MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS,

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000323 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. "TALKS ONLY SOLUTION," editorial in February 21 centrist Hindi daily, DAINIK HINDUSTAN: "The India- Pakistan foreign secretary-level talks will soon start. Can any conflict be solved without talks? If the Taliban takes control of Pakistan, we will not be untouched either. We should give Pakistan moral support, and that is not possible without dialogue. India has shown strategic humbleness by proposing talks. It is diplomatically also in India's interest. At the same time, one should also not have high expectations from this dialogue." ¶2. "ROOTS OF TERROR," op-ed in February 21 right-of- center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "After the Pune blast, the same old rhetoric has started in India about Pakistani involvement. Why does no one talk about our [India's] own weaknesses? Has any terror happened in the U.S. after 9/11? One may explain this by saying they do not share their border with a hostile nation like we do with Pakistan. But then what do you say about Israel, a country standing tall despite being surrounded by enemies? Israel's enemies know not to mess around with it. India needs to be a strong state, not soft. Therein is the answer to preventing terror." ¶3. "DEVIOUS PAK; DESPERATE INDIA," op-ed article in February 21 centrist Marathi daily, SAKAL: "Pakistan, as usual, has not been very open in cooperating with India in the investigation of the Pune bomb blast, the latest terrorist incident in which Pakistan's extremist forces could have a role to play. At this point, India cannot lose its calm over this issue. It can raise valid points at the forthcoming bilateral talks. But there is no point in stalling the dialogue." -------------- U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS -------------- ¶4. "THE LIMITATIONS OF THE OBAMA-DALAI LAMA MEETING," editorial in February 22 centrist Marathi daily, LOKMAT: "It is rather welcome that President Obama met the Tibetan religious leader the Dalai Lama, despite Beijing's resistance. Yet this meeting cannot be called an official one. On the one hand, Obama wants China to know where it stands, but on the other hand, he does not want to give any clear message to Tibet about the U.S. stance vis-`-vis Tibet's struggle for independence." ROEMER