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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 24, 2008 
 
Summary:  The decision by the ruling coalition to pursue dialogue 
rather than military operations in FATA dominated headlines in all 
newspapers on Thursday.  Newspapers reported that a meeting in this 
regard, chaired by the Prime Minister Gilani, decided to let the 
parliament evolve a greater consensus against extremism.  In a 
front-page report, the English daily "The News" quoted an unnamed 
American official as saying that Pakistan portrays a worst-case 
scenario in the present circumstances.  Another story in the same 
paper revealed that U.S. officials will deliver several key policy 
messages next week to the Prime Minister Gilani during his upcoming 
visit.  Riyadh's denial that the bomber of the Danish embassy in 
Islamabad was a Saudi national also figured prominently. 
 
Several newspapers ran editorials on the situation in Afghanistan 
and Taliban. The English daily "Dawn" observed that the sources of 
Taliban funding must be destroyed and if ISAF is not going to do 
this, it is Pakistan's job to move into Afghanistan and destroy 
poppy fields and laboratories.  The leading Urdu daily, "Jang," 
observed that the intention of the U.S. charges about the presence 
of Taliban and Al-Qaeda operatives in Pakistani tribal areas is now 
crystal-clear; it wants to hit these areas.  Another Urdu daily, 
"Ausaf," opined that it is now obvious that the United States will 
not refrain from violating Pakistan's border and airspace on mere 
weak protest or complaints; Pakistan will have to abandon 
expediencies and bid adieu to U.S. financial help, and talk to the 
U.S. administration straightforwardly.  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
¶1.  "Coalition Leaders Go For Talks In FATA; Parliament To Evolve 
Greater Consensus Against Extremism" "The News" (07/24) 
 
"Leaders of the ruling coalition in their meeting here on Wednesday 
resolved to pursue dialogue rather than military operation in the 
militancy-hit FATA, saying force would be used only as the last 
resort.  The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza 
Gilani.  The coalition partners agreed that parliament would discuss 
the formulation of a national policy to mobilize the public support 
for greater consensus on Pakistan's battle against extremism and 
militancy." 
 
¶2.  "Pakistan In A Worst-Case Mode, Says U.S. Official" "The News" 
(07/24) 
 
"Presently, Pakistan portrays a worst-case scenario because the 
government in Islamabad instead of aggressively pursuing the 
militants in the tribal areas was offering them sanctuaries in 
return for a ceasefire, a top U.S. official has said in a deep 
background briefing.  The terror-related fatalities in Pakistan, the 
official admitted, had increased three times since 2006, but the 
government was unable to understand that the militants wanted to 
destabilize the country." 
 
¶3.  "U.S. Overcomes Musharraf-Phobia To Back New Set-Up" "The News" 
(07/24) 
 
"Several key policy messages will be delivered next week to Prime 
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and his coalition partners, including a 
firm assurance that Washington had got over its Musharraf phobia and 
was willing wholeheartedly to politically and economically support 
the new government, a senior diplomat in Washington said on 
Wednesday." 
 
¶4.  "Saudi Arabia Refutes Al Qaeda Claim About Bomber's Identity" 
"Dawn" (07/24) 
 
"Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Pakistan denied an Al Qaeda claim that 
a suicide attacker who bombed the Danish Embassy in Islamabad last 
month was a Saudi, in comments published on Wednesday." 
 
¶5.  "'Surrender' Of Taliban Commander Raises West Hopes" "Dawn" 
(07/24) 
 
"Western officials in the past have suspected the Pakistani security 
services of turning a blind eye to the presence of Taliban leaders 
in Quetta.  Recent unpublicized arrests in Quetta, however, raised 
hopes of a sea-change in Pakistan, a senior western official 
said....  A statement issued by British forces in Afghanistan late 
on Tuesday said Mullah Rahim, operational commander of the Taliban 
forces in Helmand, had surrendered to 'authorities in Pakistan.'" 
 
¶6.  "300 People On Baitullah Mehsud's Hit List" "Daily Times" 
(07/24) 
 
"The intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been put on high 
alert based on the news that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief 
Baitullah Mehsud has prepared a hit list of around 300 high-profile 
figures, including political leaders." 
 
¶7.  "Hangu Operation Halted: ISPR" "Dawn" (07/24) 
 
"Army wound up its week-long operation in the troubled Hangu 
district on Wednesday evening after flushing out militants and 
taking control of the area, said the military spokesman 
Director-General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), 
Maj-Gen Athar Abbas on Wednesday." 
 
¶8.  "U.S. Expert Defends Pakistan Military Aid" "The News," "The 
Post" (07/24) 
 
"The United States and Pakistan currently have a relatively high 
point of military relationship despite ups and downs, a noted 
American defence expert said, while also strongly defending the U.S. 
security assistance for Islamabad's conventional balance with India. 
 "Today, the relationship is a relatively high point," defence 
analyst David Smith said." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
¶9.  "Across The Durand Line," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/24) 
 
"The biggest blot on the U.S.-led forces is their inability to cut 
off the Taliban's sources of funding and arms supply....  The 
sources of the Taliban's funding must be destroyed, and if ISAF is 
not going to do this, do they think it is Pakistan's job to move 
into Afghanistan and destroy those poppy fields and the 
laboratories?" 
 
