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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: NOVEMBER 21, 2008 
 
SUMMARY:  Reports of a suicide attack on a mosque in Bajaur Agency 
killing eight people dominated headlines in all newspapers on 
Friday.  Prime Minister Gilani's statement declaring the U.S. drone 
attacks as "intolerable" also received front page coverage. 
Highlighted side by side were reports on the "summoning of U.S. 
Ambassador Patterson to the Foreign Office to protest against 
Wednesday's drone strike in Bannu." All newspapers also highlighted 
U.S. General McKiernan statement that the "U.S. and Pakistan also 
share video feeds from Predator drones that carry out attacks." 
 
Most major dailies ran scathing editorials on the recent missile 
attack in the settled district of Bannu in the NWFP.  The 
center-right Urdu daily, "Pakistan," advocated that "Pakistan must 
start an effective diplomatic campaign that urges the U.S. to stop 
strikes inside Pakistan."  The independent Urdu daily, "Din," noted 
that "if in only 8 months the U.S. has violated Pakistan's airspace 
40 times, one can well imagine what the pace will be in future." 
The leading mass circulation Urdu daily, "Jang," observed that "the 
attack on a neighborhood of Bannu reinforces the idea that the NATO 
forces and other allies of the United States are all set to hit 
other cities and parts of the NWFP in the garb of operation against 
terrorists and militants."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
¶1. "Suicide Attack on Mosque: Lashkar Chief Eliminated" "Dawn" 
(11/21) 
 
"The chief of a tribal lashkar and eight other people were killed 
when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a mosque in Bajaur Agency 
on Thursday.  According to an official claim, 17 militants, 
including 11 foreigners, were killed when security forces, backed by 
helicopter gunships and artillery, pounded militants' hideouts in 
Mamond area." 
 
¶2. "U.S. Drone Attacks Intolerable: PM: No Secret Accord with 
Washington, NA Assured" "Dawn" (11/21) 
 
"Most fingers were pointed at the United States in the National 
Assembly on Thursday for what Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani 
called an `intolerable' drone attack on a suspected militant hideout 
in the NWFP, but none at Al Qaeda or Taliban against whom Pakistan 
is the West's ally in the so-called war against terrorism." 
 
¶3. "Gilani Looks To Obama for End to Drone Attacks" "The NEWS" 
(11/21) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday severely 
condemned the U.S. drone attacks and expressed the hope that with 
Barack Obama assuming power, these attacks would come to an end." 
 
¶4. "PM Hopes Against Hope," "The News" (11/21) 
 
"The optimism being expressed by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza 
Gilani and some senior officials regarding halt to U.S. drone 
attacks after Barack Obama's assumption of power is quite out of 
place.  Pakistani authorities and its mission in Washington can 
boast no undertaking from the new U.S. administration about the 
stoppage of the drone attacks. The U.S. Defense Secretary Robert 
Gates is said to be the architect of the drone attack policy. He is 
expected to continue with the new administration of President-elect 
Barack Obama." 
 
¶5. "Ambassador Summoned Over Bannu Attack" "Dawn" (11/21) 
 
"Pakistan summoned U.S. Ambassador Anne W Patterson to the Foreign 
Office on Thursday and lodged a protest against Wednesday's drone 
strike in Bannu, a settled area of the NWFP.  "A strong protest was 
lodged by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir on the two missiles fired 
by U.S. drones on a residential compound in Bannu district," Foreign 
Office Spokesman Mohammad Sadiq said at his weekly briefing. 
Calling for an immediate halt to drone strikes, the foreign 
secretary told the ambassador that such attacks violated Pakistan's 
sovereignty and territorial integrity.  The ambassador, who was 
called to the Foreign Office for the third time in a few months, 
said she would convey Islamabad's concerns to Washington." 
 
¶6. "U.S. Envoy Summoned" "Daily Times" (11/21) 
 
"Pakistan on Thursday said a third party would not be involved in 
the issue of territorial violations by the U.S., and the government 
will solve the problem bilaterally with the Americans."  The 
comments came at the weekly Foreign Office (FO) briefing addressed 
by spokesman Muhammad Sadiq, in reply to a question about taking the 
matter to the United Nations. "Taking the issue to a multilateral 
body requires a different nature of government decisions," said the 
spokesman." 
 
