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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000025 
 
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, 
PALESTINE, INDO-U.S. RELATIONS, SRI LANKA; NEW DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
------------------------ 
INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS 
------------------------ 
 
¶1. "THE CRAFTY MOVES OF PAKISTANI ARMY" editorial in the 
January 7, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily 
SAKAAL. "It would be naove to conclude that Pakistan- 
based terrorist outfits were the sole engineers of the 
Mumbai terror attacks. It is as naove as the assumption 
that a singular attack on Pakistani terror camps will 
solve India's problems. Terror camps are not homogenous, 
easy-to-attack, identifiable targets which can be 
decimated all at once. Likewise, terrorist outfits in 
Pakistan have a definite support structure in the 
Pakistani army. And the army was very much involved, not 
directly, in wreaking terrorist violence in India. After 
Asif Zardari came to power, he made very bold statements 
in favor of India-Pakistan dialogue. That was also the 
time when the prospect of `humanizing the ISI' was being 
talked about. The Pakistani army (which was a crucial 
element of the internal power structure in Pakistan) felt 
insecure due to Zardari's stance. Now the army needed 
something to bring itself back into focus and make some 
international impact. What could have more impact than 
shaking a first-rate metro like Mumbai?" 
 
¶2. "THE WICKED AND CUNNING NEVER IMPROVE" editorial in 
the January 7, 2009 Mumbai-based right-of-center Gujarati 
daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR.  "While India has been upping the 
diplomatic ante on Pakistan and making genuine efforts in 
asking Pakistan to take action against extremist elements 
there, it our conviction that the wicked will never 
accept the wisdom.  There is no nation today which would 
be as weak and derisive as India is at the international 
level.  Pakistan, on the other hand, is proving to be 
shrewd because of it is cunning.  Despite India giving 
Pakistan all the evidence on 26/11, Pakistan rejects it 
as 'not credible.'  Now the leaders of Pakistan have 
displayed utter irresponsible and shameless behavior 
while dealing with the perpetrators of Mumbai terror 
attacks.  The best approach for India is to impose 
economic sanctions on Pakistan.  Besides, India should 
withdraw 'most favored nation' (MFN) status from 
Pakistan.  India should also forbid any Pakistani 
aircraft from using Indian airspace...[and] corner 
Pakistan.  Such an Indian strategy will prove perilous 
for Pakistan.  The leaders of India need to know that 
people are watching to see what action has been taken one 
and half months after this attack.  Have the guilty been 
brought to justice?  They also ought to remember that the 
world makes the weak and the feeble duck and respects 
those who possess strength." 
A similar editorial appeared in the multi-edition 
Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR. 
 
¶3. "NO MORE DIPLOMATIC TRICKERY, NEED FOR INTEGRITY", 
 
NEW DELHI 00000025  002 OF 004 
 
 
editorial in January 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily 
"URDU TIMES", Mumbai: "The past incidents are a witness 
to the fact that whenever peaceful dialogue & positive 
efforts have started in the direction of building peace 
between India & Pakistan at a fast pace, some or the 
other unsavory incident takes place & the peace process 
gets derailed altogether. The new democratically elected 
government in Pakistan needs to prove itself & this is 
the appropriate time. By taking stringent action against 
those who try to hinder the peace process between the two 
countries, we shall send a strong signal. The two 
countries should be more concerned about the welfare & 
prosperity of their people. A lot of countries of the 
world are trying to come closer to India, which is 
steadily growing towards development. America also 
happens to be one of these countries. In such a 
situation, who are those unsocial elements which are 
trying to jeopardize the friendly relations between India 
& Pakistan? The Pakistani government ought to step in & 
rein in these elements." 
 
¶4. "COMPLICATED PAKISTAN," editorial in January 6 
nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's 
avoiding acting against terrorists despite all the 
irrefutable evidence of Pakistani complicity in the 
Mumbai terror attacks given by India and the FBI shows 
its complexity. The Pakistan Foreign Minister's saying 
that he would neither hand over any terrorist to India 
nor let it interrogate them is not normal. Both the 
Pakistan civilian government and the army should assure 
that they will not let its soil become the epicentre of 
terrorists, and the international community should give 
this guarantee. Although India has presented a dossier of 
incriminating material from the probe into the Mumbai 
attacks to Pakistan's high commissioner, one cannot 
expect a change in Pakistan's attitude. Home Minister P. 
Chidambaram's forthcoming U.S. visit to hand over 
evidence is the right step. The strategy of ratcheting up 
pressure on Pakistan jointly with the U.S. could be 
effective. In light of Pakistan's complexity, India 
should launch a long-term campaign on the diplomatic 
front." 
 
