment of the U.S. war
effort in Afghanistan; however, it suffers from a basic flaw that it
is essentially a military document and guerrilla warfare which
requires a political strategy.... There is a failure to admit that
the U.S. troops have essentially become sandbags for the Northern
Alliance. The objectives of counter terrorism and nation building
should never have been allowed to morph into a counter insurgency
operation. The security interests of Iran and Pakistan have been
completely ignored."

Opinion: One Day We All Will Be Terrorists!, an op-ed by Dr. Haider
Mehdi in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir.
20,000) (01/12)

"What we need is a revolutionary political leadership in this
country. We deserve a change in the political mindset and political
conduct of this nation's leaders. We need fresh leadership in
Pakistan. We all do not need to be politically loyal to our
contemporary political dispensation or to our present political
allies. We must completely reject a global political system of
U.S./West's dominance. We all ought to be political dissidents!
After all, dissent is a vital element of the democratic political
process. It is a duty of an engaged citizenry! One day we all might
be considered terrorists by our western 'friends.' Never mind. So be
it!"

Opinion: A New Terrorist Orient, an op-ed by Shahbaz Ahmed Cheema in
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000)
(01/12)

"Identity of individuals in this modern age is dependent on their
citizenship/nationality, which is being represented by passports. So
the passport is one of the very important identity markers in our
world.... One may ask that there are so many countries which have
not been included in that list and is this not sufficient to show
that this list has been prepared after extensive research and
analysis. Issue is not this that many countries have not been in the
list rather it is that why the whole population of any single
country is being portrayed as possessing same capacities and
potential just because of their geographical identity based on
passport. To me, it is not less than shaping and constructing of a
'New Terrorist Orient.'"

Opinion: Quadrilateral Ties, an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (01/12)

"One important component of the developing global structure is the
evolving relationship among four countries: China, India, Pakistan
and the U.S. Three of these countries are in Asia, the fourth is
still the only superpower in the global economic and political
systems. The most important of these relations are between the U.S.
and China, between India and China, between India and the U.S.,
between Pakistan and the U.S. and between India and Pakistan. Each
of these has its own dynamics. That said they together form a
quadrilateral relationship that is inherently unstable. The
challenge for these countries is to bring about stability to this
relationship in a way that it serves the interest of all four
countries.... The quadrilateral relationship can become stable if
the four countries sit around the table - a G-4 arrangement - to
work out how they can move forward so that none is hurt and all
benefit."

(All circulation figures are based on estimation)
Patterson