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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000266 
 
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: INDO - PAK RELATIONS, WAR 
AGAINST TERRORISM, AFGHANISTAN, NON-PROLIFERATION/ARMS 
CONTROL, U.S.-IRAN RELATION; 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. 
 
------------------ 
INDO-PAK RELATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶1. "PAKISTAN'S MANEUVER," editorial in the February 11 
DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan's demand for more 
information to complete its probe into the Mumbai terror 
attacks shows that it is simply misleading the world and 
killing time. But, for how long will the Indian 
government tolerate Pakistan's excuses? If Pakistan is at 
all honest then why has it not yet found out the 
whereabouts of nine militants killed in Mumbai? Whether 
it is A.Q. Khan's release, supporting terrorist groups or 
the Al-Qaida threat to execute Mumbai-like attacks, it 
shows that the situation in Pakistan is worsening and 
posing a serious danger to India. India should not expect 
that the U.S. or U.K. will ask Pakistan for any 
explanation of the Mumbai mayhem. Is it not surprising 
that U.S. special envoy Richard Holbrooke did not even 
mention it to the Pakistani leaders? India should 
understand that Pakistan is only deceiving it. If India 
fails in prosecuting the perpetrators of the Mumbai 
carnage, that will certainly affect its reputation." 
 
¶2. "PAKISTANI LABYRINTH," editorial in the February 11 
DAINIK HINDUSTAN Hindi daily: "Forget about taking any 
action; Pakistan took so long to decide it needs more 
information to proceed with its investigation into the 
Mumbai terror attacks. If we closely monitor the 
situation in Pakistan -setting the rogue scientist A.Q. 
Khan free and the Al-Qaida threat to carry out more 
Mumbai-like attacks in India- it clearly points to links 
between the important elements of the Pakistani 
government and extremists and terrorist elements. It also 
sends a message to the U.S. and India that questions 
should not be asked about Pakistan's role in the war 
against terror; what it says should be believed. But, the 
Pakistani government's problem is that the pressure of 
the army and the extremists on it is pretty evident. 
Under these circumstances, it is very important that 
India should be united in its stand regardless of 
elections knocking at the door." 
 
¶3. "PAKISTAN TOO SHOULD FURNISH EVIDENCES", editorial in 
the February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, 
Hyderabad: "For the past several years, the attitude of 
Pakistan on terrorism has been obstinate and illogical. 
It simultaneously takes every initiative to buy time on 
one pretext or another to delay the matter. And Pakistan 
is quite successful in its modus operandi. If Pakistan 
can ask us to furnish evidence, then why cannot we ask it 
to provide proof? Obviously, it will never be able to do 
so. Only then will it realize that asking for evidence is 
easier than providing it. It is where we can grill 
Pakistan. In matters of relations with Pakistan, one of 
 
NEW DELHI 00000266  002 OF 004 
 
 
our gross mistakes is that we have relied too much upon 
America. We have taken for granted that President Obama 
can pressure Pakistan to honor our claims. But we forgot 
that America never sacrifices its own vested interests 
for others." 
 
¶4. "INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCES OR DILLY-DALLYING", editorial 
in the February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily URDU TIMES, 
Mumbai: "It is high time Pakistan extended the hand of 
friendship to India and enhanced bilateral business and 
trade, because in times of global economic recession the 
Indian economy is second to none but that of China. That 
is why most countries are vying to improve their 
relations with India, so that they may make the most of 
the vast Indian market. But in Pakistan, there are 
certain groups and elements which do not allow their 
country to improve its relations with India beyond a 
limit. These elements sabotage the mutual relations 
whenever the two come closer to one another. These 
enemies of the interests of the Asian continent, and 
particularly the sub-continent, should be handled with a 
heavy hand, regardless of whether they are in India or 
Pakistan. But this requires courage and bravery. And 
Pakistan will have to show such courage and bravery." 
 
--------------------- 
WAR AGAINST TERRORISM 
--------------------- 
 
¶5. "AL QAEDA ATTACK ON KABUL" editorial in the February 
12, 2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily 
LOKMAT.  "The Al Qaeda attack on Kabul a day before the 
visit of U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke is the latest in a 
series of coordinated high-profile terrorist strikes. 
Much worse is the Al-Qaeda commander Mustafa Abu al- 
Yazid's warning of more Mumbai-style attacks in India. He 
had the audacity to warn India of a retaliatory attack in 
the event of any Indian action against Pakistan. These 
threats and attacks need to be taken very seriously by 
the global community, considering the immense harm Al 
Qaeda has done to innocents in many corners of the globe. 
The new U.S. President Barack Obama is planning to double 
the number of U.S. troops fighting against a widening 
Taliban-led insurgency. Something effective certainly 
needs to be done, and immediately, to rein in the 
Taliban..." 
A similar editorial appeared in the February 12, 2009, 
edition of Marathi daily SAKAAL. 
 
