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ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 06-09, 2008 
 
Summary:  No Pakistani newspapers were published on Wednesday and 
Thursday on account of the local Eid holidays. The following media 
reaction is based on newspapers of December 6-9, 2008.  End Summary. 
 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Pakistan Renews Cooperation Offer; International Obligations To Be 
Fulfilled: Defence Committee" "Dawn" (12/09) 
 
"Pakistan has renewed its offer of full cooperation to India, 
including intelligence-sharing and assistance in investigation into 
the Mumbai attacks as well as setting up a joint investigation 
commission.  The announcement was made on Monday after a meeting of 
the Defence Committee of the Cabinet." 
 
"Pakistan Has Taken Positive Steps: U.S." "Dawn" (12/09) 
 
"The United States said on Monday that Pakistan had taken 'some 
positive steps' to help India probe the attacks in Mumbai, but added 
that more cooperation was needed to prevent any follow-on attacks. 
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari telephoned U.S. Secretary of 
State Condoleezza Rice on Monday to brief her on actions taken by 
Pakistan since her visit to Islamabad and Delhi last week, Rice's 
spokesman Sean McCormack said." 
 
"Pakistan Had Historic Ties With Lashkar: Rice" "Dawn" (12/09) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that the 
Pakistani establishment has had historic ties with Lashkar-e-Taiba 
although now it's committed to fighting them.  In an interview to 
CNN on Sunday evening, Ms Rice read out a charge-sheet against the 
Lashkar, spelling out the reasons for taking action against the 
group which, she said, was not only involved in the Mumbai attacks 
but also moved in "the same circles" as Al Qaeda." 
 
"Operation Against LeT-Dawa Launched In AJK" "Dawn" (12/08) 
 
"Security forces have launched a 'quiet' crackdown on activists 
belonging to the banned Jihadi outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba in different 
parts of the country and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.  Sources said that 
more than 20 members of the banned organisation and 
Lashkar-i-Taiba's 'commander' Zakiur Rehman Lakhwi had been 
arrested." 
 
"Operation continues against LeT-Dawa" "Dawn" (12/09) 
 
"The government launched on Monday a countrywide crackdown on the 
banned Jihadi outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba and charity organisation 
Jamaatud Dawa.  Over two dozen people, including top Lashkar 
commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi wanted by India in connection with 
the Mumbai carnage, have been arrested." 
 
"Extradition Demand Rejected In Response To Demarche" "Dawn" 
(12/09) 
 
"Pakistan has rejected India's demand to extradite three fugitives 
and urged it to share evidence proving that elements from this 
country territory had carried out the recent attacks in Mumbai." 
 
"Militants Torch 150 NATO Supply Vehicles" "Dawn" (12/08) 
 
"At least 150 trucks, loaded with supplies and military vehicles and 
other hardware for NATO forces in Afghanistan, were set on fire by 
militants who attacked two terminals on the city's main Ring Road, 
Peshawar early on Sunday morning." 
 
"Attacks On Supply Depots 'Insignificant': U.S." "Dawn" (12/09) 
 
"The United States on Monday down-played back-to-back insurgent 
attacks on NATO military depots in Pakistan as having an 
'insignificant' impact on the overall U.S. and NATO Military effort 
in Afghanistan, said Bryan Whitman, a Pentagon spokesman." 
 
"Mullah Omar Vows Violent Response To U.S. Troop Increase" "Dawn" 
(12/09) 
 
"The Taliban's fugitive leader said the planned increase in US 
 
troops in Afghanistan would give his fighters incentive to kill and 
maim more Americans than ever." 
 
"Pakistani Soil Was Used In Attacks: Rice: Mumbai Carnage" "Dawn" 
(12/08) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday there was 
evidence to suggest that people living in Pakistan were involved in 
the recent attacks in Mumbai....  'I made very clear to the 
Pakistanis that we are a friend of Pakistan, we are an ally of 
Pakistan, but when something like this happens, the United States 
expects Pakistan to act,' she said." 
 
