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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000234 
 
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: PAKISTAN/OBAMA PRESIDENCY, SRI 
LANKA, PAKISTAN, IRAN, PALESTINE, AFGHANISTAN; 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. 
 
------------------------- 
PAKISTAN/OBAMA PRESIDENCY 
------------------------- 
 
¶1. "INDIA'S EXPECTATIONS For OBAMA" op-ed article by 
former diplomat Rajendra Abhyankar in the February 6, 
2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily SAKAAL. 
"It is welcome that the new U.S. President feels that 
Pakistan needs to play a more positive role in the 
interest of peace and stability in South Asia, especially 
in Afghanistan. Obama's decision to appoint Richard 
Holbrooke as the U.S. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan 
is also a rewarding one, more so because he has not been 
entrusted with the responsibility of Kashmir. In fact, 
Pakistan wanted Kashmir to fall within Holbrooke's 
jurisdiction. Obviously, India feared a resurgence of 
America's Kashmir policy (that proved distinctly 
unfavorable to India) that prevailed during the Clinton 
administration. Obama has allayed fears on that count as 
of now...  during the Bush years, the U.S. treated Pakistan 
and India as separate entities. This policy was welcome 
as India has a justifiable reason for not wanting to be 
treated on par with an ever-erring neighbor. But India 
now expects much more from Obama. India not only wants to 
be differentiated from Pakistan, but the U.S. also needs 
to bring Pakistan to task in the context of terrorism..." 
 
--------- 
SRI LANKA 
--------- 
 
¶2. "LESSON FROM SRI LANKA" editorial in the February 6 
Guwahati Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN. 
"Given the current situation it is apparent that the 
LTTE's dream of establishing an independent Tamil state 
will never materialize... it may not be possible to 
eliminate the LTTE altogether but certainly it will not 
regain its earlier position. All those terrorist 
organizations, which drew inspiration from the LTTE, now 
should learn their lesson from the LTTE's predicament. A 
handful of people can never establish an independent 
entity within a country by fighting against a large 
army.  On the contrary, they turn the country into a 
slaughterhouse of humanity." 
 
-------- 
PAKISTAN 
-------- 
 
¶3. "PAKISTAN'S BEHAVIOR" editorial in the February 6 
Guwahati Assamese independent ASAMIYA KHABOR.  "No doubt 
formal relations between India and Pakistan deteriorated 
after the Mumbai terror attacks. But there exists a 
parallel relationship which is still warm... the 
representatives of Pakistan's civil society are 
pressuring its government not to hide its wrong-doing, 
 
NEW DELHI 00000234  002 OF 003 
 
 
but rather take steps to identify and punish the 
perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. Despite criticizing 
the Pakistan government, the common people of India 
should reciprocate this positive attitude of their 
neighbors by maintaining cordial relations. Peace can 
only then prevail in the sub-continent." 
 
---- 
IRAN 
---- 
 
¶4. "IRAN'S SATELLITE: BIG QUESTIONS," editorial in the 
February 5 centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Iran's 
satellite launch has raised concerns. The launch marked 
the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution. Six major 
powers, which are trying to persuade Tehran to suspend 
its nuclear program, have expressed concern. They fear 
that Iran could use this technique for manufacturing 
long-range missiles tipped with nuclear warheads... Iran is 
accused of not halting its uranium enrichment program 
because it wants to manufacture nuclear weapons and 
become a superpower in the Middle-East. Thus, Iran is 
facing UN sanctions. Since these sanctions are affecting 
Iran's economy, it has given indications that it can hike 
oil prices. If it happens, it will get the entire world 
into trouble. Iran's arm-twisting can, certainly, be 
dangerous, but Iran should also clear doubts about its 
space and nuclear programs and prove that it is a 
supporter of peace in the world." 
 
