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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000161 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 26, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports that the government of Punjab "took control of the 
headquarters of the banned Jamaatud Daawa" dominated headlines in 
all newspapers on Monday.  Also front-paged were reports from New 
Delhi that "anti-terror police killed two suspected members of 
Lashkar-e-Taiba near the Indian capital." Prime Minister's Gilani's 
assertion that "Pakistan will share finding of its investigation 
into the Mumbai terror attacks with other countries" received 
prominent coverage.  Reports on the "government's shoot at sight 
order for curfew violators in restive Swat area" also was 
highlighted.  The summoning of "47 most wanted dignitaries" by the 
Taliban in Swat valley garnered prominent display in all newspapers. 
 
 
Most major dailies ran critical editorials on the continued U.S. 
drone attacks inside Pakistani territory.  The leading mass 
circulation Urdu daily, "Jang," noted that "the recent missile 
attack in FATA has added to the concerns that perhaps the U.S. 
policy pertaining to Pakistan is not going to change."  The rightist 
Urdu daily, "Ausaf" stated that the "drone attacks will not only 
damage the Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, but also thwart the 
ongoing global war on terror."  The second-largest Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" wrote: "President of Pakistan summoned the American 
Ambassador and protested over the drone attack....  President should 
have protested with his counterpart, if he had to protest at all." 
The liberal Urdu daily "Express" urged that "sooner President 
Barrack Obama orders cessation of the drone attacks the better for 
the relations of the two countries."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Govt. Takes Over Daawa Offices In Muridke" "Dawn" (01/26) 
 
"The government of Punjab took control of the headquarters of the 
banned Jamaatud Daawa on Sunday and appointed an administrator, who 
would also oversee its various organizations, including charity 
hospitals, seminaries and other educational institutions, and 
agricultural projects." 
 
"Qazi Blasts Govt. For Taking Control Of JuD Office" "The News" 
(01/26) 
 
"Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Qazi Hussain Ahmad on Sunday said the 
government's move, to take control of Jamaatud Daawa (JuD) 
headquarters in Muridke, was taken at the behest of foreign masters, 
Qazi told reporters in Charsadda." 
 
"Country Must Be Relieved Of 'Slave' Leadership: Qazi" "The News" 
(01/26) 
 
"Chief of Jamaat-e-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad said in an interview to 
'The News,' Pakistan urgently needs to replace the 'U.S.-slave' 
leadership with honest and patriotic people in order to survive the 
internal strife and external conspiracies threatening its very 
existence." 
 
"Daawa Urges UN To Lift Ban" "Dawn" (01/26) 
 
"The proscribed Jamaatud Daawa urged the United Nations on Sunday to 
lift the sanctions which it said had been imposed 'without any 
justification' and merely on allegations leveled by India." 
 
"India Claims Killing Two LeT Men Near Delhi" "Dawn" (01/26) 
 
"Anti-terror police killed two suspected members of Lashkar-e-Taiba 
near the Indian capital on Sunday and said they might be linked with 
the gunmen in Mumbai and were planning to attack the Republic Day 
military parade in New Delhi on Monday." 
 
"Probe Finding Will Be Shared With Other Countries" "Dawn" (01/26) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that Pakistan will 
share finding of its investigation into the Mumbai terror attacks 
with other countries.  Addressing a public meeting he said the 
country would not allow anybody to use its soil for terrorist 
activities." 
 
"Pak HC To India Receives Death Threats; Pakistan Asks India To 
Ensure Envoy's Security" "The Post" (01/26) 
 
"Pakistan on Sunday asked India to ensure security of its envoy who 
received threats from an Indian extremist group via e-mail, Foreign 
Office Spokesman Muhammad Sadiq said." 
 
"India Preparing Afghan Army Against Pakistan: Gen. (R) Hamid Nawaz 
"Ummat" (01/26) 
 
"Former senior army officer Gen. (R) Hamid Nawaz Khan has said that 
India is preparing Afghan army against Pakistan. He claimed that 
American Defense Secretary Rumsfeld had informed him that after 9/11 
the situation was so sensitive that U.S. wanted to fire first and 
then look for target.  Talking to 'Ummat' he said supporting America 
after 9/11 was a right decision." 
 
"Shoot At Sight Orders For curfew Violation In Swat" "Dawn" (01/26) 
 
"Army troops were authorized on Sunday to shoot at sight curfew 
violators in Kuza Bandai, Bara Bandai, Ningolai, Chota Kalam and 
Shakardarra areas of Swat in the wake of reports that Maulana 
Fazlullah had 'summoned' 50 influential people to 'appear' before a 
Taliban 'court' within a week." 
 
"Taliban Summon 47 'Most Wanted' Dignitaries" "The Nation" (01/26) 
 
"Taliban militants, while announcing 'general amnesty' for workers 
of different political forces, have urged 47 persons to produce 
themselves before their self-styled Islamic court." 
 