----------- 
AFGHANISTAN 
----------- 
 
¶6. "WILL AFGHANISTAN BECOME ANOTHER VIETNAM?" editorial 
in the February 12, 2009 multi-edition centrist Gujarati 
daily DIVYA BHASKAR.  "The situation in Afghanistan is 
gradually slipping out of American control.  Any failure 
by the Obama administration to act swiftly might see the 
dawn of another Vietnam in Afghanistan...  the Kabul 
suicide attacks the other day is a grim reminder of the 
 
NEW DELHI 00000266  003 OF 004 
 
 
state of things in this land-locked nation.  The pattern 
of attacks was reminiscent of the 11/26 Mumbai 
terrorists' assault...  besides, barring control over a few 
cities in Afghanistan, the U.S. and United Nations 
coalition forces do not hold sway over the majority of 
Afghanistan, which continues to be under Taliban 
influence.  In addition, the Taliban have also 
established their dominance over Pakistan's FATA 
(Federally Administered Tribal Areas) region...  despite 
eights years of its war against terrorism, the United 
States remains unsuccessful in tracking down dreaded 
fugitive Osama bin Laden.  All in all, the situation is 
explosive.  America has no option but to eliminate the 
Taliban and Al Qaeda at all costs, failing which peace 
and security will continue to elude the global 
community...." 
 
¶7. "AMERICA ADMITS DEFEAT", editorial in the February 11 
right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS, New Delhi: 
"After a centuries long battle, the West could not 
achieve its aims in Afghanistan. In the past too, the 
western imperialists inflicted tremendous loss of lives 
and property on inhabitants of this region, but they did 
not learn any lesson from history. Nobody can deny the 
fact that no disease can be cured without discovering its 
root cause. Symptoms remain intact until its root causes 
are eradicated. How can the curse of terrorism be removed 
without knowing its genesis? According to the Chief of 
American Central Command, General David Patreus, 'success 
in Afghanistan will not be easy, rather it will be a long 
and difficult battle.' What else could the Commander of 
an army tell his political leadership about the possible 
fate of any war? It is high time the new administration 
of the White House gave serious consideration to a change 
in scenario." 
 
------------------------------ 
NON-PROLIFERATION/ARMS CONTROL 
------------------------------ 
 
¶8. "INDIA WANTS BAN ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS", editorial in the 
February 11 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA, 
New Delhi: "The logic of the world powers with regards to 
making the earth a peaceful place is quite 
incomprehensible. On the one hand, they are producing 
deadly atomic and chemical weapons day and night, while 
on the other hand they make all out efforts to ensure 
that no developing country of Asia or Africa -- including 
Iran -- can use nuclear energy for even peaceful 
purposes. They are always ready to trap these countries 
using tools like restrictions and sanctions, including 
economic sanctions. These world powers have massacred 
millions of innocent citizens in Iraq on frivolous 
grounds. They also have killed thousands of innocent 
citizens in Afghanistan on the pretext of the so-called 
war on terror. Considering the dual standard and policy, 
it seems the world powers are not in the least interested 
in saving the planet from atomic wars and horrible death 
and destruction. Had they any interest, they would have 
taken initiatives to destroy these weapons, instead of 
 
NEW DELHI 00000266  004 OF 004 
 
 
restricting countries from using nuclear energy for 
peaceful purposes." 
 
------------------ 
U.S.-IRAN RELATION 
------------------ 
 
¶9. "NEW TURN IN U.S.-IRAN RELATION" editorial in the Feb 
12 right-of-center Urdu daily "ETEMAAD", Hyderabad: "The 
flip-flop of 'war and peace' between the U.S. and Iran 
has taken a new turn. Iranian President Mahmoud 
Ahmadinejad delivering a speech in a rally to mark the 
30th anniversary of the victory of Iran's Islamic 
Revolution said Iran was ready for fair talks with the 
United States on the basis of mutual respect. However, he 
added that Iran wants true changes in U.S. policy. In 
fact, Israel is the big hurdle between in U.S.-Iran 
relations. The Jewish Israeli state can never accept 
friendly relations between America and Iran, as it has 
always been unnecessarily anxious about its security, 
even though Iran doesn't intend to attack Israel. On the 
contrary, Israel's policy towards the Arab world, 
especially Palestine, has become a symbol of barbarism. 
Now that Iran has agreed to talks with the U.S., the ball 
is in the court of President Obama to open dialogue with 
Iran, particularly on those issues that cause enmity 
between the two countries." 
MULFORD