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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000252 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 05, 2009 
 
Summary:  UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon's announcement to "set up 
an independent commission to investigate the assassination of 
Benazir Bhutto" along with his urging Pakistan and India to "resume 
the composite dialogue to de-escalate the tension in the region" 
dominated front pages in all newspapers on Thursday.  All newspapers 
reported that "nine militants were killed in a police encounter near 
Peshawar," and that "Taliban free 30 kidnapped Frontier Constabulary 
personnel in Swat after they promised to quit their jobs." 
Newspapers highlighted reports that the "militants torched 10 NATO 
supply trucks in Khyber Agency."  Several major dailies ran a WP 
report that the "Obama administration will seek early Congressional 
action on legislation authorizing three-fold expansion in economic 
assistance to Pakistan." 
 
Newspapers ran in-depth editorials highlighting different facets of 
the outstanding dispute over Kashmir as Pakistan observes it's 
Solidarity Day, a medium for expressing unity with the people of 
Kashmir.  However, some major English language dailies preferred to 
editorialize current affairs.  The second largest Urdu daily, 
"Nawa-i-Waqt," observed that "President Obama is serious in playing 
a role for the dispute resolution in keeping with his announcement." 
 Likewise, the pro-Taliban daily, "Islam," noted that "it seems that 
now the big powers are taking interest in Kashmir issue following 
gradual changes in the international scenario, particularly the 
election of Barack Obama as the new U.S. President."  The 
Lahore-based populist daily, "Khabrain" wrote: "The most significant 
development in this respect is President Obama's stance on this 
issue so far."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"UN Announces Probe Into Benazir Murder - Chilean Ambassador To Head 
Commission" "Dawn" (02/05) 
 
"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced in Islamabad 
on Wednesday that an independent commission of inquiry would be set 
up soon to investigate the assassination of former Prime Minister 
Benazir Bhutto....  Sources in New York told 'Dawn' that the 
Ambassador of Chile to the UN, Mr. Heraldo Munoz, would lead the 
three-member UN inquiry commission." 
 
"UN Chief For Pakistan, India Talks Resumption" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday urged 
Islamabad to fully investigate and cooperate with India on the 
Mumbai attacks and said the two countries should continue the 
composite dialogue to deescalate tension in the region." 
 
"Investigators See Bangladesh Link In Mumbai Terror Attacks" "Dawn" 
(02/05) 
 
"Pakistani investigators probing into the Mumbai attacks are closing 
in on a Bangladeshi connection to the terrorist strike and are said 
to have evidence of not only the involvement of a banned militant 
organisation, Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami, Bangladesh (HuJI-B), but 
also of its role in planning the attack and training the 
terrorists." 
 
"Pakistan Asked To Lift Ban Against Islamist Outfits" "The Nation" 
(02/05) 
 
"Around a dozen Kashmiri militant groups gathered publicly on 
Wednesday to urge Government of Pakistan to lift the ban against 
Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) because no Kashmiri 
Jihadi organization was involved in the Mumbai attacks, Syed 
Salahuddin, head of the Hizbul Mujahideen, told the gathering in 
Muzaffarabad." 
 
"Nine Militants Killed Near Peshawar" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"Nine members of a Bara-based militant group were killed in an 
encounter with the police and the Qaumi Lashkar comprising armed 
villagers when they allegedly attempted to kidnap the Nazim of 
Bazidkhel Union Council near Peshawar on Wednesday morning." 
 
"Foreigners Also Fighting In Swat: ISPR" "Daily Times" (02/05) 
 
"ISPR spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas has said that foreign 
militants are also present in Swat - where security forces are 
pursuing a new strategy to rein in the Taliban.  Abbas told a 
private TV channel, 'No immediate results can be expected from the 
military operation in Swat ... it will take time.'" 
 
"30 Security Men Freed After 'Promising To Quit Force'" "Dawn" 
(02/05) 
 
"The Taliban in Swat set free 30 police and paramilitary personnel 
in the presence of journalists in Kotli Dadhara area of Kabal tehsil 
on Wednesday, after securing written promise from them that they 
would quit their government jobs and never fight against the 
Taliban, local Taliban leaders told newsmen after a meeting of the 
Taliban Shoora." 
 
"10 NATO Supply Trucks Torched" "Dawn" (02/05) 
 
"Ten trucks of a convoy returning from Afghanistan after delivering 
NATO supplies were torched on the Peshawar-Torkham highway in Khyber 
Agency." 
 
"Another Bridge Damaged In Khyber" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"Another bridge in Khyber Agency suffered partial damage when an 
explosive device, placed underneath it, went off late on Wednesday 
night.  The incident could further delay resumption of supplies to 
NATO forces in Afghanistan. 
 
"Media Persons Detained, Tortured In Khyber Agency" "The News" 
(02/05) 
 
"Members of the Khasadar force on Wednesday detained and allegedly 
tortured reporters of two private television channels when they were 
on their way to Ali Masjid area in Khyber Agency to get footage of 
the ancient bridge blown up by militants a day earlier." 
 
