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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000061 
 
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, MIDDLE 
EAST CRISIS, OBAMA INAUGURATION, USA/ PRESIDENT GEORGE W 
BUSH; 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. "SHAMELESS STATEMENT," editorial in January 12 right- 
of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Drawing a parallel 
with the Israeli strikes in Gaza, Pakistan Prime Minister 
Yousaf Gilani has accused the international community of 
double standards saying that it was more concerned about 
the Mumbai attacks than the killings in Palestine. He 
said that there was no need for the world to make so much 
noise over just one incident - the Mumbai attacks. He 
brought up the Kashmir issue, saying that the world had 
remained silent over the atrocities committed by India on 
the people of the state. Gilani's statement shows his 
desperation. Now that he is cornered, he is playing games 
- resorting to shamelessness. What else is this statement 
but an attempt to mislead the world and divert its 
attention? If he really believes that the Mumbai incident 
was no big deal, then he needs to get his head checked. 
Basically he is the churlish leader of a churlish 
government, what else can be expected of him! India will 
need to take strong action to bring Pakistan to book. 
This country does not understand the language of 
conciliation." 
 
¶2. "OBAMA'S WORRY," editorial in January 12 nationalist 
RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "President-elect Barack 
Obama was recently asked if he thought the Mumbai terror 
attacks could happen in the US. He said he was concerned 
about copycat attacks. He said the dangers of Mumbai 
style attacks being replicated cannot be ruled out. Obama 
has inherited big problems of international terrorism. 
How he will cope with them remains to be seen. US 
intelligence agencies have already warned him of all the 
dangers that lurk around the corner for America. Obama 
has already decided to concentrate on Pakistan, and 
apparently he is doing so. After all, Pakistan is 
fountain of terror in today's world. Pakistan should 
worry that the US is now going to concentrate hard on it. 
This is worrisome for a country that is living in self 
denial, and fooling the world." 
 
¶3. "NO PAKISTANI SHALL BE HANDED OVER TO INDIA", second 
editorial in January 12, 2009 issue of right - to - 
centre Urdu daily "URDU TIMES", Mumbai: "Were a Pakistani 
is found to be involved in the attacks on Mumbai, he 
would be tried as per the existing laws of the land. The 
Pakistani premier, Yusuf Raza Gilani said that his 
country is investigating into the evidence put up by 
India with reference to the attacks on Mumbai. He further 
added that, if any Pakistani national is found to be 
involved in any attack, he would not be handed over to 
any country. India has time & again reminded Pakistan to 
hand over those involved in terrorist activities to it. 
 
NEW DELHI 00000061  002.2 OF 004 
 
 
Gilani said that the evidence produced by India in 
connection with the terrorist act has been handed over to 
investigation experts. Recently, the Pakistani government 
has prolonged the detention period of the leaders of the 
Jamaat ud Dawah, the front organization of Lashkar -e- 
Taiyaba for another 2 months. This outfit is allegedly 
involved in the terrorist attack on Mumbai recently." 
 
------------------ 
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS 
------------------ 
 
¶4. "GAZA BEING DIVIDED", editorial in January 12 right- 
of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ, New Delhi: "The fact 
that at the moment, Israel is making all out attempts to 
append the Gaza strip with Egypt & close the chapter of 
the independent state of Palestine forever has raised 
concerns amongst Muslims across the world, particularly 
those belonging to West Asia & Palestine. A former 
diplomat associated with the foreign affairs ministry of 
Egypt has confirmed the suspicion. According to a former 
official of the United States, John Bolton, Israel has 
rejected the idea of establishment of a separate state 
for Palestine. It is not mandatory for Muslims to possess 
the most state of the art weaponry & technology to fight 
against the anti-Muslim countries like America, Israel or 
countries in Europe. The natural resources & human skills 
from the Muslim countries are currently being used by the 
Western nations to empower & strengthen their economy. If 
these resources & skills are snatched away from these 
countries, there shall be no particular need to use 
military might." 
 
¶5. "INDIA, PAKISTAN, ISRAEL & PALESTINE", editorial in 
January 12 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS, 
New Delhi: "Whenever Palestine was under attack in the 
past, the first Qiblah, the Aqsa Mosque came to be 
threatened. Whenever the Baitul Muqaddas was desecrated, 
the strongest undercurrents were registered in the 
subcontinent region, where protests were vociferous. For 
the first time in history, the Aqsa Mosque could not be 
used for Friday prayers, the Gaza strip is being wantonly 
bombarded, while deadly bombs like the phosphorous bomb 
is also being used. Women & children are also not being 
spared, while their bodies are being blown to pieces. 
However, this time around the Muslims of India seem to be 
a helpless lot. The otherwise vocal crowd appears to be 
under the shadows of an abominable lull. No group or 
party has the guts to raise its voice against the naked 
butchery or call for an immediate ceasefire. So far as 
Hindus & Muslims continue to be at loggerheads with each 
other here, it would be easier for the Zionist forces to 
achieve their wily objectives." 
 
