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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 12, 2008 
 
Summary:  Reports and photographs on the "country-wide crackdown on 
Jamaatud Daawa" and the arrest of its leader, Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, 
dominated front pages in all newspapers on Friday.  Side by side, 
reports from the United Nations Security Council declaring three 
leaders of banned militant outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba, on a terrorist 
watch list also garnered front-page coverage.  Also front-paged were 
reports that U.S. Deputy Secretary Negroponte during his meetings 
with senior Pakistani civilian and military leaders observed that 
the "U.S. fully supported Pakistan's war on terror policies."  The 
remarks by Indian Prime Minister Singh urging Pakistan "to root out 
epicenter of terror" were figured prominently.  Notwithstanding 
government's reported ban on "public and private TV channels not to 
air statements by banned Pakistani outfits," prominent coverage was 
given to the press conference of Hafiz Mohammad Saeed who termed the 
UNSC sanctions against his organization as "an attack on Islam, 
Pakistan, and Islamic groups."  Newspapers highlighted reports that 
"two U.S. military trucks were destroyed when suspected militants 
attacked a parking lot in Peshawar."  Other highlights included 
reports that "U.S. drones killed six in South Waziristan Agency." 
All dailies also quoted the Foreign Minister Qureshi as saying that 
"Pakistan will not hand over any citizen to India." 
 
All major dailies ran editorials on the UN sanctions imposed on 
Pakistani outfit Jamaatud Daawa. The right-wing Urdu daily, 
"Jasarat," noted that "there is no doubt that India has once again 
been successful on the diplomatic front. The UN Security Council's 
haste and efficiency in passing this resolution is noticeable as 
this is the same Security Council which does not pass a single 
resolution against Israel's aggression."  The national English 
daily, "Dawn," advocated that "this time there must be no repeat of 
those half-hearted measures against militants.  If Hafiz Saeed and 
his men are involved in the Mumbai attacks, they must be arrested 
and prosecuted."  Another English daily, "The News," observed that 
the "Pakistan government is caught in a perilous situation. If it 
concedes too little, it angers New Delhi and Washington, which is 
standing by India even while playing the role of chief mediator. If 
too much is done, the government risks still fiercer attack at 
home."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Dawa Offices In Most Cities And Towns Sealed; Hafiz Saeed, Others 
In Custody" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed was placed under house 
arrest for three months as the countrywide crackdown on the 
organisation continued on Thursday.  Police sealed Qudsia Mosque, 
the headquarters of Jamaatud Dawa in Lahore and 18 other offices 
throughout Punjab.  Twenty-five members of the organisation were 
detained.  A large number of publications of the organisation were 
seized." 
 
"Hafiz Saeed And Lakhvi On UN Terror Watch-List" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"The United Nations Security Council's Sanctions Committee put three 
leaders of Lashkar-e-Taiba and a Saudi operative on a terrorist 
watch-list, says a document released on Wednesday night." 
 
"U.S. Backs Pakistan's Terror War Policies" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte said in Islamabad 
on Thursday his country fully supported Pakistan's 'war on terror' 
policies.  In his meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime 
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, he said if Pakistan and India did not 
act sagaciously to contain the fallout from the Mumbai carnage, 
peace of the whole region would be affected." 
 
"Pakistan To Abide By UN Resolution, PM Tells Negroponte" "The News" 
(12/12) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Thursday told the visiting 
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte that Pakistan 
would abide by the United Nations Security Council's resolution 1267 
to ban the four militant organizations, fulfilling its international 
obligations." 
 
"Negroponte Meets Tareen" "The News" (12/12) 
 
"Deputy Secretary of State John D. Negroponte here on Thursday 
assured the Pakistan government of continued U.S. support for its 
economic revival and development agenda.  In a meeting with Adviser 
to Prime Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs Shaukat Tareen, 
Negroponte appreciated the steps and measures taken by the present 
government and economic team, said a Finance Division press 
release." 
 
"Pakistan Urged To Root Out 'Epicenter Of Terror" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"India's parliament united behind the shaken government of Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday who apologized for the lapses 
that allowed armed militants to raid Mumbai at will and he held 
Pakistan accountable for the outrage which he said was executed from 
its soil." 
 
"Government Bans Banned Outfits On Media" "Daily Times" (12/12) 
 
"The government has directed public and private TV channels not to 
air statements by banned Pakistani outfits, a private TV channel 
reported on Thursday. According to the channel, the government has 
also cancelled the declaration of weekly 'Ghazwa' and the monthly 
'Al Dawa' - published by the now-banned Jamaatud Daawa. The ban came 
in the wake of a crackdown on the charity." 
 
