MEDIA REACTION: TERRORISM/INDIA-PAKISTAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000292 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: TERRORISM/INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, IRAN, AFGHANISTAN; 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. -------------- TERRORISM/INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS -------------- ¶1. "ENVIRONMENT BEFORE TALKS," editorial in February 14 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Only a miracle can make the India-Pakistan talks work in the wake of the rhetoric from both sides. It is a result of India's weak diplomacy that Pakistan keeps raising the Kashmir issue, whereas India should be surrounding the latter on the issue of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. India should make some fundamental changes in its Kashmir policy. This dialogue may make Pakistan and the U.S. happy, but India will not gain anything from of it." ¶2. "PUNE TERROR ATTACK: TERRORISTS ARE AT HOME," editorial in February 15 left-of-center Marathi daily, LOKSATTA: "India's administrators have not yet realized the seriousness of the bomb blast in Pune. It was likely an attack on foreigners in India, particularly Americans. There is another possibility - Islamic extremists from across the border are seething with anti-Israel sentiment and want to take it out on America for its pro-Israel foreign policy." ¶3. "A SECURITY ISSUE FOR INDIA: PUNE ATTACK," editorial in February 15 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "India is a soft target for groups like Lashkar." ¶4. "SHOULD WE HOLD BILATERAL TALKS WITH PAKISTAN?" editorial in February 16 centrist Marathi daily, PRAHAR: "The opposition parties, especially the BJP, has objected to the forthcoming foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan, more so in the context of the Pune terror attack, which is seen as another terror assault from across the India-Pakistan border. It will be difficult for the government to decide if it should or should not hold any dialogue with this rogue neighbor. If the Pune terror conspiracy clearly points an accusing finger at Pakistan, or if some startling revelation comes in the days before the February 25 talks deadline, India will definitely have to take a clear policy decision on this count." ¶5. "ONE MORE SLAP IN THE FACE," editorial in February 15 right-of-center Gujarati daily, GUJARAT SAMACHAR: "The Pune bomb blast is a slap in the face of our government that has been bragging about the security apparatus in place after the Mumbai attacks. Indian leaders don't seem to care for citizens lives." ¶6. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF DIALOGUE WITH PAKISTAN?" editorial in February 16 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "The shadow of the Pune bomb blast looms large over the scheduled dialogue process NEW DELHI 00000292 002 OF 003 with Pakistan. Maybe America's pressure is behind India's eagerness to start the dialogue process with Pakistan. Besides, Pakistani authorities have been trumpeting that it is India that is craving for dialogue in the first place. Can any peace talks yield any fruitful results under such a climate?" ¶7. "CARELESS AND NEUTRAL ADMINSTRATION," editorial in February 16 right-of-center Gujarati daily, MUMBAI SAMACHAR: "America has pressured India and created a safety net for Pakistan. America is doing all this so that its soldiers remain safe in Iraq and Afghanistan where the Pakistani soldiers can confront the Taliban. What is safety of India and her citizens in midst of such politics?" ¶8. "LET THE TALKS START," editorial in February 16 Leftist Kolkata Bengali daily, GANASHAKTI: "Even the fools understand that terrorists are desperate to continue their attacks on Indian targets. So, it would be meaningless to please them by postponing resumption of Indo-Pak talks. There are lots of important issues related to improvement and livelihood of people in both countries. The ray of hope will emerge only if Pakistan prioritizes counterterrorism efforts. India too will have to adopt effective ways of combating terrorism." ¶9. "IT HAPPENED ONCE AGAIN," editorial in February 15 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "Once again the progress in Indo-Pak dialogue is about to be sabotaged by acts of terrorism. Whenever these two countries are about to sit for talks, an act of terrorism takes place. No doubt, the first and foremost objective of bombers is to sabotage the efforts of restoring peace in the sub-continent." -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶10. "IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITION," commentary in February 15 Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "The stricter the West becomes, the more rebellious Iran emerges on its nuclear program. Iran needs to be taken seriously." ¶11. "IRAN'S GROWL," editorial in February 13 Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "Iran may have announced its new nuclear achievement, but can it be called a nuclear power? Ahmadinejad's declaration on the occasion of the 31st anniversary of Islamic Revolution is ridiculous. Iran, actually, wants to divert attention from its internal challenges by focusing on nukes. Iran's new generation believes in economic reforms and modernity. But, the government tries to suppress the resistance either by projecting a fear of U.S. and Russia or through its nuclear tricks. Iran should better concentrate on its domestic problems instead of growling at external forces." -------------- AFGHANISTAN NEW DELHI 00000292 003 OF 003 -------------- ¶12. "AFGHANISTAN AT PAKISTAN'S MERCY," op-ed article in February 15 Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "If Afghanistan's future goes according to the London conference decision, it will cause serious problems in the Indian subcontinent. Firstly, the West will present Afghanistan to Pakistan, which it believes to be capable of preventing the Al-Qaida from growing. Secondly, Pakistan's diplomatic intervention will rapidly aggravate tension in Kashmir. Thirdly, the Muslim community will incline towards radicalism having expelled two superpowers from Afghanistan within three decades. Since India has been kept out of the London Conference, it should reconsider its policy of not sending its army abroad." ROEMER