"Zardari Sent Right Signals After Attacks, Says Obama" "Dawn" 
(12/08) 
 
"President-elect Barack Obama offered guarded praise for the actions 
of President Asif Ali Zardari in the aftermath of Mumbai bombings 
saying 'he has sent the right signals,' and expressed hope for 
establishing 'close, effective working relationship,' in an 
interview with NBC News for the 'Meet The Press' program on Sunday, 
Mr. Obama was asked about President Zardari's response to the 
terrorist attacks in India." 
 
"Pakistan, India In A War Of Words" "The News" (12/08) 
 
"Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee while commenting 
on news items published in the media about a threatening call made 
by him to President Asif Ali Zardari on November 28, said he had not 
made such a call to him.  However, Pakistan rejected the statement 
of Indian foreign minister by declaring it ridiculous." 
 
"Reports About U.S. Pressure For Gul's Extradition Denied" "Dawn" 
(12/08) 
 
"The United States has not asked Pakistan to hand over former ISI 
Chief Hamid Gul to India, U.S. and diplomatic sources told 'Dawn' on 
Sunday." 
 
"Fresh U.S. Troops To Be Deployed Around Kabul" "Dawn" (12/08) 
 
"The United States would deploy the first of its new forces arriving 
in Afghanistan next year around Kabul, a U.S. General Mark Milley, 
deputy commander of operations in Afghanistan's east said on Sunday, 
reflecting fears the Afghan capital was increasingly under threat." 
 
 
"White House Opposes Punitive Strikes; Engagement Advocated" "Dawn" 
(12/07) 
 
"The White House has refused to support calls for punitive actions 
against Pakistan, insisting that the best way to resolve the current 
crisis was to stay engaged with both India and Pakistan, We want to 
see cooperation by all the parties involved to make sure that we 
understand what happened last week, said Scott Stanzel a Friday 
afternoon briefing at the White House." 
 
"U.S. To Seek UN Curbs Against Pakistani Suspects" "Dawn" (12/07) 
 
"The United States is planning to send the names of some Pakistani 
individuals and Pakistan-based groups to the UN Security Council for 
tightening sanctions against them.  The issue came up at a briefing 
on Friday when a reporter asked State Department's deputy spokesman 
Robert Wood to confirm." 
 
"Nawaz Meets McCain, Calls A Spade A Spade" "The News" (12/07) 
 
"The Bush administration on Saturday conveyed a secret message to 
former premier Nawaz Sharif that it was in the supreme interest of 
Pakistan to fully 'satisfy' a furious Indian government on the 
Mumbai terrorist attacks....  An official revealed Rice was chosen 
to deliver a strongly worded message to Pakistani leaders about the 
growing anti-Pakistan sentiments in India.  But McCain was assigned 
with delivering a similar message to Nawaz Sharif." 
 
"Pakistan To Thwart Terrorist Designs, U.S. Senators Told" "Dawn" 
(12/07) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said Pakistan will thwart any 
attempt by terrorists to use its territory for their 'nefarious 
 
designs.'  Prime Minister told a U.S. Senate delegation, led by 
unsuccessful Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, which 
called on him at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad on 
Saturday." 
 
"McCain For Respect To Pak Sovereignty" "The News" (12/07) 
 
"Visiting U.S. former presidential candidate Senator John McCain on 
Saturday hoped that the Obama administration in the United States 
will respect Pakistan's sovereignty.  McCain expressed these views 
while meeting Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in Islamabad." 
 
"McCain-Led U.S. Senators Arrive To Discuss Crisis" "The Nation" 
(12/06) 
 
"A group of three leading U.S. Senators led by unsuccessful 
Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, arrived in Islamabad 
on Friday to discuss the Indo-Pak crisis and urge the Pakistani 
leadership for strong action against terrorists." 
 