"Pakistan's Leverage Over U.S. In Doldrums" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"Bagram Air Base's lifeline enters Pakistan at the Port of Karachi 
and passes through the historical Khyber Pass into Afghanistan. 
Bagram, the huge military airport plus housing compound, is the 
headquarters of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan's (OEF-A). 
It is maintained by the 5th and the 6th Aviation Battalions of the 
United States Army and the Unites States Air Force's 455th Air 
Expeditionary Wing is also housed at Bagram....  The lifeline to 
Bagram is Pakistan's leverage over the U.S....  America is thinning 
out Pakistan's leverage, diluting it to put America in a position to 
force Pakistan to 'do more.'" 
 
"Kayani To Visit U.S. By Month-End" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will embark on 
his maiden official visit to the United States towards the end of 
the current month, 'The News' learned on Wednesday.  'Keeping in 
view the geo-political situation in the region, this visit of the 
Army Chief has significant importance for Pakistan,' an official 
source said, wishing anonymity." 
 
"U.S. Administration Moves For Approval Of Aid Increase Bill" "Dawn" 
(02/05) 
 
"The Obama Administration is seeking early congressional action on a 
proposal for a three-fold increase in U.S. economic assistance to 
Pakistan, diplomatic sources told 'Dawn.'...  The move is part of 
the Obama administration's new strategy which treats Afghanistan and 
Pakistan as a single theatre of war but also seeks to deepen and 
expand its relationship with Pakistan." 
 
"USAID Trains 24 District Health Managers In Leadership Skills" "The 
Nation," "Daily Times," "The Post," "The Statesman" (02/05) 
 
"Twenty-four health and population managers from Balochistan and 
NWFP graduated from the United States Agency for International 
Development's (USAID's) leadership workshop for providing 
client-centered services." 
 
"Business Ambassador Program To U.S. From April-21-24" "Business 
Recorder" (02/05) 
 
"The United States Embassy, in collaboration with the Board of 
Investment (BOI), has chalked out 'Business Ambassador Program to 
the United States' to stimulate investment climate in Pakistan, and 
to encourage more trade between Pakistan and the United States." 
 
"Britain Pushes For NATO Role In Pakistan" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"Britain's Defense Secretary John Hutton on Wednesday urged his NATO 
allies to take a more active role in helping Pakistan fight 
extremist groups along its border with Afghanistan, he told 
reporters after talks with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop 
Scheffer and the alliance's 26 national envoys in Brussels." 
 
"India Warns Obama Over Intervening In Kashmir" "The News" (02/05) 
 
"New Delhi has warned US President Barack Obama that he is 'barking 
up the wrong tree' if he tries to broker a deal between Pakistan and 
India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.  M.K. Narayanan, 
India's National Security Adviser, said the new U.S. President was 
in danger of dredging up outdated Clinton-era strategies in an 
effort to improve ties between the nuclear armed neighbors, 
Narayanan said in an interview with the CNBC TV18." 
 
"Nation Renews Today Solidarity With People of Kashmir" "Dawn" 
(02/05) 
 
"The Kashmir Solidarity Day will be observed across Pakistan and in 
Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday to renew solidarity with the 
people of Kashmir.  The program for the day includes public rallies, 
seminars, TV shows, human chains and many other events." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Kashmir Solidarity Day: Positive Approach Of World Leadership And 
Our Responsibility," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) 
(02/05) 
 
"The Kashmir solidarity day is observed at a time when there seems 
to be a ray of hope for the Kashmir dispute resolution due to 
special attention being paid America, Britain and other 
countries....  President Barack Obama is serious in playing a role 
for the dispute resolution in keeping with his announcement and his 
special representative Richard Holbrooke is about to visit Pakistan 
and India.  Holbrooke will definitely have mandate from President 
Obama to discuss any possible resolution of the dispute with the 
concerned parties." 
 
"Kashmir Day: Reiteration Of Resolve," an editorial note in the 
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) 
(02/05) 
 
"It seems that now the big powers are taking interest in the 
outstanding issue of Kashmir following gradual changes in the 
international scenario, and particularly the election of Barack 
Obama as the new President of United States.  Although President 
Obama announced to take up the Kashmir issue on his agenda for South 
Asia, the situation is not very clear as there are some conflicting 
reports that the Obama Administration has assigned Richard Holbrooke 
to resolve the Kashmir dispute, but later on some reports revealed 
that the Indian lobby in Washington has done away with Kashmir issue 
from the Obama Administration's schema.  Now what is the truth? We 
will have to hang around until Mr. Richard Holbrooke visits 
Pakistan." 
 
