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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000274 
 
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, INDO-PAK 
RELATION/THREAT FROM AL-QAEDA, INDIA-SRILANKA-PAKISTAN, 
PALESTINE/ISRAEL; 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 QEarly EditionQ summary. 
 
-------- 
PAKISTAN 
-------- 
 
¶1. QPAKISTAN FALLS FLAT ON ITS FACEQ editorial in the 
February 13, 2009, Mumbai edition of left-of-center 
Marathi daily LOKSATTA.  QAlthough PakistanQs Interior 
Minister has finally acknowledged that the Mumbai attacks 
were partly plotted on Pakistani soil, there are some 
expected twists in this declaration. The minister claims 
that some plotters of the 26/11 terror strike came from 
Bangladesh, Austria, Italy, Spain and even the United 
States.  Any official statement from Pakistan cannot be 
taken at face value because what appears to be candid 
confessions could be political traps. Therefore, India 
will have to study these latest revelations and then 
arrive at some conclusion about PakistanQs intentions. 
India will have to see if Pakistan indeed intends to 
cooperate in the war against terror or if it is making 
these statements merely to relieve international 
pressureQ  A similar editorial appeared in the Marathi 
daily SAKAAL. 
 
¶2. QDESPITE ITS ADMISSION, PAKISTANQS ARROGANCE INTACT 
editorial in the February 13, 2009 multi-edition centrist 
Gujarati daily DIVYA BHASKAR.  QDespite having admitted 
that a part of the Mumbai terror conspiracy was hatched 
in Pakistan, Pakistani authorities havenQt shown any 
visible signs of shifting from their obstinate approach. 
This arrogance was evident in Pakistani Interior Minister 
Rehman Malik saying that what India provided was only 
information, and it was Pakistan that gathered evidence 
from this information.  Malik seems to convey that 
Pakistan did India a favor by taking action against those 
implicated in this macabre crime. PakistanQs admission 
also suggests that its position has weakened 
internationally.  That the American pressure has worked 
is clearly evident  the Mumbai terror case is going to 
last a long time given the absence of tough laws to deal 
with terrorism.  It might sound bitter but Gujarat Chief 
minister Narendra Modi has rightly said that current laws 
to deal with terrorism in India arenQt sufficient to 
bring the culprits to justice with the evidence gathered 
thus far.  Only stringent laws can deter terrorists from 
conducting such nefarious activities. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
INDO-PAK RELATION / THREAT FROM AL-QAEDA 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. "FACE OF TERROR," editorial in the February 11 
RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "The Al-Qaida commander 
Mustafa Abu Al-Yazid's threat to India of more Mumbai- 
like strikes is not surprising. Actually, the terrorist 
organizations are afraid that India can crack down on 
 
NEW DELHI 00000274  002 OF 003 
 
 
terrorists by attacking Pakistan. Thus, India and other 
terror-struck nations should be extremely careful this 
also exposes the Pakistan army, which declared Yazid dead 
earlier. U.S. President Barack Obama has already 
intensified Pakistan's problem by declaring its tribal 
areas a safe haven for terrorists. The motive behind U.S. 
special envoy Richard Holbrooke's Afghanistan-Pakistan 
visit is also to give the war on terror a decisive turn. 
Holbrooke will, certainly, talk to the Pakistani leaders 
about the claim Yazid was dead. Although Pakistan has not 
yet reacted to Yazid's tape, it will have to talk to him 
about terrorists active on Pakistani soil. Yazid's threat 
reconfirms the allegation that the terrorists operate 
anti-India activities from Pakistani soil." 
 
¶4. QAL-QAEDA THREATQ, editorial in the February 12 right 
of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS, New Delhi: 
QWhenever India and Pakistan extend their hand of 
cooperation to each other to combat terrorism, or sit 
across the negotiation table, the terrorist elements of 
both sides become extraordinarily active and dynamic. The 
tragic aspect of the matter is that they are often 
successful in their nefarious designs, and as a result, 
the train of Indo-Pak relations gets derailed once again. 
Undoubtedly, the recent threat by al-Qaeda is a link in 
the same chain. India should realize this fact, while 
Pakistan should also show the courage to face the naked 
truth. Though India is not untouched by alien 
conspiracies, terrorists have long ruled the roost in 
Pakistan. Our governments should crush this demon with 
all their strength so that it may not rise again, 
otherwise the sub-continent will never get rid of this 
menace. 
 