"13 Militants Among 26 Killed In Swat" "The News" (12/07) 
 
"Despite the announcement of a unilateral ceasefire by the 
militants, at least 26 people, including 13 militants and two 
security forces personnel, lost their lives in the ongoing military 
operation and incidents of violence in the Swat Valley on 
Saturday." 
 
"Rice Tells Pakistan To Act 'Or U.S. Will'" "Dawn" (12/06) 
 
"The U.S. Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, is reported to 
have told Pakistan that there is 'irrefutable evidence' of 
involvement of elements in the country in the Mumbai attacks and 
that it needs to act urgently and effectively to avert a strong 
international response...." 
 
"Pakistan Awaiting 'Concrete Proof' Says Zardari" "Dawn" (12/06) 
 
"Pakistan is awaiting "concrete proof" on suspicions that a 
Pakistan-based militant group was behind last week's deadly attacks 
in Mumbai, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Friday." 
 
"Zardari, Gul, Karzai Join Forces Against Terrorists; Asif Says 
Mumbai Disaster Not To Affect War On Terror" "The News" (12/06) 
 
"Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey on Friday vowed to evolve a joint 
strategy to combat terrorism, work for regional peace, security and 
stability, while burying the past differences." 
 
"Pakistan Ready To Engage India In Exposing Hidden Hands: PM" "The 
Nation" (12/06) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday reiterated Pakistan's 
commitment to engage India in exposing the hidden hands behind 
Mumbai terror attacks." 
 
"Pakistan Not Moving Troops From Afghan Border: U.S." "Dawn" 
(12/06) 
 
"Pakistan has assured the United States it is not withdrawing troops 
from the Afghan border despite tensions with India following the 
Mumbai terrorist attacks, a U.S. general Major General Michael S. 
Tucker, the deputy chief of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan said 
on Friday." 
 
"Car Bomb Devastates Peshawar Market; 22 Killed, 90 Injured" "Dawn" 
(12/06) 
 
"At least 22 people were killed and over 90 others injured when a 
car bomb ripped through a congested locality of Kocha Risaldar near 
Qissa Khwani Bazaar on Friday evening." 
 
"Three Die In Miramshah Drone Attack" "Dawn" (12/06) 
 
"A missile strike by a suspected U.S. drone killed at least three 
people on Friday in a Pakistani tribal area, a security official 
said." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
 
--------------------- 
 
"The Terrorism Riddle," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/09) 
 
"If Lashkar-e-Taiba has grown to a position of such strength that it 
could execute the Mumbai attacks with consummate ease, it has not 
done so in a vacuum....  So for Pakistan the priority then must be 
to push back against all militants, not just the ones that the US or 
India wants us to stamp out. However, no plan will succeed if 
foreign countries regard terrorism in Pakistan in a piecemeal way 
that only narrowly focuses on their own interests." 
 
"Operation Against LT," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/09) 
 
"The crackdown on Lashkar-e- Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawa activists, 
leading to the arrest of some of its key commanders, comes amid 
unrelenting U.S. pressure to act against suspects in the Mumbai 
terror attacks....  The failure to own the action raises disturbing 
questions regarding how and at what level the decision was taken, 
and if all relevant people were taken into confidence....  This 
could encourage India to make other unreasonable demands." 
 
"Rice Put Her Weight On Indian Side," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (12/09) 
 
"The U.S. top diplomat said on return to Washington makes it clear 
that the United States has decided to adopt a partisan approach in 
favor of India.  The remarks of Dr. Rice are self-contradictory and 
send a loud and clear message of bias against Pakistan....  By doing 
so the United States has lost credibility as honest broker and one 
can say without fear of contradiction that Washington was in a way 
trying to maintain tempo of anti-Pakistani tirade. The United States 
is clearly identifying itself with the interests of India and that 
too at the cost of its old ally." 
 