"Militants' Funding Source Being Probed: ISPR" "The News" (01/26) 
 
"Director General Inter-Services Public relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen 
Athar Abbas has said intelligence operations are underway to 
determine who is funding the militants from abroad.  In an interview 
with Voice of America, he said 'we are hopeful for establishing 
durable peace in Swat." 
 
"Taliban Threats: Offices Of FATA Development Program Closed Down 
"Ummat" (01/26) 
 
"After threats from Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud USAID has closed 
down its offices in Peshawar for FATA development program. The 
offices would remained closed till further orders." 
 
"15 Militants Surrender In Mohmand" "The News" (01/26) 
 
"A local militant commander and his 14 associates surrendered to the 
political administration in Yakaghund Tehsil of lower Mohmand Agency 
on Sunday." 
 
"Military Option Key To Obama's Strategy" "Dawn" (01/26) 
 
"The military option remains key to U.S. President Barack Obama's 
strategy for dealing with insurgency in Pakistan and Afghanistan, 
diplomatic observers in Washington say.  Mr. Obama's special 
representative for the region, Richard Holbrooke, also emphasized 
the importance of the military option in his first statement since 
his appointment on Thursday." 
 
"Drone Attacks In Line With Obama's Policy: Biden" "The Nation" 
(01/26) 
 
"U.S. Vice-President Joseph Biden on Sunday declined to comment on 
last week's drone attacks inside Pakistan's tribal areas, but 
appeared to make it clear that the action was in line with President 
Barack Obama's declared policy on dealing with militants along the 
Pak-Afghan border region." 
 
"U.S. Missiles 'Don't Help' Pakistan War Effort: Babar" "Daily 
Times" (01/26) 
 
"United States missile attacks on militants in Pakistan do not help 
 
its efforts in the U.S.-led campaign against militancy, President 
Asif Ali Zardari's spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Sunday.  U.S. 
drones fired missiles into Pakistan late on Friday killing 17 
people, intelligence officials and residents said, in the first such 
strike since Barack Obama became U.S. President.  President Asif Ali 
Zardari discussed the attacks with U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne 
Patterson at a lunch on Saturday, the spokesman said." 
"Obama's Decision To Continue Drone Strikes Condemned" "Daily Times" 
(01/26) 
 
"Civil society representatives and human rights activists on Sunday 
condemned U.S. President Barack Obama's decision to continue drone 
strikes into Pakistan." 
 
"Zardari Asks U.S. To End Drone Attacks" "The News" (01/25) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday conveyed Islamabad's 
concerns to U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson over the continuing 
drone attacks and asked for halting the air strikes to respect the 
territorial sovereignty of Pakistan.  Ambassador Patterson called on 
President Zardari here at the Presidency on Saturday and held a 
luncheon meeting with him." 
 
"Dialogue Not War To Resolve Terror: Zardari" "The News" (01/26) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday announced to send a 
delegation comprising tribal elders to hold dialogue with 
international community and apprise them of the problems in the 
tribal areas of Pakistan." 
 
"Pakistan Protests To U.S. Over Air Strikes" "Dawn" (01/25) 
 
"Pakistan on Saturday lodged a strong protest with the new U.S. 
administration over continuing drone attacks, terming them an 
infringement of the country's sovereignty and calling for a review 
of the policy.  'Yesterday's attacks in the Waziristan area which 
caused civilian causalities are a matter of great concern.  These 
concerns have been conveyed to the U.S.,' a Foreign Office spokesman 
said in a statement.  Although, the Foreign Office was reluctant to 
reveal the name of the person who made the protest, sources said the 
outrage was communicated by Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir to U.S. 
Ambassador Anne W. Patterson." 
 
"U.S. Drone Attacks Kill 14 In Waziristan: First Obama-Era Strikes 
In Tribal Areas" "Dawn" (01/24) 
 
"Missiles fired by suspected US drones killed at least 14 people, 
including some Arabs, in the tribal areas of North and South 
Waziristan on Friday.  The attacks came three days after US 
President Barack Obama took office and a day after he had appointed 
a veteran diplomat as his special envoy for Afghanistan and 
Pakistan." 
 
"FATA Toughest Challenge For Obama, Says Holbrooke" "The News" 
(01/25) 
 
"The newly-appointed U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and 
Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, has said that the Obama 
administration had to face many tough challenges with regard to the 
war in Afghanistan and global peace but the toughest was the 
insurgent sanctuaries in the tribal areas of Pakistan." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Pakistan's Reaction Over Missile Attack At FATA," an editorial note 
in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (01/26) 
 
"The inaugural address of U.S. President Obama created an impression 
that the United States was ready to explore new vistas to advance 
relations with the Muslim world. As such it was expected that it 
would certainly cease drone attacks on the Pakistani tribal areas. 
But the recent missile attack at FATA has added to concerns that 
perhaps the U.S. policy pertaining to Pakistan is not going to 
change." 
 
"Mr. Obama Should Fulfill His Promises About Global Peace," an 
editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 
10,000) (01/26) 
 
"The Government of Pakistan must persuade the new U.S. 
administration that the drone attacks will not only damage the 
Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, but also thwart the ongoing 
global war on terrorism.  On the other hand, these strikes will also 
create problems for the democratic government of Pakistan as well, 
and will deepen hatred against the United States among Pakistani 
people." 
 
