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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 08 NEW DELHI 003041 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REACTION (CONTINUED): MUMBAI 
TERROR ATTACKS 
 
This cable reports on relevant media reaction from 
India's English and large non-English press. 
 
SUMMARY: The Mumbai attack continued to dominate the 
editorial pages today, with very little doubt left that 
the origins of the attack lay within the borders of 
Pakistan. Commentators gave the Indian government various 
options and prescriptions for taing Pakistan - ranging 
from severing the peace dialog, to limited military 
action. Editorialists acknowledged that while there may 
not be official Pakistani collusion in the attacks, 
Pakistan needs to be held accountable for allowing anti- 
India activities on its soil and that there are no more 
soft options for India. Meanwhile, such is the Indian 
public's disgust with the its political leadership that 
after Pakistan, India's own political class is being 
viewed by the media as its biggest enemy. End summary. 
 
--------------------- 
MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS 
--------------------- 
 
¶1. "DEALING WITH THE NEIGHBOR," editorial in the December 
2 nationalist English Daily THE HINDUSTAN TIMES 
(Circulation: 1.6 million). "There is little doubt that 
the origins of the Mumbai terror attack lie within the 
borders of Pakistan. India could consider severing the 
peace process and rolling up the trans-border links 
painfully built up over the past several years. However, 
it is important to recognize these connections were 
backed by New Delhi with an eye to slowly chipping away 
at the military-militant mindset in Pakistan. The Lashkar 
would actually cheer such a move ... A full-scale war is 
pointless in a nuclear environment. New Delhi needs to 
look harder at the idea of limited military action, 
perhaps striking only LeT camps in Pakistan-occupied 
Kashmir. Islamabad may well strike back. But, to be hard- 
nosed about things, the body count is less important than 
the need to send a message: as long as the Pakistani 
State tolerates terrorists within its border, it should 
expect to pay a price for the acts of such terrorists." 
 
¶2. "NECESSARY BUT INSUFFICIENT," editorial in the 
December 2 Left-of-Center English Daily THE HINDU 
(Circulation: 5280000). "What should New Delhi do now? 
First, it must take up, and test, President Asif Ali 
Zardari's public expression of solidarity with India ... 
New Delhi should make a reasonable demand on Islamabad to 
cooperate with the ongoing criminal investigation in 
accordance with bilateral understandings and United 
Nations Security Council Resolution 1373 ... Confronted 
with such evidence, the Pakistan government will be left 
with the choice of finally acting to eliminate the 
Lashkar's infrastructure and resources - or making it 
clear to the whole world that the state, or intractable 
elements within it are complicit in the terrorism of this 
and perhaps other jihadist groups.  Should Islamabad fail 
to act, the UPA government must resist the temptation of 
relying solely on the United States to crank up the 
pressure.  Instead, it must use the multilateral 
instruments at its disposal and work with all the 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  002 OF 008 
 
 
permanent members of the UNSC to build pressure on 
Pakistan's civilian government." 
 
¶3. "COMMON ENEMY," editorial in the December 2 centrist 
English Daily THE INDIAN EXPRESS (estimated circulation: 
200,000).  "In talks with Rice, India's most important 
objective must be to end the many current restrictions on 
significant counter-terror bilateral cooperation with the 
U.S.  Residual anti-Americanism in our security 
establishment has made it less than open; while the U.S. 
system has been reluctant to engage India on the sources 
of terrorism inside Pakistan.  Given its dependence on 
the Pakistan army for the war on terror in Afghanistan, 
Washington has been hesitant to exchange intelligence on 
terror groups based in Pakistan.  From its own 
experience, Washington now knows that the Pakistan army 
plays both sides of the street in Afghanistan ... India and 
the US must jointly measure up to the shared security 
challenges in Afghanistan and Pakistan.  New Delhi must 
contribute more to the international efforts in 
Afghanistan and the US must assist India in defeating the 
Pakistan based terror groups." 
 