¶7. "U.S., Pakistan Share Drone Data: General" "Dawn" (11/21) 
 
"The United States not only has an understanding with Pakistan to 
attack suspected terrorist targets inside its borders but also 
shares with the Pakistani military top-secret video feeds from 
Predator drones that carry out such attacks, says a senior U.S. 
general.  "We exchange frequencies. We exchange intelligence. We 
have a Predator feed going down to the one border coordination 
centre at Torkham Gate that's looked at by the Pakistan Military, 
Afghan Military, and the International Security Assistance Force," 
Gen David McKiernan, who heads U.S. and allied forces in 
Afghanistan, told a Washington think-tank." 
 
¶8. "44 Taliban Killed, Mohmand Braces for New Offensive" "Daily 
Times" (11/21) 
 
"At least 24 Taliban fighters - including 11 foreigners and one 
local commander - were killed in the military operation in Bajaur on 
Thursday as warplanes pounded Taliban positions in Swat, killing 20 
fighters using a school building in Matta area, according to 
official sources, local residents and AFP." 
 
¶9. "Nine killed as shell hits house in Swat" "The News" (11/21) 
 
"Nine civilians were killed and four others injured when shells 
fired by the security forces accidentally landed on a house in Alam 
Ganj area of Khwazakhela Tehsil on Thursday." 
 
¶10. "Halt to NATO Logistics Demanded" "The News" (11/21) 
 
"Chairman of the Senate standing committee on the interior Senator 
Talha Mehmood on Thursday said the government must stop support to 
logistics support to NATO forces in the larger interest of the 
country." 
 
¶11. "Rally Condemns U.S. Drone Attacks" "The News" (11/21) 
 
"Jammat-e-Islamai Ameer for Bannu Mattiullah Jan Thursday condemned 
U.S. drone attacks and urged security forces to target the intruding 
planes. A protest demonstration was taken out which after passing 
through different bazars finally reached chowk bazzar and turned 
into a public rally." 
 
¶12. "Objective of Drones Remains Mystery" "Pakistan Observer" 
(11/21) 
 
"Senior Pakistani strategists are yet to determine the 'actual 
objectives' of U.S. drones' attacks inside Pakistan which killed 
more than 278 people in more than 29 attacks in tribal and settled 
areas.  According to inner circle different schools of thoughts have 
different versions about their assessment on continued U.S. attack. 
One strong lobby believes that "it is the litmus test before a more 
dangerous move aimed at our strategic assets" while moderates who 
are considered as sympathetic to war on terror measure the move as 
"last budge" by neo-cons to create complications for President-elect 
Barack Obama." 
 
¶13. "No Information about Bin Laden's Death: U.S." "Pakistan 
Observer" (11/21) 
 
"United States has no information that Osama bin Laden has died 
despite his continuing silence, the White House said Wednesday after 
the broadcast of a new message from al-Qaeda's number two.  "I'd 
have to refer you to the intelligence community for that. I don't 
believe that we have any intelligence that suggests that he is not 
living," said spokeswoman Dana Perino." 
 
¶14. "CIA Is Responsible For Missile Attacks; General Patraeus Is 
Helpless: NWFP Governor Ghani" "Mashriq" (11/21) 
 
"NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani while expressing concerns over the 
U.S. drone attacks on the settled areas of the province has said 
that these missile attacks are being launched under the direct 
supervision of the U.S. intelligence agency CIA, and this agency is 
controlling the whole issue.  In an exclusive interview with this 
newspaper, Governor Ghani added that the U.S. CENTCOM chief General 
Patraeus is helpless in this matter." 
 
¶15. "Army to be trained to Fight in FATA" "Daily Times" (11/21) 
 
"The army's operational force in the Tribal Areas and FATA would be 
trained in accordance with the conditions in the area, Mangla Corps 
Commander Lieutenant Gen Nadeem Ahmed said on Thursday. He was 
talking to reporters after overseeing war exercise 'Shah Sawar 2008' 
in Kharian. He said Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani has 
declared 2009 as the year of armed forces' training" 
 
¶16. "Taliban Threaten Revenge Attacks" "The Nation" (11/21) 
 
"A Pakistani Taliban commander warned on Thursday there would be 
reprisals by militants across the country if the U.S. carried out 
further drone attacks in the tribal territory.  Hafiz Gul Bahadur 
announced the decision at a Taliban council meeting in North 
Waziristan tribal district which borders Afghanistan, his spokesman 
said." 
 
