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TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
 
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: NOVEMBER 10, 2008 
 
Summary:  Articles on two bombing incidents by NATO jets and 
Pakistani security forces in Khyber Agency and Bajaur which killed 
22 made front-page headlines in several major dailies on Monday. 
The English daily, "The News," also highlighted the Salarzai tribal 
elders' resolve to "continue an armed drive against the militants." 
 National Security Advisor Mahmud Durrani's statement made in an 
interview with the Newsweek that "drone attacks are souring ties 
with the U.S." also received prominent display.  All newspapers also 
front paged reports that the "government widened dollar scam 
investigations." 
 
Several Urdu newspapers ran editorials on the alleged dollar scam. 
The Urdu daily, "Express," wrote: "The government should make an 
example of those who are involved in this heinous crime - no matter 
how influential they are."  Criticizing the alleged U.S. drone 
attacks on Pakistani tribal areas, the English daily, "The Post," 
noted that such attacks, in fact, "strengthen the terrorists instead 
of helping the cause of the war on terror... as militants take 
advantage of the situation and are able to lure more recruits into 
their fold."  Whereas, another English language daily, the "Pakistan 
Observer," noted that the "situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating 
with the passage of every day and the occupied country is slipping 
out of the grip of the United States and NATO forces."  End Summary. 
 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
¶1.  "NATO Jets Kill 8 Banned Outfit Members In Khyber" "Daily 
Times," "The Nation" (11/10) 
 
"NATO jets today bombed Tirah Valley in Khyber Agency, killing eight 
members of a banned outfit - Amar Bil Maroof - and injuring three, 
'Dawn News' reported.  The channel said the NATO jets targeted 
hideouts of the banned outfit in the Moga area near Torkham." 
 
¶2.  "14 Militants Killed In Bajaur" "Dawn" (11/10) 
 
"Fourteen militants and four non-combatants were killed when air 
force jets bombed militants' hideouts in Bajaur on Sunday, a 
political administration official said." 
 
¶3.  "Salarzais Hold Tight Against Militants" "The News" (11/10) 
 
"Undeterred by the recent suicide attack on a tribal Jirga that 
claimed 22 lives, the Salarzai tribal elders on Sunday resolved to 
continue their armed drive against the militants, Tribal sources 
told 'The News' from Bajaur on telephone." 
 
¶4.  "Drone Attacks Souring Ties With U.S., Says Durrani" "Dawn" 
(11/10) 
 
"National Security Adviser Maj-Gen (Retd) Mahmud Ali Durrani has 
warned the Bush administration that drone attacks inside Pakistan in 
pursuit of suspected terrorist targets continue to spoil relations 
between the U.S. and Pakistan.  'It is very distracting for us. 
There's collateral damage as well, which upsets the people. So it is 
not helping our plan.  It really throws a spanner in the works,' Mr. 
Durrani said in an interview published in the Newsweek on Sunday." 
 
¶5.  "Government Widens Dollar Scam Investigation" "Daily Times" 
(11/10) 
 
"The government widened investigations into the alleged smuggling of 
billions of dollars out of Pakistan, as the Federal Investigations 
Agency (FIA) questioned top officials of key moneychanger firm 
Khanani and Kalia International.  The sources said investigators had 
found important data from the firm's computers in its sealed II 
Chundrigar Road office after Kalia made new disclosures on Sunday." 
 
¶6.  "American Officials Monitoring Forex Scandal In Pakistan" 
"Ummat" (11/10) 
 
"The American officials are keeping an eye on the Pakistan's biggest 
foreign currency scandal.  FIA's cyber crime team has failed to get 
access to Khanani and Kaliya money changer company's computers. 
Sources to a private TV channel have disclosed that American 
officials suspected that foreign money changers companies may have 
provided money to extremist militant groups. 
 
