O 270937Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9478
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
INFO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 
USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 
THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY PARIS 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 
HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 003383 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: OCTOBER 27, 2008 
 
Summary:  Prime Minister Gilani's statement terming the U.S. raids 
as "disastrous" dominated headlines in all newspapers on Monday. 
Also front paged were reports that the "U.S. spy drones fired 
missiles in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing seven 
people."  Newspapers also reported that "younger brother of 
Baitullah Mehsud was killed by armed men."  Reports on the killing 
of "11 militants by security forces during operations in Bajaur 
Agency" also figured prominently.  All newspapers also front paged 
reports that "10 troops were killed in a suicide attack in Mohmand 
Agency." 
 
Different themes prevailed on the editorial pages with most major 
dailies opting to comment on the local political developments.  The 
English newspaper, "Daily Times," noted that "there is a dire need 
for the generation of a local economy to remove reliance on 
smuggling.  In some ways the local tribes are dependent for their 
incomes today on the "foreigners" brought in by Al Qaeda.  The Al 
Qaeda economy must be replaced by Bajaur's own, brought in by the 
state agencies from outside with the help of the international 
community."  The liberal Urdu daily, "Express," wrote: "The message 
hidden in the attack is that America does not want a change in the 
war on terror policy of former president Pervez Musharraf."   The 
second-largest Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" commenting on the violation 
of Pakistan's territory by U.S. drones observed that "would not 
Pakistan Army retaliate if India followed the pattern of U.S. or 
NATO attacks and attacked Azad Kashmir or Pakistan territory just 
because it had not been authorized by the government?  America would 
not stop the attacks unless given effective response."  End Summary. 
 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
¶1.  "Gilani Terms U.S. Raids Disastrous" "Dawn" (10/27) 
 
"U.S. attacks in tribal areas are harming the government's efforts 
to isolate extremists and mobilize people against militancy, 
according to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani.  Addressing a press 
conference after returning from Beijing on Sunday, the prime 
minister criticized the Inspector-General of the Frontier Corps for 
saying that the military operation in Bajaur Agency might last 
another year, asserting that any decision about the timing of the 
army's withdrawal from tribal areas would be taken by his 
government." 
 
¶2.  "Suspected U.S. Strike Kills Seven" "Dawn" (10/27) 
 
"Suspected U.S. spy drones fired missiles on Sunday into an alleged 
militant compound in a tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing at 
least seven people, security officials said." 
 
¶3.  "Qazi Warns Of Separatism In Tribal Areas" "The News" (10/27) 
 
"Jamaat-e-Islami Amir Qazi Hussain Ahmad has warned that the 
operation in tribal areas was creating a separatist movement, which 
may lead to another disintegration of the country." 
 
¶4.  "Military Operation An Insult To Parliament, Says Fazl" "The 
News" (10/27) 
 
"The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman, 
has said military operation in the tribal areas and 
non-implementation of unanimous resolution adopted by the Parliament 
is an insult to the Parliament." 
 
¶5.  "Baitullah's Brother Killed" "Dawn" (10/27) 
 
"A younger brother of Baitullah Mehsud, the Chief of 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, was killed by armed men in Bannu on 
Sunday morning." 
 
¶6.  "11 Militants Killed In Bajaur" "Dawn" (10/27) 
 
"At least 11 militants were killed and six others injured by 
security forces during Operation Sherdil in different parts of 
Bajaur Agency on Sunday." 
 
¶7.  "10 Troops Killed In Mohmand Suicide Attack" "The News" (10/27) 
 
"A suicide bomber blew up an explosives-laden vehicle late Sunday at 
a paramilitary check-post in the northwest Mohmand Agency, killing 
10 and injuring five security force personnel, Geo TV quoted 
security officials as saying." 
 
¶8.  "Tribesmen Stand Up To Taliban; Lose 12, Kill 7" "Dawn" (10/27) 
 
"Twelve Jirga members were executed and seven militants, including 
commander Mulla Shamsher, were killed in fighting between a tribal 
force and militants loyal to radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah in 
Swat valley on Sunday." 
 
¶9.  "Pak-Afghan Mini Jirga Begins Today" "The News" (10/27) 
 
"The Pak-Afghan Mini Jirga is set to begin today (Monday) in 
Islamabad, which would be attended by representatives from all the 
political parties of both the countries." 
 