¶4. "HOW MUST INDIA RESPOND TO NEW TERROR?," commentary by 
Ashok Kumar Mehta, Major General (Retd): "The following 
steps should guide the task force which will construct 
the internal security architecture: - Depoliticize 
national security, insulating internal security from vote 
bank politics - Create a department of internal security 
to tackle not just terrorism but also Naxalism and 
insurgency under the watch of the prime minister on the 
lines of US department of homeland security  - Define a 
national strategy for homeland security - Define a 
national strategy for homeland security - Overhaul and 
modernize intelligence policing, security, law 
enforcement. 
 
¶5. "HOW MUST INDIA RESPOND TO NEW TERROR?," commentary by 
Ajai Sahni, Institute for Conflict Management in the 
December 2 pro-economic reforms English daily THE 
ECONOMIC TIMES (Circulation: 465,000): "There is a 
question of response to the very obvious role of Pakistan 
- and this is a palpable dead end. Even preliminary 
investigations have thrown up overwhelming evidence that 
every string of control in the multiple terrorist strikes 
in Mumbai leads back to Pakistan and to the Lashkar-e- 
Toiba (LeT) ... with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice 
set to arrive at Delhi on December 3, on a visit that 
many expect (or, more likely, hope) will produce more 
than just a very strong 'message' to Islamabad. While all 
this will certainly make the powers that be in Pakistan 
squirm a bit, there is little reason to believe that the 
dynamic that has protected them in past and even greater 
transgressions, both in the region and well beyond, will 
not, once again, reassert itself." 
 
¶6. "NO POINT IN DIALOGUE WITH PAK," analysis in the 
December 2 centrist English daily Mail Today by Kanwal 
Sibal, former foreign secretary. "Our policy towards 
Pakistan has exploded in our face. We have, terrorist 
after terrorist attack, rescued Pakistan by declaring 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  003 OF 008 
 
 
that terrorists will not be allowed to derail our 
bilateral dialogue ... A country that deceives its friends 
cannot be honest with its enemies. Pakistan has adopted 
its traditional posture of asking for evidence, 
proclaiming its innocence, cautioning India against knee- 
jerk reactions and conveying a subtle warning that it 
will meet any Indian challenge unitedly as a nation. In a 
hardening of posture behind pro- forma protestations of 
friendship, the government is closing ranks with the ISI. 
The reaction of the Pakistan government is unacceptable 
politically. We must as first steps suspend the Composite 
Dialogue with Pakistan, freeze any CBMs in the offing and 
make public evidence of Pakistan's involvement." 
 
¶7. "MATURE DIPLOMACY NEEDED," op-ed analysis in the 
December 2 centrist NAI DUNIYA Hindi daily (circulation 
200,000) by former foreign secretary Shashank: "The kind 
of terror that we saw in Mumbai is new to India. So our 
response needs to be new too. This time foreigners have 
been targeted, obviously to attract international 
attention. There is no doubt that the strings of this 
terror are attached to Pakistan, but it may be pointed 
out that Pakistan may not be overtly involved. While 
formulating a response, we should remember that Pakistan 
itself is grappling with terror. Musharraf was targeted 
several times, and Benazir was assassinated by them. 
Pakistan is actually as much a victim of terror as us.... 
The world is focused on Mumabi today. We should avail of 
this opportunity and take the world community, 
particularly the two most influential nations of United 
States and China, with us in putting pressure on 
Pakistan." 
 
¶8. "INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS SET BACK BY 7 YEARS," oped 
in December 2 right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily 
(circulation 1.83 million): "Just when it looked like 
India and Pakistan were on their way to improving their 
ties and thrashing out contentious issues comes Mumbai! 
India has clearly said that it believes Pakistan is the 
culprit. The new U.S. Administration will now have to 
formulate its policy toward Pakistan very carefully. It 
cannot let Pakistan shirk its responsibility to fight 
terrorism on its soil. At the same time, the last thing 
they will want is Pakistani troops to be embroiled in any 
confrontation with India and ignore the war on terror on 
Pakistan's borders. Attention is shifting increasingly to 
the question whether the attacks on Mumbai were launched 
from Pakistani soil. Although there has not yet been any 
suggestion of official Pakistani collusion in or 
knowledge of the attacks, India places the blame on 
militant groups based in Pakistan." 
 