¶7.  "IMF Conditions Not Hard: Tarin" "Dawn" (11/10) 
 
"As the countdown begins for Pakistan to formally request the 
International Monetary Fund for a bailout package of up to $5 
billion, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Shaukat Tarin has 
said the fund's conditions will not be tough, he told newsmen in 
Mardan." 
 
¶8.  "Government To Put Forward War On Terror Cost To FoP" "The 
Nation" (11/10) 
 
"The PPP-led coalition government will put forward the overall 
economic cost Pakistan has incurred so far in the form of losses of 
lives, property, military and logistic operations owing to war on 
terror to the Friends of Pakistan Forum meeting, taking place in Abu 
Dhabi in near future." 
 
¶9.  "U.S. Strikes Proving Counter-Productive: Owais" "Pakistan 
Observer" (11/10) 
 
"Owais Ahmed Ghani, Governor North West Frontier Province (NWFP) has 
declared in unequivocal tone that Pakistan was by no means 
contributing, towards the unrest in neighboring war-trodden country, 
rather these were the wrong policies of the United States and her 
coalition partners in war against terror which were not only fueling 
situation in Afghanistan but also adding to disturbance in our 
tribal belt." 
 
¶10.  "Bush Rejects Petraeus Proposal On Predator Attacks" "The News" 
(11/10) 
 
"The Bush administration has discarded the proposal stated to be 
floated by the Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General David 
Petraeus regarding end to predator attacks in the tribal areas of 
Pakistan adjacent to the border with Afghanistan, reliable 
diplomatic sources disclosed." 
 
¶11.  "6 Civilians Killed In Swat Shelling" "The News" (11/10) 
 
"Six civilians were killed and 10 injured during shelling in Khariri 
area of Matta tehsil, while militants blew up two more girl schools 
in Kalakot area of the militancy-hit Swat Valley on Sunday." 
 
¶12.  "NGOs Abandoning Projects In FATA, NWFP" "The News" (11/10) 
 
"The Frontier province (NWFP) and its neighboring tribal belt is 
fast becoming 'no-go zone' for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), 
forcing a number of national and international organizations to 
scrap their multi-million dollar projects in these areas." 
 
¶13.  "ObamQto Reassess Strategy On Pakistan, Afghanistan" "Dawn" 
(11/10) 
 
"One of the first priorities of the Obama administration will be to 
reassess U.S. strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, his aides say. 
And as a first step, he has appointed Bruce Riedel, a former CIA 
official and adviser to three U.S. presidents on South Asia and the 
Middle East as his advisor on Pakistan." 
 
¶14.  "Pakistan to Be On Top Of Obama's Priority: Boucher" "The News" 
(11/10) 
 
"U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian and Central Asian 
Affairs Richard Boucher on Saturday said that Pakistan and 
Afghanistan would be at top of the list in newly present-elect 
Barack Obama's foreign policy, while addressing a press conference 
in Kabul." 
 
¶15.  "Policies Concerning Pakistan Won't Change: Outgoing U.S. 
Consul General" "Ummat" (11/10) 
 
"Outgoing U.S. Consul General in Karachi Kay Anske has said that 
following the U.S. presidential election, the policies concerning 
Pakistan will not be changed.  'Historic friendship will continue 
and we want better relationship with Pakistani political parties,' 
said Anske while talking to journalists during her visit to 
Jamaat-e-Islami's Karachi office." 
 
¶16.  "U.S. Expert Urges Obama To Be Quick On Kashmir" "The Nation" 
(11/10) 
 
"U.S. President-elect Barack Obama should move quickly to deal with 
Afghanistan and try to help resolve the Kashmir dispute between 
India and Pakistan, Meghan O'Sullivan, a former senior American 
national Security Advisor says." 
 
¶17.  "Haqqani Stresses Need To Improve Pakistan Image" "The News" 
(11/10) 
 
"Pakistan's envoy to the United States Hussain Haqqani has stressed 
a need to make efforts to remove misperceptions about Pakistan in 
the West." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
¶18.  "Illegal Currency Business - Need To Bring Perpetrators To 
Justice," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) 
(11/10) 
 
"The government should make an example of those who are involved in 
this heinous crime - no matter how influential they are." 
 
