MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000265 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP, AC, PM STATE FOR INR/MR STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU STATE FOR AID/APRE-A USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS; NEW DELHI. This countrywide cable reports on relevant media reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. The Mission reports on English-language media via email through the daily "Early Edition" summary. -------------- INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "SUCCESS OF TALKS DEPENDS ON PAK ARMY," commentary by former Indian Ambassador to U.S. Naresh Chandra in February 8 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Although Pakistan has been dragging its feet on booking the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, India has done the right thing by extending its hand for talks. It is up to General Kiyani to make or mar the success of this initiative. Is India being soft in proposing talks? Yes of course, but someone had to do it! Was it American pressure? Maybe yes, but that's not new -- there has been international pressure on both India and Pakistan for over four decades." ¶2. "EVEN WE SAY-LOVE PAKISTAN," op-ed in February 8 Hindi daily, NAVBHARAT TIMES: "The Times of India and the Jang Group of Pakistan have developed a track 2 initiative called Aman ki Asha [hope for peace]. The buzzword of this campaign is - love thy neighbor. The idea of loving Pakistan can be blasphemous in India, because our psyche has been trained to think otherwise. But this is an idea whose time has come. We should erase false boundaries, because ultimately we are the same people." ¶3. "INDO-PAK DIALOGUE," editorial in February 8 right- of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "Pakistan has accepted India's proposal for foreign secretary level bilateral talks. It means dialogue between India and Pakistan is about to resume. However, both countries are unyielding over their respective stands. For India, the subject of mutual talks should be terrorism particularly, the trans-border terrorism, while Pakistan is adamant to resume comprehensive talks. This kind of finger-pointing has to stop, or else only extremists will benefit." ¶4. "EXTREMISM DOMINATES OVER PAKISTAN'S POLITICS," editorial in February 8 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF: "In different cities of Pakistan, Jamaat-ud- Dawah's speeches on the occasion of Kashmir Solidarity Day make one feel that there is a government parallel to the Zardari government in Pakistan which is being headed by Hafiz Saeed. These furious speeches have been delivered at a time when India and Pakistan are preparing to resume bilateral talks once again. If Pakistan is desirous of a consolidated dialogue, it will have to quiet these irrational voices which want bloodshed." ¶5. "HOPE PAKISTAN MATURES A BIT," op-ed in February 9 centrist Marathi daily, SAKAAL: "Pakistan's invitation to resume foreign secretary level bilateral talks with NEW DELHI 00000265 002 OF 002 India is more than welcome. Both India and Pakistan, but particularly the latter, is ravaged by the insurgent activities of extremist terrorist groups. In such circumstances, it is good to meet at the negotiating table. But one hopes the Pakistani administrators come to the table with some wisdom and maturity, unlike in the earlier times when they came up with their sly and unacceptable agenda of Kashmir." -------------- U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS -------------- ¶6. "TENSION IN U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS," op-ed in centrist Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "China has reacted irately to America's decision to sell arms to Taiwan. China perceives the U.S stance as a gross intervention into China's internal affairs and a roadblock in its reunification efforts. Now that China has threatened to retaliate, the U.S. has to rethink about whether it can antagonize a major trading partner and a partner with common interests in the prevention and suppression of terrorism and nuclear proliferation." ROEMER