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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: December 15, 2008 
 
SUMMARY:  Reports on British Prime Minister Brown's joint press 
conference with President Zardari in which the latter blamed 
"Lashkar-e-Taiba for the Mumbai attacks" and "sought access to the 
activists of banned militant outfits" dominated headlines in all 
newspapers on Monday. Indian premier Singh's statement that "he 
wanted normalized relations with Pakistan" was front-paged by 
several newspapers.  Also front-paged were reports and photographs 
of "journalist throws shoes at Bush" in Iraq. 
 
All newspapers highlighted President Zardari's statement that 
"Indian planes incursion into Pakistan's airspace on Saturday was a 
technical mistake." 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the reported Indian planes' 
violation of Pakistani air space. The leading mass circulation Urdu 
daily, "Jang," stressed that the "international community must not 
allow India to cross its limits" while the second largest Urdu 
daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt" termed it as "hostile patrolling."  End 
Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
¶01. "Brown Blames Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) for Mumbai Attacks" "Dawn" 
(12/15) 
 
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown offered help to Pakistan and 
India on Sunday in investigating the Mumbai attacks. He also offered 
a new "pact against terror". Stressing the need for dialogue between 
Islamabad and New Delhi, Mr Brown said tension and conflict would 
achieve nothing." 
 
¶02. "Brown Wants Pak Militants Quizzed by UK Police" "The News" 
(12/15) 
 
"British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Sunday sought access to the 
activists of banned militant outfits in Pakistan arrested in recent 
crackdown following the Mumbai attacks. 'We have asked Pakistan to 
provide access to our police to interview those detained in Pakistan 
in recent crackdown against Mumbai attack suspects,' he said." 
 
¶03. "Singh Wants Ties With Pakistan Normalized" "Dawn" (12/15) 
"India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Sunday he wanted 
normalized relations with Pakistan amid rising tensions between the 
South Asian rivals following Mumbai attacks that left more than 160 
people dead. Addressing an election rally in occupied Kashmir, he 
said he hoped relations between the neighbors could be "normalized," 
but this could not happen until 'our neighbor stops allowing its 
territory to be used for acts of terrorism against India.'" 
¶04. "Unpleasant Iraq farewell for Bush" "Dawn" (12/15) 
 
"President George Bush got a stunning 'parting shot' during his 
farewell visit to Iraq on Sunday when a local journalist, obviously 
annoyed over the US invasion of his country, hurled both his shoes 
at him." 
 
¶05. "Incursion Was A 'Technical Mistake': Zardari" "Dawn" (12/15) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari said on Sunday there was no danger of a 
war breaking out between India and Pakistan, adding that Indian 
planes had intruded into Pakistan airspace on Saturday because of a 
'technical mistake.'" 
 
¶06. "U.S. Papers Question Pakistan's Version" "Dawn" (12/15) 
 
"The U.S. media on Sunday questioned Pakistan's version of the 
Indian air violations, pointing out that two violations happening at 
least 100 miles from each other could not have been inadvertent. 
Also, one U.S. news magazine reported that the Indian military is 
trying to convince decision-makers in New Delhi to authorize an 
aerial attack on Muridke, a Jamaatud Dawa base." 
 
¶07. "Gilani Warns Against Adventurism" "The News" (12/15) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Sunday said any adventurism 
against Pakistan would be retaliated as the defense of the country 
was in powerful hands." 
 
¶08. "U.S. drones continue airspace violation" "The News" (12/15) 
 
"Four U.S. spy planes on Sunday intruded into the Pakistan airspace 
and flew over South Waziristan, creating panic among the tribesmen. 
All the four spy planes were seen flying at extremely low altitude 
throughout the day over various tribal villages of South Waziristan, 
including Wana, Karikot, Shakai, Raghzai, Sholam, Azam Warsak, Zari 
Noor and Birmal areas." 
 
¶09. "FC deployed to protect NATO supplies" "Dawn" (12/15) 
"Paramilitary troops and police were deployed at terminals and 
parking areas along Ring Road in Peshawar on Sunday to protect Nato 
and American forces' supplies from militants, officials said. 
Contractors said that supply from Karachi to Peshawar had been 
suspended owing to growing attacks on the terminals." 
¶10. "Nato Looks To Afghanistan's North For Supplies" "Dawn" (12/15) 
 
"NATO is in talks with Afghanistan's northern neighbors to allow the 
shipment of more supplies to troops, the force's commander said on 
Sunday, after Taliban attacks destroyed hundreds of trucks coming 
from Pakistan." 
 
¶11. "TTP claims attacks on Nato supplies terminal" "The News" 
(12/15) 
 
"Maulvi Omer, spokesman of for the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP), claimed responsibility for the attacks on Nato supplies and 
termed it a reaction to the U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan 
territory." 
 