¶19.  "Illegal Money Transfer," an editorial in the center-right Urdu 
daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (11/10) 
 
"After unearthing the foreign exchange scandal it is imperative for 
the rulers to pay attention to the country's financial situation, 
reduction in government expenditures and imports, and increase in 
exports....  Mere statements will not do any good." 
 
¶20.  "Operation Against Smuggling Of Dollar," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" 
(cir. 3,000) (11/10) 
 
"The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has launched a big operation 
against a big foreign currency company in the country.  The charges 
against this company are that it has transferred some $10 billion 
from the country, and allegedly some government officials are also 
involved in this trade.  Now there is one logical question that if 
any forex company was violating rules, then what was State Bank of 
Pakistan (SBP) doing, and why did it remain silent?" 
 
¶21.  "Another Drone Attack," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (11/10) 
 
"Such attacks, in fact, strengthen the terrorists instead of helping 
the cause of the war on terror....  Militants take advantage of the 
situation and are able to lure more recruits into their fold.... 
The U.S. strategy of putting the Pakistan armed forces against the 
Taliban seems not to have worked.  Such attacks put the government 
of Pakistan in an awkward position, with some suspecting the 
Pakistan government of having compromised its sovereignty in the 
name of fighting the war on terror....  If the border violations 
continue, the international support for the war on terror will 
dwindle.  If the U.S. does not revise its policy of violating our 
sovereignty, success in the war against terrorism will remain an 
elusive dream." 
 
¶22.  "While U.S. Is Losing Ground In Afghanistan," an editorial in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (11/10) 
 
"The situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating with the passage of 
every day and the occupied country is slipping out of the grip of 
the United States and NATO forces....  The recent contacts between 
Taliban and Afghan Government, facilitated by the Saudi King, had 
the backing of the United States as well is also an indication of 
change of American thinking.  Now a formal review of the situation 
is underway and it is quite likely that with the exit of the 
war-mongering Bush administration and assumption of power by Barack 
Obama the United States might think it appropriate to wind up 
aggression in Afghanistan as well." 
 
¶23.  "Take Practical Steps Instead Of Promises And Announcements," 
 
an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/10) 
 
"It is paradoxical that most of our politicians and rulers believe 
that the entire global scenario will be altogether changed with the 
change in U.S. administrations.  Instead, our rulers must make it 
clear to the U.S. that there is now an elected government in 
Pakistan, and it is not possible to sidestep the decisions of the 
elected parliament.  Moreover, we should not delay in making bold 
decisions to establish peace in the troubled-areas of FATA and bring 
tribesmen in mainstream politics." 
 
¶24.  "Lost In Islamabad," an editorial in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/10) 
 
"Barack Obama has been busy putting together his team and attempting 
to instill a sense of confidence in people hit hard by economic 
crisis.  Whether or not Obama's efforts succeed, only time will 
tell; but certainly, for the present there seems to be a new sense 
of hope and of inspiration.  This ability to inject optimism is 
essential to the working of any political system.  But sadly, 
similar feelings are totally absent from our own setup.  Rather than 
inspiring trust, our leadership frequently becomes the subject of 
scorn and ridicule....  At present, in Islamabad, there is a 
continuing sense of chaos and of drift." 
 
¶25.  "The IMF Route," an editorial in the country's premier business 
newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (11/10) 
 
"We are certain that if we adopt the IMF route, Friends of Pakistan 
Forum and other IFIs will also join the effort and make the task of 
stabilizing the economy and ensuring its solvency much easier." 
 