¶17. "Kamran New TTP Jamrud Chief" "The Nation" (11/21) 
 
"Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Chief Baitullah Mehsud through a printed 
pamphlet declared Maulvi Mustafa Kamran as the TTP Jamrud chapter 
Chief on Thursday. 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
¶18. "U.S. Strike in Bannu" an editorial in the Lahore-based 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir 5000) (11/21) 
 
"America must realize that only Pakistani forces should conduct 
operations in Pakistani territory, as the Army Chief stated to NATO 
commanders in Brussels. NATO commanders agreed with his view. In 
this context, Pakistan must start an effective diplomatic campaign 
that urges the U.S. to stop strikes inside Pakistan." 
 
¶19. "76th U.S. Aggression: Pakistan Should go to the UN" an 
editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 
5000) (11/21) 
 
"It needs to be mentioned that after the present government's 
induction, the number of U.S. strikes has crossed 40. In fact, the 
former ISI Chief General (retired) Hamid Gul puts the number at 76 - 
[in his words] "30 during Musharraf's dictatorship and 40 during 
Zardari's democracy." If in only eight months the U.S. has violated 
Pakistan's airspace 40 times, one can well imagine what the pace 
will be in future.  Our rulers should not forget that the Bannu is 
not too far from Islamabad." 
 
¶20. "NATO Command Must Consider General Kayani's Piece of Advice," 
an editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily 
"Jang" (cir. 300,000) (11/21) 
 
"The attack on a neighborhood of Bannu reinforces the idea that the 
NATO forces and other allies of the United States are all set to hit 
other cities and parts of the NWFP in the garb of operation against 
terrorists and militants.  Moreover, this attack also gives a clue 
that the U.S. is following the statements of President-elect Barack 
Obama that he made during his election campaign that he would order 
the U.S. troops to attack FATA  and other settled areas of Pakistan 
without any prior permission of the Pakistani administration." 
 
¶21. "U.S. Missiles Now Hit Settled Areas," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (11/21) 
 
"... The outrageous act has created more resentment both against the 
United States and the Government of Pakistan that has so far been 
unable to take up the issue in due earnest with Washington. There 
are apprehensions that today it is Bannu and tomorrow Americans will 
target places anywhere in Kohat, other areas of the NWFP and even 
 
beyond on the pretext of receiving information about presence of 
foreign and local militants. After every such attack the US forces 
and the Western media tried to belittle their gravity by claiming 
killing of foreign elements including Al-Qaeda leaders but there is 
no proof that anyone except local innocent people was killed...." 
 
¶22. "Islamabad Is Not Too Far Away," an editorial note in the 
popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (11/21) 
 
"Now the U.S. forces have started missile attacks on other parts of 
the NWFP following targeting the tribal areas.  The situation is 
changing so fast that we cannot imagine what the U.S. is going to do 
with us in future.  However, we should not be delighted that 
Islamabad is too far from the U.S.-hit areas of the NWFP.  If our 
rulers don't take any serious step even after the Bannu incident, 
the day is not far when we will see U.S. drones hovering on 
Islamabad." 
 
¶23. "Rising U.S. Aggression and Our Usual Silence," an editorial 
note in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" 
(cir. 15,000) (11/21) 
 
"No one can deny the fact that the Government of Pakistan has 
remained unmoved to the U.S. incursions as perhaps our rulers have 
given a free hand to the Americans to do whatever and wherever in 
Pakistan.  If Pakistan does not work out any concrete and helpful 
course of action on this question, there is a strong possibility 
that the Americans may attack any religious school or mosque of 
Islamabad anytime in future under a pretext of targeting some 
Al-Qaeda operative." 
 
¶24. "U.S. Missile Attack in Suburb of Bannu," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (11/21) 
 
"Even if we agree to the U.S. claim about killing of some Al-Qaeda 
operatives in missile attack near Bannu, the attack establishes the 
fact that the U.S. administration has perhaps now declared that 
Pakistan deserves same treatment as Afghanistan in the ongoing war 
on terror at the moment.  Those elements who are very optimistic 
about good relations between Pakistan and the U.S. and looking 
forward to an end of missile attacks once President-elect Obama 
assumes his office should reconsider their opinion." 
 
¶25. "Bigger Battlefield," An Editorial In The Centrist National 
English Daily "The News" (Cir. 55,000) (11/21) 
 
"So far, President Zardari seems to have pinned his hopes on a 
change in U.S. strategy by the incoming Obama administration. He and 
other members of the government have stated on several occasions 
that they are optimistic policy will be reviewed and altered. The 
question is what, if anything, Pakistan is doing to make this more 
likely and to bring about a change in the views of president-elect 
Barack Obama regarding tactics in Pakistan, given that consistently 
through his electoral campaign he had adopted a hard-line stance. 
Somehow, Islamabad needs to find a way to persuade Washington that 
it would more effectively be able to fight terrorism if it was 
allowed to do so, on its own and that such a war would win greater 
support from people." 
 