¶12. "French FM hails Pak response to Mumbai attacks" "Daily Times" 
(12/15) 
 
"French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Sunday acknowledged 
Pakistan's 'constructive response' to the Mumbai attacks, and 
praised the country for the 'positive steps' it has taken to deal 
with the situation, according to a Foreign Office statement." 
 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
¶13. "International community must not allow India to cross its 
limits," an editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu 
daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (12/15) 
 
"The growing apprehensions in Pakistan about any possible Indian 
aggression, and a full-scale war following the Indian unfounded and 
preposterous allegations against Pakistan of involvement in the 
Mumbai carnage, threats of dire consequences, rise in war 
preparations, advancement of Indian troops towards Pakistani 
borders, and well thought-out diplomatic, political and media 
campaign against Pakistan have taken a new turn with the incident of 
intrusion of Indian fighter jets into Pakistani airspace.  The 
international community must persuade India to show restraint, 
resort to peaceful means to resolve any issue, as any armed conflict 
between the two nuclear-power states can take the whole world into 
its fold." 
 
¶14. "Airspace violation by Indian Air Force," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 125,000) (12/15) 
 
"The Indian Government has been encouraged by the steps the 
government of Pakistan has taken so far under American and Indian 
pressure, hence airspace violation....  This was a hostile 
patrolling that was answered by the Pakistan Air Force." 
 
¶15. "Creating War Scare," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/15) 
 
"President Asif Zardari could not get it more right when he told his 
parliamentary party that Pakistan's commitment to international and 
regional peace should not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness. But 
he should have avoided downplaying the violation of our airspace by 
the Indian Air Force fighter jets on Saturday, describing it as a 
mere technical incursion. The observation came hours after the IAF 
jets intruded into our airspace twice, drifting some four kilometers 
inside the Kashmir and Lahore sectors before being chased away by 
the PAF fighters. A private television channel meanwhile quoted the 
PAF spokesman as saying it would be premature to call the violations 
an attack." 
 
¶16. "Indian fighters violation of Pakistan Airspace," an editorial 
in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (12/15) 
 
"The action against banned Jamaatud Daawa continues....  There was 
unpleasantness in the air when the airspace violation took place, 
which was like pouring fuel on the fire....  Now there is more 
uncertainty about the peace....  Although Pakistan has taken action 
against JD, India hasn't given the evidence against JD to 
Pakistan." 
 
¶17. "India's Highly Provocative Airspace Violation," an editorial in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (12/15) 
 
"As was widely believed India is using Mumbai attacks as an excuse 
to pressurize and browbeat Pakistan through political, diplomatic 
and military means. This was once again confirmed on Saturday when 
Indian fighter jets, carrying warheads, brazenly violated Pakistan 
Airspace over Lahore and Kashmir sector twice. We would also urge 
people of Pakistan and political leadership to agitate the issue of 
air space violation to send right kind of signal to the enemy." 
 
¶18. "Airspace violation: Indian double standards," an editorial note 
in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) 
(12/15) 
 
"Indian rulers are well aware of the military strength of Pakistan. 
Which force then is compelling India to dare a military exploit 
against Pakistan?  In fact both Jews and Hindus are same in nature; 
they both have no rival in enmity against Islam and Pakistan.  All 
the Jews of the world pretend to be the close friends of India to 
fulfill their nefarious designs against Pakistan." 
 
¶19. "Action in the Air" an editorial in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/15) 
 
"The situation is a perilous one. The two South Asian neighbors 
stand poised closer to war then at any time in decades. This is an 
outcome that must, at all costs, be avoided. The U.S. has tried to 
bring down the pitch by counseling restraint to a belligerent New 
Delhi and cooperation to a rather harassed Islamabad. The UK too has 
assisted. A war in the region works for no one and as far as the 
West is concerned would only detract attention from the war on 
terror, which remains its primary concern." 
 
¶20. "Handling The Post-Mumbai Situation," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (12/15) 
 
"The Pakistani allegedly involved in the Mumbai attack is supposed 
to be making 'disclosures.' The Indian air force has violated 
Pakistani airspace 'inadvertently.' NATO, after having several of 
its supply-convoys destroyed just outside Peshawar, is looking for 
an alternative Central Asian route. Afghanistan's neighbors are 
gathering in Paris to discuss the future of the country. There is a 
confluence of events that has brought the world to Pakistan's door. 
Demands are being made of Islamabad and the response requires a 
careful assessment of the situation by the leadership before a 
workable national security strategy can be formulated and 
implemented. While there is some outward show of unity, fissures are 
clear below the surface between the government taking a cautious 
approach and large sections of society demanding a 'nationalist' 
response." 
 
