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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 003123 
 
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: MEDIA REACTION: INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS IN WAKE 
OF MUMBAI ATTACKS, MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS/ WAR AGAINST 
TERRORISM; NEW DELHI. 
 
This cable reports on relevant media reaction from 
India's large non-English press. Embassy New Delhi 
reports on English-language media via email in the daily 
"Early Edition."  USG customers please write to Geeta 
Krishali (KrishaliG@state.gov) to subscribe to the "Early 
Edition." 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
INDIA/PAKISTAN RELATIONS IN WAKE OF MUMBAI ATTACKS 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶1. "PAKISTAN'S HELPLESSNESS," editorial in the December 
10 HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan, for the first time, 
has really acted against terrorists, but under pressure. 
If the Pakistani rulers really want to eradicate 
terrorism their actions should match their words. They 
should stop the diplomatic drama and destroy the 
terrorist camps running on their soil. The Mumbai terror 
attacks forced the U.S. and Europe to think that the 
Pakistani terrorists could also create troubles for them. 
Thus, the U.S. stepped up pressure on Pakistan... If the 
U.S. and Europe stop their financial aid, it could create 
serious difficulties for Pakistan. And the statements of 
the sole terrorist survivor of Mumbai massacre, Azam Amir 
Kasav, and the solid proof of him being a Pakistani 
citizen have made the situation even more difficult for 
the Pakistan government. The U.S. intelligence agencies' 
reports are also pointing to the ISI's involvement. Now 
Pakistan has to decide if it wants to continue to be an 
international headache or it wants to be included in the 
category of the successful nations?" 
 
¶2. "TRAPPING PAKISTAN," editorial in the December 10 
RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "India's anti-Pakistan 
global diplomacy regarding the Mumbai terror attacks is, 
actually, its strategy of trapping Pakistan. And raising 
this issue in the UN Security Council is a part of this 
strategy. India perhaps wants to create grounds to act 
against Pakistan with the permission of the Council... And 
Pakistan seems to have a two-sided strategy-- reiterating 
the commitment of cooperation and giving statement, 
taking into consideration the internal politics, of not 
handing over any Pakistani to India; and on the other 
side, trying to make the world believe that Pakistan 
itself is struggling with terrorism. The Western 
countries, including the U.S., hesitate in adopting 
strict attitude against Pakistan because-- firstly, they 
feel that it will endanger democracy over there and 
secondly, it can increase anger in the Islamic world. 
This thinking is the biggest obstacle at present in the 
way of the success of the Indian diplomacy." 
 
¶3. "DETENTION OF MASOOD AZHAR AND LAKHVI IS ABSOLUTE 
EYEWASH," editorial in the December 11 pro-BJP Kolkata 
Bengali daily, BARTAMAN.  "Pakistan's new civilian 
government is completely helpless at the hands of...strong 
power centers. The government may not stay in power if it 
really wants drastic action against the terrorists. The 
Pakistani Army and ISI will not let the government 
continue. That is the reason why America too does not 
 
NEW DELHI 00003123  002 OF 003 
 
 
believe that Pakistan has detained the terrorist leaders 
or has put them under house arrest. The Pakistani 
government's claim is untenable." 
 
¶4. "A DIFFERENT EID," editorial in the December 11 
independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. 
"This year's Eid was a bit different in the wake of the 
Mumbai massacre... Muslim leaders have made it clear that 
there is no relation between protection of minority 
rights and their development ... The leaders have done a 
good job by going on record that they too regard India as 
their motherland and they are no less committed than any 
other Indian nationals in preventing damage and 
destruction to the country. It was indeed necessary to 
send out this message to timid and hesitant secularists 
at this hour of crisis." 
 
