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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000098 
 
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, U.S.- 
INDIA-PAKISTAN, MIDDLE EAST CRISIS, IRAQ; 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. "EXHAUSTED STRATEGIES..." op-ed article by columnist 
Ajay Lele in the January 16, 2009, Mumbai edition of 
centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL.  "Terrorist Ajmal Kasab's 
arrest and interrogation is the only instance in which 
India has compelled Pakistan to admit Pakistani 
complicity in terrorist violence. But apart from this one 
instance, which again has not come to fruition in any 
sense, India has failed to bring Pakistan to book. 
Various aggressive diplomatic strategies have been 
devised by India over the years, but Pakistan seems 
unyielding and unwilling to give in. Moreover, Pakistan 
has multiple power centers and each of them rarely show 
the collective readiness to cooperate in the Indian 
investigations.  Now is the time for India to think out- 
of-the-box. Some durable unconventional strategies, which 
entail neither military aggression nor economic blockade 
of Pakistan, need to be arrived at..." 
 
¶2. "WHAT DOES PAKISTAN'S SILENCE MEAN?", editorial in the 
January 15, right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ, New 
Delhi: "Silence and lackadaisical attitude of Pakistan is 
giving a clear message that it is not serious about 
punishing the tyrants, and apprehending the anti-social 
elements. Pakistan's cold response and attitude has also 
given room to the apprehension that it does not believe 
in controlling the terrorism growing in the country. 
Terrorist or murderer, culprit or oppressor hailing from 
any part of the world, is an enemy of humanity and he 
cannot be termed as a member of human society. A murderer 
is a murderer, no matter whether he is an Indian or a 
Pakistani. It is the high time when Pakistani should play 
an honest and positive role in matters of terrorism 
particularly terrorist activities in Mumbai." 
 
------------------- 
U.S.-INDIA-PAKISTAN 
------------------- 
 
¶3. "U.S. ATTITUDE," editorial in the January 15 centrist 
NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "America's slapping 
sanctions on 13 people, including the disgraced A.Q. 
Khan, does not put an end to the matter. Unfortunately, 
U.S. is not ready to change its attitude, despite knowing 
Pakistan's reality... Just expressing concern over the 
terrorists getting access to the nuclear weapons is not 
enough. Instead of taking strong action, it supports 
Pakistan in every possible way. Pakistan's double game 
has been exposed consistently. The Pakistan government 
claims that the nuclear weapons are safe, but, the 
terrorist infiltration to its army was unveiled recently. 
So, one can imagine how safe they are. U.S. considers 
Pakistan's role significant in the war against the 
 
NEW DELHI 00000098  002 OF 003 
 
 
Taliban and it is also a vital tool in keeping an eye on 
China. Thus, U.S. is all for Pakistan even if it does a 
blunder. Now it is to be seen if U.S. President-elect 
Obama takes strict actions against Pakistan in the 
interest of the international community or not." 
 
¶4. "BAD OMEN FROM U.S.," editorial in the January 15 
centrist DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Hillary Clinton's 
announcement of expanding Pakistan economic aid to prop- 
up its democratically elected government is indeed very 
disappointing. How can U.S. overlook the fact that the 
present Pakistan government is just a puppet in the hands 
of the army and the ISI? The U.S. attitude shows that it 
is not taking terrorism against India seriously. The 
U.S.' softness towards Pakistan in the last few days 
should be a wake up call for India. Perhaps, Obama will 
also follow in Bush's footsteps in this context. India 
should not expect any support from the U.S. for deepening 
pressure on Pakistan.  India should change its strategy 
with immediate effect. Is it not strange that Pakistan 
has not taken any action against the perpetrators of the 
Mumbai attacks and India has not even called its 
Ambassador back?" 
 
------------------ 
MIDDLE EAST CRISES 
------------------ 
 
¶5. "SITUATION IN MIDDLE EAST" editorial in the January 16 
Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN.  "...No 
one party is to be blamed unilaterally for the current 
tension in the Middle East... The existence of the state of 
Israel is a reality...and the situation in the region will 
remain hostile until the legitimacy of Israel is 
recognized... There is a sharp division in the Palestinian 
movement on this issue.  The internecine fight between 
the Hamas and the Fatah movement leaders has considerably 
weakened the Palestine's cause... This time the 
international community also did not react strongly 
because the common people in Palestine are not involved 
in the fight, which, in fact, is nothing more than an 
internal skirmish between the Hamas and Israel's army." 
 
¶6. "CONDITIONAL OFFER BY HAMAS", editorial in the January 
15 right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT, Hyderabad: "Only 
Israel, America or Western Countries are not responsible 
for the present condition of Palestinians, those 
countries are also responsible which have formal or 
informal ties with Israel. Supporting one and all illegal 
activities of Israel or tolerating them are the worst 
examples of tyranny. Israel is using deadly weapons and 
Phosphorus to annihilate Hamas. Innocent citizens are 
being massacred. No champion and flag-bearer of human 
rights showed courage to take any notice of Israel's 
barbarism. The Muslim world which is responsible to save 
the lives of Palestinian people, is sitting like a mute- 
spectator. However, conditional offer by Hamas for a 
cease-fire is an effort to save Palestinians from 
Israel's aggression, but Israel has expressed its 
nefarious intentions and designs by rejecting the 
proposal." 
 
NEW DELHI 00000098  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶7. "ASSASINATION OF THE UNO IN PALESTINE", editorial in 
the January 15 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN 
EXPRESS, New Delhi: "Human Rights champions throughout 
the length and breadth of the world are silent like a 
dead body. They turned their back towards bleeding 
children and womenfolk because it is the blood of the 
unclad, unsung and unfortunate ones. The UNO is crying. 
These crying are its swansong. Ignoring the cease-fire 
appeals of Ban Kee Moon and agitations by aid-agencies, 
Israel and America brought the world-forum to such a 
pitiable condition. The international forum is taking its 
last breaths along with dead bodies of Palestinian 
children. Every Israeli bomb and its every missile are 
tearing the UNO into bits." 
 
---- 
IRAQ 
---- 
 
¶8. "WORTHLESS REPENTENCE OF BUSH", editorial in the 
January right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA, New 
Delhi: "In fact, Bush's confession is nothing but an 
effort to cover his sins before his retirement. As a 
matter of fact, invasion on Iraq was part of a conspiracy 
to subjugate the Islamic countries. This invasion was 
aimed at to snatch the oil wealth of Iraq. It was also a 
part of accomplishing the nefarious design for "A Greater 
Israel". Iran is the only power in Islam Dom which is 
thwarting the conspiracies of western and Zionist powers 
otherwise all other Muslim countries are licking boots of 
their master America, and have become mute-spectators of 
destruction and devastation in Palestine. However Bush's 
statement-sum-admission regarding CIA is only a bundle of 
frauds. President Bush, who, anyhow, saved himself from 
the shoes of Muntazar al Zaidi is trying to save himself 
from the curse of history which has become his destiny." 
WHITE