¶21. "Serious Violation of Pakistan's airspace," an editorial note in 
the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (12/15) 
 
"Some clandestine forces want to escalate tension between India and 
Pakistan.  Who are these forces that would like to fish in troubled 
water if a war outbreak between Pakistan and India?  The people of 
Pakistan know very well that the U.S. and Israel want to wrap up 
Pakistan's nuclear program at any rate.  And India isn't far behind 
in this agenda.  According to some international media reports, 
Indian leadership has already worked out a plan in connivance with 
Israel to hit some parts of Pakistan.  However, it (Indian 
leadership) has put off this plan on U.S. and British interference 
until completion of probe of Mumbai attacks.  The airspace 
violations by Indian fighter jets must be seen in this context." 
 
¶22. "Reduction in Pak-India tension: need of hour" an editorial in 
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (12/15) 
 
"Indian air force fighters violated Pak airspace on Saturday....  We 
may accept that Indian planes entered Pakistan airspace by mistake. 
Caution is advised for future." 
 
¶23. "With Limited Military Options, What Can India Do?" an op-ed by 
Farrukh Saleem in the centrist national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/15) 
 
"Post-Mumbai, the Great Game is in play in the Sub-continent. The 
U.S., India and Pakistan, the three state actors, and the 
Lashkar-e-Taiba, the only non-state actor, are all-out entangled to 
extricate their own brownie points. The U.S. has invested a colossal 
$170 billion in Afghanistan and thus would not let India distract 
Pakistan from the 'war on terror'." 
 
¶24. "Beyond Conspiracy Theories" an op-ed by Kaiser Bengali in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/15) 
 
"In the 1980s, the 'non-state actors' paradigm was used within the 
ambit of the U.S. and western global strategy. Understandably, no 
aspersions were cast internationally with respect to the legitimacy 
of the means being employed. Of course, the paradigm was 
irresponsible and criminal then and is equally so now. The 
difference is that, in the current global scenario, U.S. patronage 
is no longer available and this paradigm is simply unacceptable. The 
cost that Pakistan will have to pay for continuing such a course of 
action will be exorbitant. It is likely that the stage can be set 
for U.S.-led international forces to carry out an operation aimed at 
eliminating the presumed capacity to mount terrorist operations 
abroad - and to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong 
hands. Given, however, that India will be a partner in any such 
operation, an attempt will be made to disable our intelligence 
capability altogether. The implications for national security will 
be grave. It would, therefore, be prudent for the country's security 
leadership to undertake to renounce the highly counterproductive use 
of non-state actors as a policy tool and launch a full-fledged 
clean-up operation on their own initiative." 
 
¶25. "A Chain Of Terror?" an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/15) 
 
"Mr. Brown has, of late, been talking of a 'chain of terror' linking 
British radical elements to 'mosques, madrasahs and jihadi camps' 
located here, maintaining that three-fourths of the serious plots in 
Britain investigated by the police have found their echo in 
Pakistan. His offer of six million pounds worth of aid, training in 
bomb disposal capability, firming up security of airports and making 
available to Islamabad scanning equipment has to be seen in that 
context. One would expect that the Pakistan government would make 
the best possible use of this offer to be better able to forestall 
terrorist attacks in the future." 
 
¶26. "A case of neighborly comedy" an op-ed by Rakesh Mani in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/15) 
 
"If the ideology of terror is that it works, then the ideology of 
security has to be preparedness for the worst possible scenario. But 
recent events have made a mockery of not only the intelligence 
agencies of both countries, but their civil services too. Escalating 
tensions need to be defused swiftly and dark comedy, however 
amusing, is not the answer. Now more than ever, we need real 
statesmen to step up to the plate and act with maturity, restraint 
and vision. India and Pakistan are in this together, one cannot 
succeed while the other falters." 
 
¶27. "A terror-free world?" An op-ed by Masood Sharif Khan Khattak in 
the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/15) 
 
"In the modern age the only way towards a terror-free world is 
through statesmanship of the world's powerful leaders leading to a 
just dispensation of international justice between nations, races 
and religions. I stress on this because the bulky and highly visible 
military might of any superpower in the future will never be able to 
fight the agility and the indefatigable war stamina of the 
terrorists, militants and freedom fighters of the future." 
 
¶28. "Another attack at NATO terminal," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (12/15) 
 
"It is a reality that that some foreign forces want to get suspended 
the logistic supply to the NATO forces through Pakistan.  The 
growing attacks at the NATO forces' terminal in Peshawar must be 
taken as a whole with the terror attacks in Mumbai." 
 
"Patterson