¶5. "UNTRUSTWORTHY NEIGHBOR" editorial in the December 11, 
2008, Mumbai edition of left-of-center Marathi daily 
MAHARASHTRA TIMES.  "Ultimately Pakistan has, though 
indirectly, admitted to the complicity of Pakistan's 
Jehadi elements in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Pakistan has 
been pressurized enough by the world community to not 
just admit to the connivance but also take action against 
the terrorist operatives. Now the moot point is whether 
the recent arrests of terrorists, initiated by the 
Pakistani government, are genuine or misleading. There is 
a possibility, and a strong one, that the rapid action 
against Pakistani terrorist groups is a sham. Similar 
action was taken against terrorist operatives during 
General Pervez Musharraf's tenure. But these terrorists 
are moving freely today, under some other guise. 
Immediately after Asif Zardari came to power, these 
Jehadi element have become extra-active. And Zardari 
again is an untrustworthy character whose public 
statements are to be taken with a pinch of salt. He has 
contributed to the anti-India environment in Pakistan. 
One cannot even rule out the possibility of a sudden 
airstrike by Pakistan against India..." 
Similar editorial appeared in the December 11, 2008 
edition of Marathi daily LOKMAT. 
 
¶6. "PAKISTAN'S ACTIONS AGAINST TERRORISTS:  GENUINE OR 
SHAM?"  editorial in the December 11, 2008 centrist 
Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA.  "Succumbing to the 
international pressure, especially the U.S., the 
Pakistani government has clamped down on terrorists 
operating in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's 
Muzzafarabad.  This seems to be an apparent bid by 
Pakistan to stave off rising global and India's rage over 
Pakistan's lackadaisical approach in reigning in the 
rogue elements there....  Whatever may be the case, the 
steps initiated by Pakistani government in apprehending 
Lakhvi and Masood Azhar indicate that India is certainly 
on these terrorists' hit-list who have been carrying out 
their nefarious activities against India....  Besides, what 
is the guarantee that reigning in these elements will 
bring an end to anti-India activities?  Even Pakistan's 
Inter-Services Intelligence and the military continue to 
foster anti-India sentiments through such radical 
 
NEW DELHI 00003123  003 OF 003 
 
 
elements....  Considering all this, it is difficult to 
comprehend that Pakistan's actions will yield any 
results." 
A similar editorial appeared in the December 10, 2008 
Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI 
SAMACHAR. 
 
¶7. "INDO - PAK RELATIONS: NEED FOR PATIENCE AND WISDOM", 
editorial in the December 09, 2008 issue of right - to - 
centre Urdu daily "RASHTRIYA SAHARA", New Delhi: "In 
fact, Mumbai terror attack had wider intentions. By 
attacking Mumbai, The Business Capital in India, the 
destructive elements wanted to dilute its economic 
strength, to fan communal riots and to pitch both the 
countries against each other. Asaf Ali Zardari has 
already assured his every sort of cooperation to India. 
In Pakistan, there are a number of destructive elements 
who want to hamper bilateral dialogue process between 
both the countries. The story of concocted telephone 
story vindicates the suspicion that enemies of Indo - Pak 
friendship are also responsible for terrorist activities 
in both the countries. They want to deviate Pakistan's 
attention from happenings taking place in the bordering 
areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan and to divert the 
direction of their canons towards India. At present, the 
dialogue process between the two countries is completely 
at a stand still. Pakistan should take action against the 
terrorists and such organizations active within the 
terrorists of Pakistan, in order to eliminate the 
atmosphere of distrust." 
 
---------------------------------------- 
MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶8. "LET THERE BE NO AMERICAN DEPENDENCE," editorial in 
the December 11 CPI (M) Organ GANASHAKTI Bengali daily. 
"India now has turned to the UN by slightly dissuading 
from its policy of U.S.-dependence on combating 
terrorism. Though there was no further terror attack in 
the U.S. post 9/11, terrorists continue to unleash 
violence at different parts of the world. Still the 
Security Council did not care to take much initiative; 
rather, the U.S. has been playing a big brotherly 
attitude on the pretext of fighting terrorism. 
Ultimately, India wanted to utilize the Security Council. 
CPI (M) too had already urged the government to move in 
the same direction. India's initiative in activating the 
UNSC is certainly positive. India's foreign policy, 
dependent on the U.S. will never be able to resolve the 
problem of terrorism." 
MULFORD