¶5. "AL-QAEDA THREAT", editorial in the February 12 right 
of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ, New Delhi: QAl-Qaeda 
has warned that in case of Indian attack on Pakistan, it 
will retaliate and stand shoulder to shoulder with the 
Pakistan army. Recent statements from al-Qaeda have 
baffled the United States of America and the latter is 
pressuring Pakistan to take concrete steps to oust 
terrorists from its tribal areas. But Pakistan is 
helpless. It is unable to restrict the ever growing 
influence of the Taliban and al-Qaeda. If Pakistan takes 
any harsh action against these forces, it will face the 
consequences thereof. Moreover, it has fewer modern 
weapons to confront them, because it is not getting 
sufficient military aid from the United States of America 
due to the weak American economy. But al-QaedaQs threats 
against India are taking a new turn. At this juncture, 
new American President Obama should work diligently to 
stop further deterioration in bilateral Indo-Pak 
relations. 
 
----------------------- 
INDIA-SRILANKA-PAKISTAN 
----------------------- 
 
¶6. "LIMITATIONS OF ARMED STRUGGLE," op-ed by former 
parliamentarian and diplomat Kuldip Nayar in the February 
 
NEW DELHI 00000274  003 OF 003 
 
 
11 DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "In a way, what has 
happened to the LTTE in Sri Lanka is similar to what has 
happened to the Hurriyat in Kashmir. Both of these groups 
of so called freedom fighters have ceased to be relevant 
in their respective territories. It does not mean that 
the alienation of the people they represent, the Tamils 
in Sri Lanka and the Kashmiris in India, has ended. But 
it does mean that the fight to project their power has 
not met with success. In any case, the violence which has 
no place in the settlement of political problems is 
practically over, more so in Kashmir than in Sri Lanka. 
This is the only conclusion which can be drawn. Anything 
beyond that may be wishful thinking on the part of the 
LTTE and the Hurriyat on one hand, and the governments in 
Sri Lanka and India on the other. Neither the LTTE nor 
the Hurriyat has ever faced the fact that no nation would 
allow any part of its territory to break away, however 
emotional may be the call for self-determination or 
autonomy. Had the two asked for a status within their 
respective countries, perhaps things would have been 
different. Maybe the solution for Kashmir lies in a 
similar formula whereby the people of the state enjoy 
power over all subjects except foreign affairs and 
defence. Islamabad could do likewise. Both New Delhi and 
Islamabad can give the Kashmiris a sense of coherence and 
integrity by making the border between Indian- 
administered Kashmir and Pakistani-administered Kashmir 
soft. This will make the border irrelevant." 
 
---------------- 
PALESTINE/ISRAEL 
---------------- 
 
¶7. QWHY DOES NOT BAN KEE MOON SHUT DOWN HIS SHOP? 
editorial in the February 12 rightQof-center Urdu daily 
INQUILAB, Mumbai: QDuring IsraelQs war in Gaza, the Tel 
Aviv army bombarded properties of the United Nations 
deliberately, sending a message to the world forum that 
Qif we trample global laws under our feet, the world 
forum will also feel itQ. Considering the attacks as an 
attack on United Nations prestige, the General Secretary 
ordered an investigation. Israel habitually drops United 
Nations resolutions into the dust bin. Perhaps it wants 
to convey that it has no regard either for UN resolutions 
or for established international norms. Under these 
circumstances, the only way to safeguard the prestige of 
the UN is for Ban Kee Moon to shut down his international 
shop running under the name of United Nations. Despite 
widespread condemnation of IsraelQs aggression by the 
world forum, no UN Secretary General could take any 
disciplinary action against Israel. If Israel is 
perpetrating tyranny, what are you doing against the 
tyrant? If you are unable to teach it a lesson, then why 
are you childishly complaining about Israel? 
MULFORD