MEDIA REACTION: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000333 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: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN, PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEETING WITH DALAI LAMA, OBAMA PRESIDENCY, IRAN, TERRORISM, NAXALISM; 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. -------------- AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN -------------- ¶1. "WHY AF-PAK IS IMPORTANT TO INDIA-PAKISTAN TALKS," op-ed in February 22 Hindi daily, NAVBHARAT TIMES: "India-Pakistan relations changed course all of a sudden after the London conference. It is bizarre the way India suddenly did an about-turn on Pakistan, offering talks. Was it an independent decision, or under the secret pressure of another nation? One can expect America and other western countries to support Pakistan. This is because they want to get out of Afghanistan as soon as possible and leave Pakistan to take on the mantle. Pakistan wants to regain its edge over India in Afghanistan. In this endeavor, Pakistan will now find the support of the West." -------------- PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEETING WITH DALAI LAMA -------------- ¶2. "BEIJING'S RAGE," editorial in February 23 independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: "President Obama's historic meeting with the Dalai Lama will possibly generate a crisis in global politics. The outcome of the talks implies that Washington has taken a diplomatic stand against Beijing. To what extent U.S. interests would suffer owing to China's fury is not clear yet. However, India's diplomatic importance is set to rise at least for the time being in South Asia as a counterbalance to China." -------------- OBAMA PRESIDENCY -------------- ¶3. "WHY IS OBAMA SCARED?" editorial in February 22 RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "President Barack Obama who is trying to wake up his nation by citing the rapid progress being made by China and India. Obama seems to be resorting to this meaningless exercise to divert the nation's attention from his own failings. He should desist from citing India and China repeatedly, as that will fuel resentment against these countries among American youth." ¶4. "AMERICA'S NUCLEAR PATH: OBAMA'S NEW DECISION FOR GEORGIA," editorial in February 23 left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "President Obama's $8 billion loan guarantee for a nuclear power plant in Georgia shows his policy priorities. Despite the stiff resistance to nuclear plants, Obama has decided to intensify his administration's efforts to use nuclear power and alternative energy sources to lessen American NEW DELHI 00000333 002 OF 002 dependence on foreign oil and other fossil fuels which are responsible for climate change." -------------- IRAN -------------- ¶5. "ONE MORE HEROIC DEED OF IRAN", editorial in February 21 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Iran has launched it warship Jamaran, demonstrating the heroism of its scientists. America and Israel have been making efforts to turn the region's Muslim countries away from Iran. There are two objectives -- first, to stop the Gulf region's Muslim countries from mending their relations with Iran, and second, to enhance the sale of weapons worth billions of dollars to Muslim countries. Everyone knows that Muslim countries are the biggest buyers of American weapons. America also does not want to see any Muslim country self-sufficient in the field of weapon production." -------------- TERRORISM -------------- ¶6. "STATEMENT OF GRAND MUFTI", editorial in February 22 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "Saudi Arabia's highest religious command has called terrorism 'un-Islamic' and has condemned the killings of common people. Such strong attitude is the need of the hour. Today, only Islamic teachings can eradicate terrorism from the world. The only condition is that Western forces should change their attitudes, abandon their imperialist designs and stop killing innocent citizens. Only then will peace be possible." -------------- NAXALISM -------------- ¶7. "NAXALS' PRECONDITIONS CANNOT BE ACCEPTED," editorial in February 23 centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "The Naxals' demand that the government announce a ceasefire by suspending 'Operation Green Hunt' against them is completely preposterous as the Naxals have in the past violated the ceasefire. Demands and conditions by elements hostile to India's interests can never be accepted. Naxalism is a cancer plaguing the very idea of India and should be nipped in the bud." ROEMER