¶6. "PENTAGON SENDING HUGE QUANTITIES OF WEAPONS TO 
ISRAEL", editorial in January 12 right-of-center Urdu 
daily URDU TIMES, Mumbai: "The pentagon is supplying huge 
quantities of weapons to Israel, which indicates towards 
the possibility of the war in Gaza getting prolonged, 
with Israel continuing its strikes. America is keen on 
 
NEW DELHI 00000061  003 OF 004 
 
 
acquiring a merchant ship from Greece by means of which 
it can supply arms & ammunition to Israel. It is learnt 
from sources that the consignment is likely to include 
hazardous & explosive substances. The American congress 
had passed a resolution in September last year to supply 
guided bombs & buster bombs to Israel. The Washington 
Post reported that the first consignment of such 
materials had already reached Israel in December last 
year, which were subsequently used by Israel for shelling 
in Palestine. The Israeli strikes have unfailingly hit 
targets in Palestine mounting civilian casualties during 
the last 15 days of relentless attacks" 
 
¶7. "TRULY, WE SHALL SUCCEED ONE DAY", editorial in 
January 12 right-of-center Urdu daily INQUILAB, Mumbai: 
"There is no doubt that the people of Palestine who are 
supporters of Hamas have suffered tremendous loss during 
the battle being fought between Israel & Hamas. The 
irreparable loss continues to grow in magnitude. However, 
the people of Palestine are fighting against the tyrant 
forces in the form of Goliath with all courage & 
willpower, despite having being pushed to the wall. They 
have preferred to die rather than meekly surrender before 
the Israeli onslaught, thus rising aloft the torch of 
truthfulness & righteousness. Those amongst us who can 
visualize the prosperity of tomorrow in today's 
devastation, the authority of tomorrow in today's 
helplessness & abundant resources of tomorrow in today's 
nothingness, need to be questioned as to what do the 
frightening dreams of the people of Gaza imply? They 
would definitely opine that that despite being victimized 
& tormented, it is the people of Palestine who deserve to 
emerge victorious at the end of the day. Victory is in 
sight, though a little distant & hazy." 
 
¶8. "LET INDIA TAKE THE INITIATIVE," editorial in the 
January 13 CPI (M) Organ GANASHAKTI Bengali daily, 
Kolkata. "What role does India play while a small country 
like Venezuela is providing vital assistance in support 
of humanity? Why doesn't India break its defense pacts 
with Israel? Why doesn't India take the initiative of 
mobilizing public opinion against Israel? India needs to 
adopt a bolder approach in order to protect its sovereign 
foreign policy. In view of the attacks in Gaza, playing 
an independent role will help India take an anti- 
imperialist and antiwar position. The Indian masses can 
never accept this heinous armed offensive against the 
innocent people in Gaza. The Indian government will have 
to reflect the nation's sentiment by standing united with 
those countries that have already taken an anti-Israeli 
stand." 
 
------------------ 
OBAMA INAUGURATION 
------------------ 
 
¶9. "HECTIC OPERATIONS ON FOR BARACK OBAMA'S SWEARING-IN 
CEREMONY" op-ed article by Delhi-based foreign 
correspondent Vijay Naik in the January 13, 2009, Mumbai 
edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL.  "Americans are 
 
NEW DELHI 00000061  004 OF 004 
 
 
good at making capital out of everything. As of now they 
are capitalizing on President-elect Barack Obama's 
January 20 inauguration ceremony.... If fundraising 
continues at that pace, Obama's inauguration committee 
will have no problem reaching or exceeding the roughly 
$40 million raised for each of President George W. Bush's 
two inaugural celebrations. The funds are being directed 
towards one cause -- trying to make Obama's inauguration 
the most open and accessible and inclusive inauguration 
in U.S. history. The fundraising will cover the 
installation of 10 giant screens so that people can 
witness Obama's swearing-in within sight of the 
Capitol...  US wireless carriers are boosting capacity 
ahead of the presidential inauguration in order to avoid 
network congestion as millions flock to the US capital 
and make it a star-studded affair..." 
 
---------------------------- 
USA/ PRESIDENT GEORGE W BUSH 
---------------------------- 
 
¶10. "WITH SO MUCH DISGRACE...", editorial in January 10 
right-of-center Urdu daily INQUILAB, Mumbai: "Most of the 
commentators did not hesitate to term the 8-year rule of 
George W Bush as one marked by unplanned misadventures. 
An example to this end is one the majority leader in the 
Senate, Mr. John Reid, where in a program 'Meet the 
Press' aired on the NBC, he talked about the destructive 
policies of the outgoing Bush administration & remarked 
that George W Bush was the worst president the United 
States has ever seen. Most of the experts & intellectual 
think tanks are of the view that his departure from 
presidency shall not be marked by the 'end of an era'; 
rather it could be aptly called as the 'end of an error'. 
If an intellectual of today's times calls a president, 
the worst president, would not the future historian 
recount this fact? He destroyed the economies of Iraq & 
Afghanistan, thereby spelling doom for the economies of 
the world, pushing them to an irreparable state. 
Meanwhile, he also left his mark of disgrace with sordid 
tales of horror retold in Guantanamo Bay & Abu Gharib." 
MULFORD