"Protest On Drone Attacks Is Not Enough," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 125,000) (01/26) 
 
"Western media consistently claims that America and Pakistan have a 
secret agreement vis-`-vis drone attacks....  "Guardian" reported 
that government of Pakistan might be happy over the attacks.... 
President of Pakistan summoned the American Ambassador and protested 
over the Drone attack.  President should have protested with his 
American counterpart, if he had to protest at all....  Pakistan 
government should order downing of any violator of our air space; 
this is the only option to stop these attacks." 
 
"Drone Attacks: There Should Be A Dialogue With America," an 
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/26) 
 
"Sooner President Barrack Obama orders cessation of the drone 
attacks the better for the relations of the two countries.  Pakistan 
will have to make a new strategy about its relations with America 
and reinitiate dialogue process with the country, in order to 
resolve the drone attack issue." 
 
"President Zardari! Mere Protest And Promises Aren't Enough," an 
editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 
55,000) (01/26) 
 
"The new U.S. Administration must be told that if it did not uphold 
Pakistan's sovereignty and national security, then Pakistan would 
resort to several other options to deal with this kind of sticky 
situation such as gradual reduction in cooperation with the U.S. in 
war on terror, and complete withdrawal of logistic support for the 
allied forces in Afghanistan.  The deteriorating security situation 
necessitates immediate and desperate measures as mere protest and 
complain won't work any longer." 
 
"President's Protest With American Ambassador," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (01/26) 
 
"If the drone attacks continued then Pakistanis would be forced to 
accept the opposition's point of view that allied forces military 
action in tribal areas has clandestine support of the Government of 
Pakistan.  These violations of Pakistan territory are not mistakes, 
but are part of a conspiracy." 
 
"Issue Of Missile Attacks," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (01/26) 
 
"It has now been established that Obama administration's standpoint 
on the drone attacks is not different from that of the Bush 
administration....  The success in the war against terror is tied 
with the cessation of these air attacks so that Pakistan continues 
to cooperate with the world in the war on terror." 
 
"American Attacks: People Should Be Given Factual Information," an 
editorial in the Lahore-based Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 5,000) 
(01/26) 
 
"The continuation of the U.S. Drone attacks on Pakistan tribal areas 
despite repeated protests by the Government of Pakistan and American 
assurances on respecting Pakistan sovereignty, strengthen the 
suspicion that America has some justification for launching these 
attacks.  We don't know whether this justification is in the shape 
of Pakistan government's approval or intelligence sharing....  We 
know that drone attacks have killed quite a few important militants 
alongside killing innocent people.  The government should explain 
the actual situation to the people." 
 
"Our 'Drone Attack' Problem," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/26) 
 
"These attacks may be targeting terrorists whose elimination goes in 
Pakistan's favor, but its side-effects are not good for Pakistan. 
The Pakistan army thinks it curtails the effect of its own efforts 
to pacify the Tribal Areas....  There are two kinds of 'do more' 
pressures on the PPP government.  The U.S. asks it to do more while 
knowing the limits of Pakistan's response to global terrorism.  The 
opposition in Pakistan also asks it to 'do more' in the way of 
getting the Americans to stop the drones.  Both policies of 'do 
more' are unrealistic." 
 
"Drone Attacks Again," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (01/26) 
 
"The U.S. drone attacks inside Pakistan territory continue unabated 
even after the change of government in America....  Militants take 
advantage of the situation and are able to lure more recruits to 
their cause....  Drone attacks put the Government of Pakistan in an 
awkward position, which has been accused of having compromised its 
national sovereignty.  The latest attacks came three days after 
President Obama took office and a day after he had appointed a 
veteran diplomat as his special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
The drone attacks show that there has been no change in the U.S. 
policy on Afghanistan." 
 
"Move Ahead For Dialogue With Taliban," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (01/26) 
 
"Induction of additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan as stated by new 
administration could have a spill-over on our side of the border. 
We would therefore stress that instead of mere rhetoric and wasting 
time, the Government must initiate immediate dialogue by involving 
notables, politicians and religious leaders to listen to 
representatives of Taliban and find a way out based on trust.  Local 
Taliban are not against Pakistan and they need to be persuaded not 
to take such an extreme line that could endanger the very existence 
of the country." 
 
"A Good Step," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/26) 
 
"Strangely, though the militants are supposed to be fighting for the 
cause of Islam, they act to deny its adherents the pursuit of 
education that it enjoins upon every man and woman, irrespective of 
the odds.  In this backdrop it seems quite difficult to fathom the 
motives of those who brainwash young men to sacrifice their lives to 
eliminate the very source that helps fulfill that sacred 
obligation....  The upsurge of anti-American sentiments and 
Pakistan's support to the War On Terror has provided them a cause to 
get rid of all signs of modern life, of which the West is a symbol. 
 Under these circumstances, the use of mere force would not make for 
a change of heart." 
Patterson