"U.S. And Indian Allegations," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (12/09) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that we have 
evidence that the terrorists in Mumbai used Pakistani soil....  What 
can this statement of the U.S. Secretary of State be called other 
than a plot against Pakistan....  This statement of the U.S. 
Secretary of State can only be termed interference in Pakistan's 
internal matters as it was made only to appease India." 
 
"Struggle Against Terrorism," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) 
(12/07) 
 
"Unfortunately, in the aftermath of Mumbai terrorism, America is 
siding with India in its campaign against Pakistan....  According to 
a press report, America and India have asked Pakistan to take action 
against terrorists otherwise 'we will take action.'  India has 
written two letters to Pakistan, whereas Pakistan says that 
Secretary Rice did not visit Pakistan to give it directions....  The 
government of Pakistan should focus on Indian conspiracies and 
America's anti-Islam designs." 
 
"Indian Designs, American Lollypop And Demands Of National Defense," 
an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu 
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (12/06) 
 
"Looking at the emergent nature of the American Secretary of State's 
South Asia visit and her advice to India to refrain from any strict 
action demonstrates that India is up to some mischief against 
Pakistan....  The government of Pakistan should stick to its 
justified stand....  America, Israel and India collaboration is 
dangerous for the entire region and Pakistan and a 1971 like 
mischief could be repeated." 
 
"India: Why Does India Always Wait For An American Order?," an 
editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (12/06) 
 
"Following a brief tour of Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice warned that India must not take any step that has 
 
devastating results.  She added that she did not feel any threat of 
an Indo-Pak war....  It seems from the U.S. Secretary of State's 
visit that India has saved itself from making a gigantic mistake by 
deciding not to attack Pakistan.  But why does it always wait for an 
American order; it must act wisely on its own." 
 
"International Pressure And The U.S. Secretary Of State's Visit To 
Pakistan," an editorial in Lahore-based Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 
5,000) (12/06) 
 
"It can be said that the U.S. Secretary of State was successful in 
the mission of bringing an improvement in Indo-Pak relations.... 
She also said that Pakistan must take effective measures against 
terrorists and that both India and Pakistan must jointly bring 
terrorists to justice. However, India has always declined such an 
alliance." 
 
"Indo-Pak Tension And American Role," an editorial in liberal Urdu 
daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (12/06) 
 
"Secretary Rice's statement that all information about the Mumbai 
attacks has been provided to Pakistan points to the fact that the 
U.S. has completely accepted the Indian stance.  Important U.S. 
officials are nodding at everything India says and are terming an 
incident in one Indian city as a threat to global peace. India is 
also making new allegations every day. It seems as in the days to 
come, pressure will mount on Pakistan vis-a-vis ISI.... Influenced 
by India, if the U.S. mounts pressure on Pakistan it should be told 
that Pakistan can no longer cooperate in the war on terror." 
 
"Devil's Advocate," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/08) 
 
"The Americans must stop playing the devil's advocate and compel New 
Delhi to furnish concrete evidence to Islamabad of involvement in 
the Mumbai tragedy from the Pakistani side.  India needs to be 
delivered a stern warning against creating war hysteria and at the 
same time also threatening Pakistan's security by spreading its 
intelligence network in Afghanistan." 
 
"Rice & Responsibility," an editorial in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/06) 
 
"In typically tough language, the U.S. Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice, has made clear what Washington expects Pakistan to 
do in the stormy aftermath of the Mumbai attacks....  The U.S. 
official played down the possibility of any attack from India while 
praising the 'focused' approach of the Pakistan government to the 
terrorist issue. It is obvious Rice was in Islamabad to deliver a 
stern warning.  The impression seems to be that Pakistan is dragging 
its feet." 
 