"Saeed Says Ban An Attack On Islam" "The News" (12/12) 
 
"Jamaat-ud-Daawa Ameer Hafiz Muhammad Saeed on Thursday condemned 
the UN Security Council for banning his party merely on Indian 
allegations and termed it mala fide, unjustified and 'an attack on 
Islam, Pakistan and Islamic groups.'" 
 
"Congress Hails Pak Action Against Militants" "The News" (12/12) 
 
"The U.S. Congress has welcomed Pakistan's action against militants 
in the wake of Mumbai attacks as well as the government's pledge to 
cooperate in investigating the incident." 
 
"Pakistan Acted On Good Instincts: U.S." "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"The U.S. State Department said on Thursday that Pakistan had acted 
on 'good instinct' in going after the individuals designated as 
terrorists by the UN Security Council, State Department spokesman 
Sean McCormack told a briefing.  At the White House, spokeswoman 
Dana Perino said the vote at the UN Security Council was important 
not just for India but for the rest of the world as well." 
 
"U.S. Hopes For Pakistani 'Shift' On Lashkar" "Daily Times" (12/12) 
 
"The U.S. said on Wednesday that it hoped Pakistan would adopt a 
tougher stance towards Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LT) - the group India 
blames for the Mumbai attacks, said White House spokeswoman Dana 
Perino." 
 
"Rice Lauds Pakistan's 'Serious' Anti-Terror Steps" "The News" 
(12/12) 
 
"The U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has lauded Pakistan's 
'serious steps' against militants in the wake of terrorist attacks 
in Mumbai, which, she said, were aimed at stirring up trouble 
between the nuclear neighbors." 
 
"Pak, India Nukes Secure: Pentagon" "The News" (12/12) 
 
"The Pentagon expressed confidence on Tuesday that India and 
Pakistan's nuclear arsenals remain secure despite tensions over the 
recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai, said Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon 
Press Secretary." 
 
"Two U.S. Military Trucks Destroyed" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"Two U.S. military trucks were destroyed when suspected militants 
attacked a parking lot with petrol bombs on the Ring Road, Peshawar 
on Thursday evening." 
 
"Six Killed In Suspected U.S. Missile Strike" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"Six suspected militants were killed on Thursday when a missile 
apparently fired by a U.S. drone struck a house in a tribal district 
known to be a Taliban stronghold, Pakistani security official 
said." 
 
"Pakistan Not To Hand Over Any Citizen To India" "Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"Foreign Minister Mahmood Qureshi has said Pakistan will not hand 
over any of its citizens to India and it has informed the 
international community about." 
 
"Bush Defends 'Necessary' U.S. Action In Pakistan" "The News" 
(12/12) 
 
"U.S. President George W. Bush promised on Tuesday to 'do what is 
necessary' to blunt any terrorist threats originating from suspected 
extremist havens in Pakistan's tribal areas, while in a speech at 
the U.S. Military Academy in New York." 
 
"U.S. To Deploy Three More Combat Brigades In Afghanistan: Gates" 
"Dawn" (12/12) 
 
"Warning that Afghanistan will be a 'long fight,' U.S. Defence 
Secretary Robert Gates said on Thursday he hoped to send three more 
U.S. combat brigades to the country by late spring, he said during 
an unannounced visit to Afghanistan." 
 
"No U.S. Economic Assistance In Cash" "The News" (12/12) 
 
"The United States has stopped provision of cash economic assistance 
to Pakistan for the last few weeks, a senior official of the Finance 
Ministry said, wishing anonymity." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Action On Indian Orders," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) 
(12/12) 
 
"There is no doubt that India has once again been successful on the 
diplomatic front. The UN's Security Council's haste and efficiency 
in passing this resolution is noticeable, because this is the same 
Security Council which does not pass a single resolution against 
Israel's aggression.  The Security Council also needs to be reminded 
that it had also passed a resolution on Kashmir on Indian demand but 
that resolution is yet to be implemented." 
 
"UN Sanctions," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (12/09) 
 
"This time there must be no repeat of those half-hearted measures 
against militants.  If Hafiz Saeed and his men are involved in the 
Mumbai attacks, they must be arrested and prosecuted....  Reading 
the tea leaves to discern Islamabad's intentions is a difficult 
exercise at the best of times.  However, a pragmatic approach by the 
international community, especially India and the U.S., can help 
nudge Pakistan to stamp out terrorism." 
 
"Mounting Pressure," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/09) 
 
"The pressure on Pakistan, in the unpleasant aftermath of the Mumbai 
attacks, is mounting. Pakistan's government is caught in a perilous 
situation.  If it concedes too little, it angers New Delhi and 
Washington, which is standing by India even while playing the role 
of chief mediator.  If too much is done, the government risks still 
fiercer attack at home, where it has already been blamed for failing 
to stand up to India." 
 