¶5. "DISAPPOINTING DEPENDENCE," op-ed article in January 6 
right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "India is 
still following the same old ineffective way - 
approaching the UN and the international community - it 
has opted for since the first Pakistani attack on 
Kashmir. And look at Israel! It is reacting to the 
relentless Palestinian rocket attacks. What was India's 
reaction on the Mumbai terror attacks? It is just wasting 
all its energy in pointing the finger at Pakistan. It is 
expecting the U.S. to play the role of an international 
inspector. The U.S. is aware of Pakistani ruler's Islamic 
priorities. Even so, it made the latter its ally in the 
war on terror. Thus, it would be stupid to think that on 
the U.S.' demand the Pakistani army and ISI would act 
against those jihadis they created and supported against 
India. If India really wants to deal with Pakistan- 
sponsored terrorism, it will have to stop depending on 
others and make itself strong enough to achieve this 
 
NEW DELHI 00000025  003 OF 004 
 
 
goal." 
 
--------- 
PALESTINE 
--------- 
 
¶6. "WHEN WOULD ACTION BE TAKEN?", editorial in January 6, 
2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "HAMARA SAMAJ", New 
Delhi: "A consensus could not be reached over the 
combined declaration made by Libya during the boisterous 
session of the United Nations Security Council in the 
aftermath of the ground offensive launched by Israeli 
forces in the Gaza region. In this, America displayed its 
despicable character & refrained from supporting the 
declaration. Ban Kee Moon, the Secretary General of the 
United Nations, talked to the Israeli premier over the 
phone, expressing his resentment over the activities 
undertaken in the past few days. Muslims around the world 
are seemingly puzzled as to why the Arab League & the OIC 
restricted themselves to simple condemnation, while 
Israel continues to run riot, spraying bullets & bombs 
over the poor people of Palestine. The world community 
has simply confined itself to lip-service, making appeals 
to curb any further attacks by Israel. It seems as if 
Israel is ruling the roost in the world, as the leaders 
of the world have accepted its authority despite having 
all the resources at hand." 
 
¶7. "SECURITY OF WEST ASIA QUESTIONED, AS OBAMA STANDS 
MUTE", editorial in October 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu 
daily "INQUILAB", Mumbai: "Last July, while on a visit to 
Israel, Obama said without any qualms that Israel has 
every right to safeguard itself from any imminent threat 
from Hamas. The statement itself says a lot about his 
foreign policies. He might possibly attempt to look for a 
new solution to the problem in West Asia. However, new 
measures certainly cannot be taken at the risk of irking 
the Jewish lobby present in Israel & America. No 
president of America ever has had the courage to take on 
the Jewish lobby. In a situation where every passing 
moment spells doom for the people of Palestine, even if 
Obama has some inclination to intervene in the matter he 
has 15 more days to go before he can grace the White 
House. He feels it better to go silent over the issue 
during this period. However, it is explicitly clear that 
the presidential tenure of Obama, which begins a 
fortnight from now, will not be a bed of roses." 
 
------------------- 
INDO-U.S. RELATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶8. "NEW YEAR'S GIFT & AH! THIS SILENCE" editorial in 
January 6, 2009 right-of-center Urdu daily "HINDUSTAN 
EXPRESS", New Delhi: "The biggest security agreement in 
history took place on January 1, 2009 between India & the 
United States. We certainly do not cast aspersions on our 
security experts & the higher officers in the Defense 
Ministry. However, it has become clear that the arms race 
commencing in south Asia would certainly lead to a severe 
economic drain for the poor & developing countries in the 
 
NEW DELHI 00000025  004 OF 004 
 
 
region, besides causing hardship to the poor. These are 
countries where people cannot afford even two square 
meals a day, where millions of children do not attend any 
school & where thousands of people suffer from chronic 
diseases emanating from drinking unsafe & dirty water. 
Can they afford to indulge in an arms race? It would mean 
further impoverishing the destitute millions of the 
region. The global traders of arms are enjoying the 
booty, as the countries of the region are at loggerheads 
with each other. However, the leaders of these countries 
fail to realize the game." 
 
--------- 
SRI LANKA 
--------- 
 
¶9. "SRI LANKA'S RAGE" editorial in the January 7, 2009 
multi-edition right-of-center Gujarati daily GUJARAT 
SAMACHAR.  "The Sri Lankan army's capturing of 
Killinochchi, the main LTTE hub, indeed deserves all 
praise.  Sri Lanka has shown that mere dialogues do not 
serve any purpose.  When people do not understand the 
language of peace then they should be dealt with by an 
iron hand. One hopes that 2009 will usher in a new 
chapter in Sri Lankan history as this island nation 
liberates itself from the scourge of terrorism inflicted 
by the LTTE for the past two decades.  Sri Lanka has set 
an example that terrorists and their sponsors can be 
weeded out by force.  Will India imitate this example?" 
MULFORD