"U.S. Diplomatic Drive," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (12/06) 
 
"The new calm owes much to the strenuous campaign the US Secretary 
of State Condoleezza Rice launched by first going to New Delhi and 
the dashing to Islamabad to secure a diplomatic success and save 
about 1.5 billion people from what many common friends of Pakistan 
and India see as a catastrophe if weapons of mass destruction are 
employed should a war erupt between the two estranged neighbors.... 
The calm after the departure of Rice from Islamabad would sustain 
only if Islamabad goes for firm action against militant outfits 
which directly or indirectly have roots in our soil, and which 
provide an easy argument of Pakistan's involvement when these groups 
strike for their clandestine motives anywhere in the world." 
 
"Peace And Probe," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/06) 
 
"War clouds of war gradually dissipating, demands for a fair probe 
are also being made by major democracies....  It is time Pakistan 
seeks proofs from India....  The evidence so far leaded out to the 
Indian press is flimsy and leads nowhere.  Pakistan should have no 
fears from a fair probe." 
 
"Actors And Stages," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/06) 
 
"Post to the Mumbai incident we have heard much of the activities of 
 
'non-state actors' with both our own president and the U.S. 
Secretary of State using the phrase to refer to those who were 
responsible for the attack, but few will have stopped to consider 
either what precisely is meant by 'non-state actor' and even fewer 
to perceive that it is a somewhat disingenuous fig-leaf being 
deployed to preserve the modesty of the state." 
 
"Peshawar Terrorism Weakens Pakistan's Case," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (12/07) 
 
"The attack undermines Pakistan's protest of sovereignty in the face 
of an international demand for 'cooperation' on terrorist incidents 
taking place in India.  Pakistan has drawn the line on how much it 
can cooperate and what measure of 'intrusion' it will allow into its 
sovereign functions in order to get to the bottom of the Mumbai 
attack." 
 
"Talks On Hold," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English 
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (12/08) 
 
"Instead of playing the blame game, it is time that both India and 
Pakistan try to root out the menace of terrorism from the South 
Asian soil. By getting into a war of words and heightened tensions, 
the two South Asian neighbors are only playing into the hands of 
terrorists who want to derail the peace process between India and 
Pakistan....  The people of South Asia need peace.  It must not be 
sacrificed at any cost.  Peace must prevail." 
 
"The Terrorist Trap," an op-ed by Ahmad Faruqui in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/08) 
 
"The terror-mongers dispatched the terrorists so as to lure India 
and Pakistan into a trap.  They have succeeded in part.  The blame 
game that has already begun between the official and unofficial 
elites of the two countries is just as alarming as it is childish. 
It must be stopped before it escalates into a much more dangerous 
game." 
 
"Rising To The Challenge, Or Are We?," an op-ed by Kamal Siddiqi in 
the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/08) 
 
"Pakistanis, for their part, are upset that the Indians have been 
quick to blame them.  But at this point the onus is on Pakistan to 
act.  If it does not do so, chances are that not only will relations 
with India deteriorate but Pakistan's standing as being in the 
forefront of the war on terror will also suffer." 
 
"Escalating External Pressures," an op-ed by Inayatullah in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(12/06) 
 
"All the more so as pressure on Pakistan from the trio - U.S., India 
and Israel - is bound to increase tremendously in the days to come. 
The situation calls for mature thinking, mobilization of the 
national will and exercise of prudence and restraint in articulating 
the government's response to external demands and challenges.  Quick 
and snap assurances and commitments must be avoided." 
 
"Aftermath Of The Mumbai Attacks," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai 
in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/06) 
 
"The U.S. and its western allies, and in future India and even 
Afghanistan, would claim justification in launching strikes on 
Pakistan's soil due to the admission of President Zardari that the 
stateless elements based in Pakistan could be involved in terrorist 
attacks in other countries." 
 
"Beware This Trap," an op-ed by Asif Ezdi in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/06) 
 
"If Rice's demand for transparency means that we have to satisfy any 
outside country on the way we conduct our investigations, it must be 
turned down.  Giving India an opportunity to probe into these 
matters, which is implicit in the proposal for joint investigation, 
would amount to laying a trap for ourselves." 
 
 
Patterson