¶26.  "Need To Improve The Fiscal Policy," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 5,000) (11/10) 
 
"The flight of $10 billion proves not only the investors' 
irresponsible attitude but also their disinterest in national 
affairs.  However it also proves that these people do not consider 
their money safe in Pakistan, hence to protect it and use it better, 
they transfer it abroad.  To bring this to an end, the government 
needs to create an investor friendly atmosphere, give them 
incentives and end the present uncertainty - so that business 
activity can increase." 
 
¶27.  "Zardari-Nawaz Meeting: Move Beyond Lip-Service, Ensure Mutual 
Cooperation," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (11/10) 
 
"Even the win of the Democratic party in the U.S. presidential polls 
did not create awareness in our rulers to reconsider pro-U.S. 
policies....  Now that Mian Nawaz Sharif has hinted at cooperation 
with the PPP government in the larger interest of the nation, 
President Asif Zardari should do more then mere lip-service." 
 
¶28.  "Decisions Should Be Made With Consensus," an editorial in the 
leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) 
(11/10) 
 
"It is the need of the hour to resolve all national issues with 
consensus rather than with confrontation and conflicts, and shun all 
personal, ethnic and party differences in the larger national 
interests.  The differences between the government and the 
opposition, and the political turmoil are a stumbling block in 
resolving the growing economic and financial crisis.  It is 
commendable that President Asif Zardari and PML-N leader Nawaz 
Sharif have decided to cooperate with each other to manage the 
present state of affairs." 
 
¶29.  "New Pledge Of Co-Existence Between PPP And PML-N," an 
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (11/10) 
 
"As PML-N is enjoying its rule in Punjab, it does not want to 
undermine the present political setup.  It is following rule of 
'live and let live' that is why it is not supporting the lawyers' 
movement for the restoration of deposed judges.  It seems that PML-N 
has made a compromise with the present situation; therefore 
President Zardari is rightly expecting PML-N to help the PPP 
government out of the current crises.  As principles and ethics are 
no more important in our decayed political culture, our political 
parties should avoid a needless war of words and extend a hand of 
cooperation to the government." 
 
¶30.  "One Way To Beat Financial Crisis," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 
33,000) (11/10) 
 
"A welcoming meeting between President Zardari and PML-N leader 
Nawaz Sharif took place in Islamabad.  Reports say the Saudi 
Ambassador was also present in the meeting.  If the two leaders 
agree to deal with the current financial crisis together, then they 
should also make known their overseas assets and bring them back in 
the country." 
 
¶31.  "Drafting Obama's Agenda," an op-ed by Ahmad Faruqui in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/10) 
 
"President-elect Obama declared, 'Change has come.'  Nowhere is the 
need for change more apparent than in U.S. policy toward 
Pakistan....  The war on terror will only be won if Pakistan takes 
ownership of it.  And it will only do that if its insecurities are 
addressed....  While drafting a new Pakistan policy, it would be 
best for president-elect Obama to engage in a more fundamental 
reassessment of the situation that would bring radical change to the 
region." 
 
¶32.  "Let's Give Mr. Mukhtar an Easier Ministry," an op-ed by Ejaz 
Haider in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily 
Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/10) 
 
"Let's be clear: we can fight the Americans.  But it will be very 
costly.  Any armed struggle must weigh the costs with any perceived 
benefits.  On the other hand, should we fight the Americans?  Are 
the Chinese fighting the Americans, or the Indians rolling up their 
sleeves?  No....  Pakistan and the U.S. are in a cooperative mode in 
Afghanistan.  This is not a tension-free relationship.  But neither 
is it one that calls for overt hostilities.  The paradigm used by 
Islamabad so far has been flawed.  Ditto for Washington....  it is 
more untenable over the longer run to abdicate all responsibility 
for such strikes. Even if we weren't calling for them, if the 
strikes do end up taking out targets, the cost of owning them would 
have been much less than creating an impression that the Americans 
are doing this unilaterally and there is damn-all we can do about 
them.  Time to rethink what we say.  Meanwhile, how about giving 
some other ministry to Mr. Mukhtar to reward him for his services to 
the PPP." 
 
 
Patterson