¶9. "MUTUAL CO-OPERATION AND DIALOGUES: SOLUTION OF THE 
PROBLEM" editorial in the December 2 right-of-center Urdu 
daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA (Circulation: 153,275), New Delhi: 
"After terror attack on Mumbai, the most important thing 
is to unveil the conspiracy behind this and nab the real 
mentors of the terrorist without loosing our temperament. 
Retaliation or waging war would only help the conspirator 
elements to succeed their plots. Pakistan and the ISI are 
being alleged for these occurrences. As Pakistan has also 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  004 OF 008 
 
 
been a target of terrorist activities since a long time, 
it should come forward to co-operate with India. If this 
serious issue is not resolved through bilateral 
dialogues, co-operation and exchange of information about 
the activities of the terrorists; its consequences may be 
very dreadful for both the countries particularly for 
Pakistan." 
 
¶10. "DON'T PLAY POLITICS" op-ed in the December 2 right- 
of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ, New Delhi 
(Circulation: 63,000) by columnist Hasan Kamal: "The fact 
that a handful of anti-humanity forces succeeded to held 
the India's biggest city and its millions of citizens 
captive, reveals that we are really a very soft target of 
anti-national elements. It (terrorist attack) may happen 
again and any where in the country. Probably we would 
have to live under the shadow of terror for a long time. 
We would not be able to combat the al-Qaeda like 
organizations and their Indian alternative Rashtriya 
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) until and unless every Indian is 
not prepared to combat the menace of terrorism. On one 
hand, if we have to eliminate al-Qaeda; on the other hand 
we would also have to be very careful so that the 
martyred chief of ATS Hemant Karkare's investigations on 
terror activities in various part of the country could 
not go in vain who was sincerely unveiling the terror 
face of this organization (RSS)." 
 
¶11. "RESIGNATION BY SHIVRAJ PATIL", editorial in December 
1 right Urdu daily "MUNSIF", Hyderabad (Circulation: 
60,009): "Tension between Indo-Pak relations is 
escalating due to unexpected reaction shown by Pakistan. 
Making a bitter comment on the tension, Pakistan Foreign 
Minister said that India would suffer more if it 
escalates. India held some elements in Pakistan 
responsible for Mumbai happenings. It did not accuse 
Pakistan itself. Despite, the harsh reaction by the 
Pakistan government is unfortunate. India and Pakistan 
are two neighboring countries. They have many common 
values. India is reeling under a very crucial time. Many 
issues have been surfaced up due to incessant terror 
activities. As a neighboring country, Pakistan should 
realize our problems." 
 
¶12. "RESIGNATION BY SHIVRAJ PATIL", editorial in the 
December 1 right-of-center Urdu daily "SIASAT", Hyderabad 
(Circulation: 42,869): "Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) was 
in troubled waters due to saffron organizations' role 
mentioned in Malegaon bomb-blasts investigations. On this 
account, BJP had opted for a defensive attitude abounding 
its enduring aggressive temperament. All big shots of BJP 
including L.K. Advani were engaged in denying their 
relations with those saffron activists, who were 
apprehended as culprits in Malegaon bomb-blasts. Sadhvi 
Pragya had allegedly, close relations with top leaders of 
BJP. It is also disclosed that the International 
Secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has also alleged 
role in the aforesaid blasts. During these 
investigations, Mumbai was attacked by terrorists. About 
200 innocent people were killed. The toll included 
foreign tourists, security officials and more 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  005 OF 008 
 
 
importantly, those high-officials of Anti-Terror Squad 
(ATS), who worked hard to reveal the role of saffron 
Hindu Organizations in Malegaon bomb-blasts. However, the 
government should try to find out real culprits and their 
motives behind every blast and every attack. It should 
also make the security agencies responsible as well as 
answerable." 
 
¶13. "CONDI ON HER WAY TO READ INDIA'S PAK PULSE," front 
page story in December 2 centrist English daily THE 
TELEGRAPH (Circulation: 251,000) by New Delhi-based 
Diplomatic Correspondent Jayanth Jacob.  "...On her way to 
take a measure of the strain in relations between New 
Delhi and Islamabad, Rice's unscheduled visit...will follow 
the summoning of Pakistan high commissioner Shahid Malik... 
The summoning...comes after foreign minister Pranab 
Mukherjee talked of 'elements in Pakistan' being behind 
the terror attacks. But the formality with which the 
message was given...is meant to convey the seriousness with 
which India intends to pursue the requests and demands it 
made to the Pakistan government ... As the freeze between 
New Delhi and Islamabad sets in, the arrival of 
Rice...highlights the concern in Washington over the 
immediate future in South Asia when US forces are 
operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan... Repercussions that 
a possible stand-off between the two countries can have 
on the fight on terror in Afghanistan - a key foreign 
policy imperative of President-elect Barack Obama as well 
- will form part of her discussions...." 
 