"February 5: Not A Day For Kashmiris Only," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (02/05) 
 
"It is the Kashmiris' fervor that has kept this issue alive, 
compelling even those countries to think about it that used to say 
yes to whatever India had to say. Recently, the British Foreign 
Minister openly said that the region can be cleansed of terrorism if 
the Kashmir issue is resolved.  The most significant development in 
this respect is President's Obama's stance on the issue so far.  In 
fact some days ago, Admiral Mullen went to the extent of saying that 
finding a resolution to the Kashmir issue is very important in order 
to eliminate terrorism." 
"Kashmir: Expectations of a Solution," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" 
(cir. 3,000) (02/05) 
 
"Indian diplomats and politicians have moved vigorously to keep the 
U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke away from Kashmir issue, 
because they knew that he is a hard nut to crack.  Likewise, it also 
seems that President Obama is discarding his earlier stance on 
Kashmir issue as both the U.S. and Britain share interests in India 
more than even in Pakistan.  Coincidentally today, as Pakistani 
nation is observing the Kashmir Solidarity Day, UN Secretary General 
Ban Ki-Moon is in Islamabad and as such we must remind him of his 
responsibilities on Kashmir, and jog his memory with the 
old-forgotten resolutions on Kashmir issue." 
 
"Kashmir Committee Rides Again," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (02/05) 
 
"Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who will presumably sign the memorandum that 
has to go to President Barack Obama on fulfilling his pledges to 
Kashmir, might possibly undermine it by his statements that 
Pakistani troops should be withdrawn from the Tribal areas and that 
ISAF-NATO forces should leave Afghanistan.  How can one ask two 
contradictory things of Mr. Obama, who looks at the NATO presence in 
Afghanistan as a crucial aspect of his policy in our region?  The 
Kashmir Committee has never worked on any basis of realism.  As for 
the international 'diplomacy' the Committee keeps on 
self-consciously recommending, it has remained a facilitator of 
junkets." 
 
"Kashmir Solidarity Day And Need For Resolution Of Longstanding 
Disputes," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 
25,000) (02/05) 
 
"Not ensuring the implementation of its resolutions has damaged UN's 
credibility as an organization working for the entire international 
community.  Questions are also being raised about the UN for its 
haste in protecting the interests of powers like the U.S. and 
Britain, while neglecting issues like Palestine and Kashmir.  The UN 
must fulfill its responsibility as a global organization so that 
there is durable peace in the world." 
 
"Kashmir Solidarity Day," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (02/05) 
 
"India is not willing to give up its occupation of Kashmir, and gets 
annoyed with any country that offers help to resolve it.  Today, we 
must play an effective role for Kashmir's independence, not only at 
the public level, but also at the state level." 
 
"A Skewed Approach," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/05) 
 
"Unless sanity prevails in Washington, an increased reliance on 
force alone will lead to devastating consequences in Afghanistan and 
Pakistan, which are required to bear the brunt of the War on Terror. 
 It is the moral responsibility of the U.S. to build Afghanistan 
which they have destroyed twice....  The best way for Washington is 
to provide the Pakistan Army the high-tech weaponry it badly needs, 
and let it deal with the terrorists.  Further, it has to fulfill 
promises regarding the development of the tribal areas, including 
the establishment of the ROZs." 
 
"Neo-Cons Encircle Obama Too," an editorial in the Islamabad-based 
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (02/05) 
 
"A classified pentagon report urges President Obama to shift U.S. 
military strategy in Afghanistan by de-emphasizing 
democracy-building and concentrating more on strikes against Taliban 
and Al Qaeda sanctuaries inside Pakistan.  This is despite the fact 
that in a report the Congress, the Pentagon admitted that violence 
across Afghanistan was on the rise as there was dramatic increase in 
insurgent attacks in the spring and summer of 2008....  It is 
strange that instead of taking these views seriously and reviewing 
the flawed policy towards terrorism, President Obama is lending ears 
to trigger happy circles in his administration that also consists of 
old guards of Bush." 
 
"Advice To Increase Attacks In Pakistan Areas," (an editorial note 
in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (02/05) 
 
"Pentagon has advised President Barack Obama to speed up attacks 
against Taliban and Al-Qaeda inside Pakistan....  Due to these 
attacks the Al-Qaeda and Taliban are gaining support as the majority 
of those killed are innocent civilians....  The government of 
Pakistan should run a diplomatic campaign against America in this 
respect." 
 
"Troubled Roadway," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/05) 
 
"The fact that it has proven impossible to safeguard a relatively 
short stretch of road shows just how grim our security situation is. 
The destruction of the bridge also brings into question claims that 
we are winning the war on militancy.  Those behind the successive 
attacks in the Khyber Agency have yet to be apprehended.  This means 
they are free to carry out more operations in the future.... 
Pakistan needs a full-fledged plan to take on the militants, a 
holistic strategy that can enable it to end the state of anarchy it 
faces today and return order to its roads and highways." 
 
"Mumbai And Dialogue," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (02/05) 
 
"The Mumbai attacks were clearly a watershed terrorist attack.  A 
new, brazen, sophisticated breed of terrorists now clearly exists in 
this region and has found a way to match its murderous ideology with 
the capacity to execute it....  It is in our interest to defeat it 
and the state must take the lead in the fight.  Equally, however, 
India must be willing to hold out a helping hand.  A victim-enemy 
dichotomy helps nobody." 
Patterson