¶26. "Searching for Solutions," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(11/21) 
 
"Gen. Ashfaq Kayani is spot on in his assessment that the Afghan 
insurgency cannot be overcome through military means alone.... 
Despite all the talk of dialogue, it is clear that there is 
currently no intention in any quarter of easing the military 
pressure on the Taliban. This makes sense, for any understanding 
with the militants must be reached from a position of strength. The 
need of the hour is for improved tripartite coordination between the 
coalition forces and Pakistani and Afghan security agencies...." 
 
¶27. "Terrorists under Pressure," An editorial in the Lahore-Based 
Liberal English Language Daily "Daily Times" (Cir. 10,000) (11/21) 
 
"Determined military operations in Bajaur and Swat have brought the 
terrorists under pressure. For the first time the military is not 
only being supported by local tribes, there are local militias to 
back up action by the army. Mohmand Agency is the latest to 
challenge the Taliban. After the exit of President Pervez Musharraf 
 
from the scene, many developments have strengthened the position of 
Pakistan against the foreign elements located inside its territory 
and their local supporters." 
 
¶28. "Army Chief's Address in Brussels: End the U.S. Strikes, Don't 
Just Make Suggestions" an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) 
(11/21) 
 
"Like the Army Chief, the President and the Prime Minister have also 
appealed in vain that U.S. strikes be stopped. In fact the strikes 
increased and have now expanded. Hence upon returning to the 
country, the Army Chief, President and the Prime Minister must sit 
together to put the parliament's resolution into action." 
 
¶29. "Talk unequivocally to the U.S." an editorial in liberal Urdu 
daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (11/21) 
 
"Policies of the Bush administration have not only endangered world 
peace and global economy; they have also led to domestic problems 
for the U.S. Missile strikes in Pakistani territory will worsen the 
situation further. The new U.S. administration should not remain a 
silent spectator to these issues... If the U.S. administration 
continues on this path, it would wreak irreparable damage on the 
world." 
 
¶30. "Talibanization of Youth," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(11/21) 
 
"With the Taliban expanding their reach inside Pakistan, it is 
becoming amply clear that the menace of radicalization that leads to 
religious militancy must be targeted at the roots.... 
Unfortunately, with the madressah system going strong - and likely 
to exert even greater influence on young minds if public-sector 
schooling continues to decline and private education becomes 
unaffordable - there is a very real danger that ultra religious 
tendencies among the youth will receive a boost. This, in turn, will 
lead to the formation of dogmatic mindsets at a considerable 
distance from the pillars of logic, reason and humanism and unable 
to tolerate divergent opinions...." 
 
¶31. "Burning Anger, Smouldering Silence" An Op-ed by Ayaz Amir in 
The Centrist National English Daily "The News" (Cir. 55,000) 
(11/21) 
 
"The Americans can pat themselves on the back for the change they 
have helped engineer in Pakistan: replacing a yes-man---Pervez 
Musharraf---who had outlived his utility and had become a liability 
with a fresh yes-man---President Zardari---who is all too keen to do 
America's bidding and prove his usefulness to his American 
benefactors, who helped his rise to power. Up to a point Musharraf 
knew how to play the Americans. The new combo we have, Zardari and 
Kayani, is not playing the Americans. They are playing the Pakistani 
people by leading a loud chorus about sovereignty when in fact 
Pakistani sovereignty, or what remains of it, lies fatally 
compromised because of Pakistan's servitude to American interests." 
 
 
¶32. "In The Name Of Revenge," an editorial in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/21) 
 
"It appears that General (r) Ameer Faisal Alvi, a former head of the 
military Special Services Group (SSG), who was shot dead in a daring 
attack in Islamabad, may have been killed in revenge for his past 
involvement in operations against militants in the tribal areas. 
The Taliban, it seems, were eager to deliver a clear-cut message. 
The retired general was seen as a 'soft target'. His death, 
alongside that of his driver, is a reminder of the extremist hatred 
for the forces acting against them and of their ruthlessness. The 
game of revenge is obviously a dangerous one. It is not known if 
other targets are in sight. The killing could also set a pattern 
that 'copy cat' assassins emulate, to gun down, in a similar 
fashion, those involved in actions against militants at various 
times." 
 
 
Patterson