¶14. "GOOD RIDDANCE," editorial in December 2 centrist 
English daily THE STATESMAN (Circulation: 178,000).  "...It 
will...take more than a political and administrative 
reshuffle to convince that the various proposals now on 
the table will be pursued with due diligence. There is no 
overnight cure to the multi-dimensional failure that 
caused the security system to crumble, but if remedial 
action is now initiated and sustained then the Taj, 
Trident and Nariman House may prove more effective 
triggers than the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the 
hijack to Kandahar, the attack on Parliament House and 
countless bombings in major cities... Chidamabaram does 
enjoy a reputation for efficiency and creates the 
impression of getting the professionals to deliver... All 
that should stand him in good stead in the immediate task 
of revamping internal security, but the job is a larger 
one...and he could come up short in terms of the political 
clout and persuasive power required to carry the states 
and the Opposition along with him... Chidambaram starts off 
with a considerable advantage - it is inconceivable that 
anyone can prove worse than his predecessor!" 
 
¶15. "THE FOOLS RUSH IN," editorial page article in 
December 2 centrist English daily THE TELEGRAPH 
(Circulation: 251,000) by columnist Malvika Singh.  "This 
is an attack on India, not a terrorist operation in 
Mumbai alone... It seems to be a combination of al Qaida, 
Taliban, as well as mercenaries and underworld characters 
who fled from Mumbai and now live as aliens elsewhere in 
the world... A paparazzi press is another aspect of 
'terrorism'... The childish 'excitement' of the media, 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  006 OF 008 
 
 
still learning to report and indulging in endless 
speculations that was sometimes intelligent but at other 
times foolish, only helped the horror to burn on... Much 
damage has been done. Lives were put under threat and 
some were lost. India did not win, the opposing guerrilla 
forces did... The invasion of Mumbai has shown us that the 
press must follow some ethics and norms in such 
situations where there is infinite danger to innocent 
lives...." 
 
¶16. "PRESSURE ON PAKISTAN," editorial in December 2, 
left-of-center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI (circulation 
550,000). "Pakistan and Afghanistan have become backyards 
and training bases for terrorists. Terrorists are being 
deployed from these camps not only against India, but 
also against several countries in the world. It is the 
responsibility of the international community to put 
pressure on Pakistan to see that the terrorist camps are 
removed from there." 
 
¶17. "A TOTAL CHANGE -NEED OF THE HOUR," editorial in 
December 2 independent Kannada daily KANNADA PRABHA 
(circulation: 180,000). "A new legislation should be 
enacted in the Parliament to curb the terrorist 
menace. It should be the first task of the next 
government to develop a federal agency to deal with 
terror." 
 
¶18. "HOW FAR IS INDIA SAFE?" editorial page article in 
independent Kannada daily KANNADA PRABHA (circulation: 
180,000). "The Americans have said that they were duty 
bound to help India but this was a moment to get a dozen 
world capitals together to talk tough to Pakistan and 
those behind the attacks that the attack was not just on 
India but against the values of freedom and democracy and 
therefore, India was not alone." 
 
¶19. "TOLD TO QUIT," editorial in December 2 left-of- 
center English daily DECCAN HERALD (circulation: 
350,000): "There was culpable laxity in implementing 
action plans which were meant to strengthen the security 
system in Mumbai and in other parts of the country. The 
message should be that there is a seriousness of purpose 
in dealing with the threat to the country and the lives 
of people." 
 
¶20. "WIELDING SWORD" editorial in the December 2 
independent Telugu daily SAKSHI (Circulation: 
800,000): "When will the government set up a full fledged 
security agency in line with the FBI? When all evidence 
points to the involvement of Pakistani, how will the 
government deal with it?" 
 