¶10.  "More U.S. Troops To Afghanistan," an editorial in the leading 
mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (07/24) 
 
"According to some media reports, the United States is planning to 
dispatch 11,000 additional troops to Afghanistan next year.  The 
intention of the U.S. charges about presence of Taliban and Al-Qaeda 
operatives in Pakistani tribal areas is now crystal-clear; it wants 
to hit these areas.  NATO's violations of Pakistani border and 
airspace also make public their objectives.  The visit of Democratic 
presidential aspirant Barack Obama to Afghanistan and Iraq is also 
making this perception stronger.  Therefore, it is crucial that the 
government open its eyes, discontinue military operations in FATA at 
once, and opt to decide issues through nonviolent dialogue process." 
 
 
¶11.  "Need To Adopt Bold Stand To Stop Foreign Intervention," an 
editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 
10,000) (07/24) 
 
"It is now obvious that the United States will not refrain from 
violating Pakistani borders and airspace on mere weak protest or 
complaints.  Pakistan will have to abandon expediencies and bid 
adieu to U.S. financial help, and talk to the U.S. administration 
straightforwardly.  The nation will certainly support the rulers on 
that move, if they choose to talk to Americans decisively." 
 
¶12.  "American Desire To Take Action In Tribal Areas," an editorial 
in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (07/24) 
 
"The recent statements of Asif Zardari, PM Gilani, and the NWFP 
government show that now the government is not in a mood to talk to 
the Taliban any further.  And perhaps, it may launch a military 
operation to wipe out 'terrorists' from FATA before PM Gilani leaves 
for Washington.  What will be the outcome of that military 
adventure?  It is not very difficult to figure out for the Pakistani 
people, as they have been bearing the brunt of such exploits for the 
last six or seven years." 
 
¶13.  "Taliban's Deadline," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) 
(07/24) 
 
"The Government hasn't taken note of the Taliban deadline and the 
operation in Hangu and Swat continues.  Even on the expiration of 
the deadline, the Taliban have stressed the need for dialogue; the 
Frontier government also wants dialogue.  But which is the force in 
Islamabad that is not letting the two sides hold talks?  On the 
other hand, who are the people raising arms despite the Taliban's 
declaration of peace?  The Taliban should expel such anti-peace 
people from their ranks and support the government in bringing them 
to justice." 
 
¶14.  "Rare Insight," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/24) 
 
"The interview with Mustafa Abu Al Yazid, a senior Al Qaeda 
commander who is believed to be third in its hierarchy, gives an 
insight into the thinking of extremism.  The charge that Pakistan, 
more than any other country, had inflicted the most damage on Al 
Qaeda is one that goes to prove Islamabad's consistent assertion 
before Washington that it is locked in an all-out battle against 
terrorists and is not, as has been alleged, colluding with them." 
 
¶15.  "Strained Talks," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/24) 
 
"At present, Kabul and New Delhi seem to be batting on the same 
team.  The U.S. too appears to tilt towards them, and this leaves 
Pakistan rather isolated.  This is clearly undesirable.  Improved 
regional ties, particularly with India, are central to betterment in 
Pakistan's economic situation.  Analysts have also pointed out such 
warmer relations could also help challenge militancy in the country, 
by encouraging people to look eastwards, towards the multicultural 
reality of the subcontinent and our roots within it, rather than 
towards the west and the more militant, violent legacy of militancy 
that has come from Afghanistan." 
 
¶16.  "The Threat Remains," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (07/24) 
 
"The government has reiterated its stance that it is committed to a 
negotiated settlement of the conflict and has pointed out that the 
situation in Hangu had compelled it to have recourse to force.  The 
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan should show willingness to accept the 
offer and withdraw its ultimatum, realizing the fact that attempts 
at violating the writ of the state would not be tolerated.  The two 
sides must work hard to make the talks successful so that peace, 
once returned to the area, becomes durable." 
 
¶17.  "Political Equality For FATA," an editorial in the country's 
premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) 
(07/24) 
 
"To insist that the ongoing insurgency in the tribal areas is the 
exclusive outcome of Afghan Jihad would not be fair; the fact is 
these areas and their people have been treated differently, if not 
discriminately, not only by the colonial power but Pakistan 
governments as well.  Under the Constitution, they have a different 
status that tends to hinder their fuller political, social and 
economic growth." 
 
¶18.  "The Afghan Odyssey," an op-ed by Ikram Sehgal in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/24) 
 
"Before venturing into FATA militarily we should have not only 
war-gamed the consequences but trained our troops in the type of 
counter-insurgency being faced by Coalition troops across the 
border.  Frontier warfare or guerrilla warfare as taught in Command 
and Staff College is outdated.  Air mobility and electronic 
capability that the Coalition possesses is a critical necessity for 
us, this we have only partially.  In this type of terrain it is 
virtually impossible to counter an insurgency without exploiting the 
heliborne potential." 
 
 
Patterson