¶5. "IRAN CANNOT BE COMPARED WITH LIBYA", editorial in the 
February 5 right-of-center Urdu daily URDU TIMES, Mumbai: 
"In order to sabotage the Islamic revolution in Iran, a 
war thrust upon it in 1980 -- just a year after the 
revolution -- lasted eight years. Despite this, the 
economic, social, civil and defense advancement of Iran 
is tremendous. No country in the world outside Japan, 
China and Germany can be considered on par with Iran. The 
recent satellite launch is the greatest proof of Iran's 
success. In fact, comparison of Iran's liberal Islamic 
revolutionary leadership with autocratic Libya, which is 
terrified of the West, is an insult to Iran. Only someone 
like Jonathon Power could dare inflict such an insult. As 
far as the Palestine issue is concerned, Palestine is for 
Palestinians, and everything except that truth is an 
oppression and trespass, and is bound to die its own 
death one day." 
 
--------- 
PALESTINE 
--------- 
 
¶6. "PROBLEMS OF HAMAS", editorial in the February 6 
right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad: "It is an 
established fact that Israel considers Hamas its greatest 
enemy, and the first and foremost mission of Israel, at 
present, is to liquidate Hamas by all means. The Israeli 
government and political parties are so terrified of 
Hamas that the latter has become a hot issue amidst the 
upcoming elections in Israel. Former President Bush has 
vilified those who are fighting for their motherland, 
 
NEW DELHI 00000234  003 OF 003 
 
 
whether they are in Palestine, Chechnya or elsewhere. 
These activists are now branded as terrorists. Mujahids 
and militants of yesterday are now called Palestinian 
terrorists. This causes a decrease in sympathy with Hamas 
at international levels. Some Arab countries are hand in 
glove in conspiracies hatched against Hamas. But Hamas is 
destined to stand victorious, since they are right and 
true." 
 
¶7. "PALESTINE IS IN NEED OF REAL JUSTICE", editorial in 
the February 5 right-of-center Urdu daily INQUILAB, 
Mumbai: "Obama is a silver lining in the dark clouds 
hovering over the Middle - East. It seems that his 
administration will try to ensure the progress in 
establishing peace in the region, but will it try to 
provide justice to Palestinians? Will it help them to get 
back their land? Will it take interest in solving the 
crucial issue of Palestinian refugees and will it honor 
their sentiments and aspirations? These are some of the 
questions which need positive and constructive responses 
to create a hopeful horizon in the Mid-East; otherwise, 
any expectation of Obama's administration will be futile 
and worthless. Obama's special envoy for the Middle-East 
is on his tour to the region. He did not consider it 
necessary to meet the Hamas leadership. It is not a 
healthy sign. It depicts the same narrow-mindedness, 
which is not suitable at all for the peace process in the 
war torn region. Doesn't Obama want to bring Hamas to the 
table because it is truthful, keeps real questions of 
peace and justice in consideration, and has the honor of 
being the representative party of Palestinian people?" 
 
----------- 
AFGHANISTAN 
----------- 
 
¶8. "FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN", editorial in the February 6 
right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA, New Delhi: 
"At present, the United States of America does not want 
to hear the stories of its defeats. That is why it is 
making all out efforts to create such a situation in 
Afghanistan, before its retreat, that the Taliban will 
not be able to reestablish their authority in Afghanistan 
-- and if they gain strength, they will be restricted to 
a limited region in the country. With this aim, the 
United States of America has adopted a policy of leaving 
Afghanistan only after turning it into a vast battle 
field -- the same policy it had adopted in Iraq. The 
Afghan history stands witness that no power in the world 
can occupy its rocky land. America, like Britain and 
Russia, is about to leave Afghanistan, but at the same 
time it wants a face-saving retreat. That is why it 
wishes to create the same situation as Russia created in 
the past. However, it is quite certain that major powers 
of the world, who write the destiny of Muslim countries, 
will never want to provide the Muslim world with an 
opportunity to rest peacefully, quietly and calmly." 
MULFORD