¶21. "POWER POLITICS" editorial in the December 2 
independent Telugu daily EENADU (Circulation: 1 million). 
"Scrapping the POTA was a wrong step from the Manmohan 
Singh government. What is the government doing when 
dangerous elements from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan 
are operating from Indian soil to execute their terror 
agenda?  When small Nation like Israel are tackling 
terrorism with an iron hand, is it not ridiculous to 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  007 OF 008 
 
 
spend millions of rupees on security forces without any 
big results?" 
 
¶22. "WHEN THE CROOK MOCKS AT THE GENUINE!"  editorial in 
the December 2, 2008 Mumbai-based right-of-center 
Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR (circ: 200,000).  "Despite 
clear indications of Pakistan's involvement in the recent 
terror strikes in Mumbai, our neighbor continues to deny 
its complicity in this horrendous attacks.  Pakistan is 
demanding hard evidence from India to substantiate its 
accusations.  Does India now need to provide a video 
shooting as proof?  Every terror attack in India has 
Pakistani connection directly or indirectly.  Despite 
this, Pakistan continues to blow the 'provide proof' 
trumpet.  What does Pakistan have to say about Kargil? 
At that point of time, it even refused to accept the 
bodies of its soldiers killed in the battle....  Besides, 
did America provide proof after 9/11 incidents for its 
actions?  The need of the hour [for India] is to imitate 
what America did post 9/11 vis-`-vis its actions in 
Afghanistan and Iraq.  It is also high time that powerful 
nations like America, which have until now turned a blind 
eye towards Pakistan, give a stern message to Pakistan.... 
It is time for tough action against the crook." 
 
¶23. "TERRORISTS BANGED MORE THAN TAJ AND OBEROI, THEY 
SHOOK OUR POLITICIANS" editorial in the December 2, 2008, 
Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily LOKSATTA 
(circ: 550,000). "As Mumbai recovers from the havoc 
wrought by the terrorists, the city's political 
atmosphere has intensified. As expected, the central and 
state government are playing the blame game and 
opposition parties of course are doing their bit to keep 
the curry boiling. While the Union Home minister and 
Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister have resigned, and 
the Maharashtra Chief minister is likely to be dethroned, 
the resignations are no solution to the security and 
intelligence lapses during the recent terrorist outbreak. 
It is rather shameful to acknowledge the fact that the 
three senior police officers, who died on duty in their 
bid to curb terrorist violence, did not have sturdy 
workable bullet-proof jackets. The Chief Minister 
Vilasrao Deshmukh later commented that the needs of the 
police force have been neglected. Not just the police 
force, but many crucial aspects of Mumbai's life have 
been neglected.... The latest terrorist attacks have not 
just affected Mumbaikars, but they have unsparingly 
placed the state and central government and Mumbai's 
elected representatives on the firing line. The attack 
has upturned the political equations and notions 
surrounding traditional vote banks. The mastermind of 
this terrorist plot, whoever he is, seems to be having a 
reasonable understanding of the political contours of 
India..." 
 
¶24. "SHIVRAJ PATIL HAD TO GO" editorial in December 2 
Kolkata centrist AZAD HIND (circ: 45,000).  "Both Hindus 
and Muslims were angry with Home Minister Shivraj Patil. 
Serial bomb blasts (in recent past)...made the Sangh 
Parivar (BJP's hardcore wing) mad with fury. They became 
thirsty for the blood of ATS (Anti-terrorism Squad) Chief 
 
NEW DELHI 00003041  008 OF 008 
 
 
Hemant Karkare... Several cases were progressing in such a 
way that it created an apprehension that there may be 
some huge incidents...which will be successful in covering 
up the case of 'Hindu Terrorism'. Then the biggest 
terrorist attack happened in Mumbai. The terrorists 
precisely ambushed Karkare's car and shot him down... Now 
nobody knows what will happen to the Malegaon case, but 
there is a concern that this case will go to cold 
storage. In the very beginning of the Mumbai carnage 
Karkare was killed and this gives the impression that 
this terrorist attack was mainly targeted to take the 
life of Karkare. It was such a big dimensional conspiracy 
that thousands of innocents have come under its fold." 
MULFORD