"Curbing Extremism," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (12/09) 
 
"It is an irony that certain extremist outfits have been continuing 
their activities on our soil in the garb of welfare projects but 
people doubt that their actual motive is what they apparently claim 
for....  These groups have their own agenda which they tend to 
accomplish at the cost of state apparatus and putting the future of 
millions at risk.  No sovereign country can afford this type of 
militant groups to thrive on its soil." 
 
"UNSC Sanctions," an editorial in the center-right national English 
 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/09) 
 
"The issue of fighting terrorism is high on the agenda of the 
international community because of the threat posed by non-state 
actors to the integrity of numerous countries across the globe. 
This explains the haste with which the UN Security Council has 
action to declare the Dawa a terrorist outfit...." 
 
"American And Indian Pressure To Ban Jamaatud Dawa," an editorial in 
the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 5000) (12/12) 
 
"Pakistanis can never forget Jamaatud Dawa's social welfare services 
during the 2005 earthquake.  In the recent earthquake in 
Balochistan, Jamaatud Dawa established camps throughout the country, 
collected the required relief goods and sent them to Balochistan. 
Thousands of students from the underprivileged sections of the 
society are getting education either free or on nominal rates at the 
JD schools.  Anti-literacy imperialist powers do not want a local 
NGO [like JD] to promote elementary education in the country." 
 
"Where Will This Cycle Of Sanctions End?," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (12/12) 
 
"The question is: if today Al Dawa Trust and Al Rashid trust are 
banned, will India and the U.S. not demand the banning of other 
religious and political groups in the future? If a group or 
individual is involved in suspect activities, the government should 
deal with them strongly, but it should all be done in the national 
interests, not under foreign pressure." 
 
"Once Again Misuse Of United Nations," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 
33,000) (12/12) 
 
"The coordination between the U.S., Israel and India shows that they 
are acting jointly and now have used UN for this purpose.  These all 
developments hint towards a greater war in the region." 
 
"Mumbai blasts: Indian Allegations, And Demands Of The Situation," 
an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (12/12) 
 
"One thing is certain: Pakistan's moderate circles are not against 
improving ties with India.  Similarly, a majority of Indians want 
better ties with Pakistan.  However, there is a small section in 
both countries that does not want bilateral relations to improve and 
is engaged in sabotaging these relations.  It is time for both 
countries to control the anti-peace elements on their soils rather 
than hurling allegations at each other, so that tragedies like the 
Islamabad Marriott and Mumbai Taj Hotel do not recur." 
 
"Tension Between Indo-Pak Relations," an editorial in Hyderabad 
based independent liberal Sindhi language daily "Kawish" (Cir. 
105,000) (12/12) 
 
"During the last several years whenever Pakistan and India moved in 
a positive direction, enemies of peace tried to sabotage relations 
by acts of terrorism. It is unfortunate that India always looks for 
such enemies on the other side of the border.  Both these countries 
need to realize that they face a joint enemy and thus Pakistan's 
suggestion to hold joint investigation of Mumbai attacks is a viable 
way forward." 
 
"DCC's Right Decision," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/09) 
 
"The biggest challenge for Pakistan remains the Taliban and their 
masters, Al Qaeda; and Pakistan cannot fight this battle without 
international assistance.  There should be no ambiguity about the 
task of facing up to the terrorists and defeating them....  One 
hopes that in the coming days, a thaw between Pakistan and India 
will help in making the task easier for Islamabad." 
 
"Torching Of NATO Supplies," an editorial in the country's premier 
business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (12/09) 
 
"Attacks on NATO supplies passing through our militancy infested 
areas in NWFP and the tribal region seem to have assumed an alarming 
proportion....  The present incident shows that the protection 
arranged so far has been insufficient.  The war in Afghanistan 
 
having spilled over into our own country with devastating 
consequences, laxity of this sort is not an option.  Those concerned 
must put their act together and ensure safe passage of the NATO 
supplies all the way to the Afghan border." 
 
"What War Means," an op-ed by Ayesha Siddiqa in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/09) 
 
"The two states must also be careful not to tolerate or encourage 
attacks by non-state actors.  The lesson of the current crisis is 
very simple: the region is intrinsically connected despite political 
boundaries.  The crisis of one is bound to spill over to the other. 
For those who want to destroy Pakistan or India by waging internal 
wars, the answer is that the overall effect would be terrible and 
difficult to contain within a certain geographical boundary.  In any 
case, the continuation of terror outfits does not serve the interest 
of either state." 
 
"Degrading ... But Do We Have A Choice?," an op-ed by Ayaz Amir in 
the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/09) 
 
"Distancing ourselves equally from the Taliban and the United States 
is not as great a contradiction as may appear at first.  For us both 
the Yanks and the Black Turbans pose a mortal danger.  We play with 
either and we burn our fingers." 
 
 
Patterson