¶10.  "Arrested American Is A 'School Dropout'" "The News" (10/27) 
 
"The American youth arrested by security forces while entering 
Mohmand Agency on October 13 is a high school dropout, who preferred 
to settle back in Pakistan after failing to find a better career in 
the U.S., sources told 'The News.'" 
 
¶11.  "President to Leave For U.S. On November 10" "The Post" 
(10/27) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari will leave for U.S. on November 10, 
where he will attend the inter-religious conference scheduled at the 
UN Headquarters. It is likely that the U.S. President, George W. 
Bush will also be attending this meeting." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
¶12.  "Bajaur: An Interim Assessment," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (10/27) 
 
"There is a dire need for the generation of a local economy to 
remove reliance on smuggling.  This is the aspect of the problem 
that has not been looked at before.  In some ways the local tribes 
are dependent for their incomes today on the "foreigners" brought in 
by Al Qaeda.  The Al Qaeda economy must be replaced by Bajaur's own, 
brought in by the state agencies from outside with the help of the 
international community." 
 
¶13.  "Preparation Of Operation In Mohmand Agency After Bajaur," an 
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (10/27) 
 
"Pakistan having been declared as battle field by President Bush 
made it clear that efforts were afoot to destabilize it.  U.S. 
military attacks inside Pakistan are aimed at the objective. 
Consider U.S. attitude; it launched missile strikes on Pakistan only 
six hours after its parliament passed resolution vis-`-vis the war 
against terrorism.  The message hidden in the attack is that America 
does not want a change in the war on terror policy of former 
president Pervez Musharraf....  It is better for the militants to 
surrender and be prepared for talks.  This is the way out of the 
current bloodshed.  Otherwise foreign forces want to destabilize 
Pakistan to attain their nefarious objectives." 
 
¶14.  "Constant Violation Of Airspace: Pak Army Should Fulfill 
Defense Obligation," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) 
(10/27) 
 
"Would not Pakistan Army retaliate if India followed the pattern of 
U.S. or NATO attacks and attacked Azad Kashmir or Pak territory just 
because it had not been authorized by the government?  America would 
not stop the attacks and giving patronage to Indo-Afghan 
conspiracies unless given effective response....  Pakistan Army 
should prove that it is ever vigilant and will not disappoint the 
nation." 
 
¶15.  "Operation Continues Even After The Resolution," an editorial 
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" 
(cir. 5,000) (10/27) 
 
"The gains of the security forces in Bajaur are appreciable as they 
have captured stronghold of militants and this would have salutary 
impact on the overall situation in FATA.  Yet worrisome to note is 
that even those spearheading the campaign against terror are talking 
about continuation of the operation for over one year.  This speaks 
volumes about the ground situation and calls for measures on war 
footing that could lead to early winding up of the operation." 
 
¶16.  "Break With The Past," an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (10/27) 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani's observation 
that the Army is bound to follow decisions of Parliament represents 
a welcome departure from the past when those nursing Bonapartist 
notions were not only reluctant to obey the civilian authorities, 
but had also been instrumental in the sacking of elected 
governments...  General Kayani's comment comes on the heels of 
Parliament's resolution on terrorism....  It should be satisfying 
for the democratic leadership to see the military top brass endorse 
its policies and express readiness to execute them without seeking a 
role in the decision-making process." 
 
¶17.  "Parliament Resolution implementation," an op-ed by M. Ashraf 
Mirza in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan 
Observer" (cir. 5,000) (10/27) 
 
"The Drones' attacks still persist with no let up whatsoever 
apparently because there may be an element of truth in the U.S. 
contention that it's being done with Islamabad's passive 
approval....  There can hardly be two opinions about the fact that 
the US cannot fight its war on terror without Pakistan's military 
and logistical support.  Yet we are at the receiving end....  The 
present government is obviously in a better position to talk plainly 
and firmly to Washington on the national interests." 
 
¶18.  "What Went Wrong In Afghanistan?," an op-ed by Nauman Asghar in 
the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) 
(10/27) 
 
"The U.S. must admit the fact that in the absence of political 
reconciliation and without bringing poppy cultivation under control, 
the task of restoring peace and normalcy to the war-ravaged country 
would be a fool's errand." 
 
 
Patterson