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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000289 
 
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/ WAR 
AGAINST TERRORISM, HOLBROOKE VISIT; NEW DELHI - FEBRUARY 
14-17, 2009. 
 
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/ WAR AGAINST TERRORISM 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶1. "PAKISTAN4S CRISIS," editorial in the February 16 
nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan 
President Asif Ali Zardari's saying that the Taliban is 
trying to take over Pakistan is not surprising. The 
Taliban and Al-Qaida are spreading terror with the aim of 
global jihad and their first target is Pakistan and 
Afghanistan. The Pakistan government is internally 
accused of taking military action in the terrorist 
controlled areas only for the sake of the U.S., but not 
out of national interest. Zardari should not forget that 
it is nobody but Pakistan who created and supported these 
terrorists. Zardari will have to understand that the 
terrorists' supporters are very well represented in the 
Pakistani administration because of its policy of 
exporting terrorism to India. If Zardari has actually 
realized what he is saying then he should shed his post- 
Mumbai incident attitude. India can help Pakistan. 
Pakistan should accept that it alone cannot fight 
terrorism and should let India, the U.S. and others 
destroy terrorist hubs." 
 
¶2. "PAKISTAN ON TRACK," editorial in the February 14 
nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "The entire 
world, including India, wants to end global jihadi 
terrorism. Since Pakistan is the centre of terrorism, our 
policy and outlook should be focused on how to destroy 
the basic terrorist structure developed on Pakistani 
soil. We should prepare Pakistan to give 100% against 
terrorists. Considering Pakistan has accepted - if only 
partly - that Kasab and other terrorists are its 
citizens, and that the Mumbai terror attacks were planned 
on its soil, we should wait but be alert. We will have to 
answer Pakistan's long list of questions. But the good 
thing is that the world is in our favor on the Mumbai 
strikes. And those nations which sympathize with Pakistan 
cannot openly support it. However, since the U.S. is 
already focusing on Pakistan and Afghanistan to give its 
war against terror a decisive turn, Pakistan will 
certainly become the centre of this strategy. That means 
that the result will be in our favor. The Indian strategy 
should be planned considering all these aspects." 
 
¶3. "PAKISTAN'S REPLY," editorial in the February 14 
centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "In response to the 
Indian dossier, Pakistan finally accepted that the Mumbai 
terror attacks were conceived on its soil. It has 
realized that if it does not change its attitude it could 
be isolated. The change of power in the U.S. has also 
affected its attitude. U.S. President Barack Obama has 
given Pakistan a strict warning that if it wants U.S. aid 
it will have to take effective measures against 
 
NEW DELHI 00000289  002 OF 004 
 
 
terrorists. His special envoy Holbrooke's Pakistan visit 
is meant to make Pakistani leaders understand that it 
cannot, as it has, adopt a strategy of striking deals 
with the U.S. in the name of terrorism. Most likely 
Pakistan answered India's dossier after Holbrooke put 
pressure on it. Whatever the case, India cannot trust 
Pakistan because it is expert in playing tricks. It takes 
action only under pressure. Thus, we should continue our 
campaign among the international community so that 
Pakistan cooperates in carrying forward the investigation 
process." 
 
¶4. "ZARDARI CRIES WOLF" editorial in the February 17, 
2009, Mumbai edition of centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. 
"After acknowledging the Pakistani connections with the 
Mumbai terror attacks, Pakistani President Asif Zardari 
has adopted a new survival strategy.  He has spelt out 
the likelihood of an anti-Pakistan terror strike from the 
Taliban. India and the entire world community needs to 
look into the veracity of his latest claim, because all 
that happens in Pakistan affects India as well. Zardari's 
claim may be a sly attempt to extract U.S. financial aid 
in the name of Taliban terror... of course, the Taliban is 
a notorious entity and it may have actually prepared for 
a takeover of Pakistan, as Zardari claims. Whatever the 
circumstances, Zardari's remarks cannot be overlooked..." 
 
¶5. "PAKISTAN OFFICIALLY ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR MUMBAI 
ATTACKS"  editorial in the February 14, 2009 centrist 
Gujarati daily GUJARATMITRA.  "At last, succumbing to an 
incessant barrage of warnings from India and pressure 
from the international community, especially America, 
Pakistan has finally and officially accepted the 
responsibility for the 11/26 Mumbai terror attacks.  It 
is worth noting here that this late admission comes as a 
surprise considering that Pakistan has been in denial 
mode over this issue from the very beginning.  One should 
not forget that much needs to done.  Pakistan is the 
epicenter of terrorism.  The Taliban has threatened India 
with retaliation if India attacks Pakistan.  This speaks 
volumes of Pakistan's association with the radicals and 
extremists.  What Pakistan has done is only mild scolding 
of such rogue elements.  Pakistan's sincerity in the war 
against terrorism can only be trusted if it hands over to 
India all those involved in the Mumbai attacks.  Mere 
admission doesn't exonerate Pakistan from the greater 
responsibility of ensuring that the guilty are brought to 
justice appropriately."  A similar editorial appeared in 
the February 14, 2009 Mumbai-based centrist Gujarati 
daily JANMABHOOMI. 
 
¶6. "A PRAISE WORTHY ATTEMPT", editorial in the February 
14 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA, New 
Delhi: "The Pakistani home minister for internal security 
said that both India and Pakistan would have to combat 
the menace of terrorism together. He added that seeking 
information from India is also towards this end, so that 
the culprits involved in the Mumbai attacks could be 
brought to book. The government of India has also lauded 
this attempt on the part of Pakistan. This latest step 
 
NEW DELHI 00000289  003 OF 004 
 
 
taken by Pakistan can very well be called a positive step 
in the right direction to build good relations between 
the two countries and permanent stability in the 
subcontinent region. The government of India should also 
try to reap the harvest by providing all possible 
detailed information in this respect, extending 
cooperation to the Pakistani leadership, so that the 
culprits can be apprehended and the victims of the 
dastardly acts of terror may get some solace. Pakistan 
also needs to appreciate this, knowing that it itself is 
facing the wrath of terrorists." 
 
¶7. "CONFESSION BY PAKISTAN", editorial in the February 14 
right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF, Hyderabad: "On the 
whole, it is indeed the first step of Pakistan in the 
right direction and of course it is a laudable step. 
Another aspect which is being reiterated by Pakistan is 
the possible involvement of local people in the Mumbai 
attacks. Great caution needs to be observed in replying 
to Pakistan. The question does not pertain to any one 
community; rather it is an issue related to the massacre 
of many innocent people. No law would justify the acts 
perpetrated by a murderer, on the condition that 
sufficient evidence to bring him to book is made 
available by India. The queries being put forth by 
Pakistan can be answered on the basis of this evidence. 
However, no person from any community should be arrested 
merely on the basis of trivial suspicion. This issue does 
not pertain to India and Pakistan alone; instead it 
concerns the entire global world. Pakistan may have acted 
under the steady pressure of the international community, 
particularly America. 
 
¶8. "FINALLY, PAKISTAN ADMITS", editorial in the February 
14 right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT, Hyderabad: "It 
could be the pressure of the international community or 
the continuous hammering by New Delhi which has finally 
led Pakistan to make an acknowledgement. Now that it has 
owned up, it is its moral responsibility to take 
comprehensive action against those who are responsible 
for taking innocent lives; this would make the world 
trust in the intentions and sincerity of Pakistan in 
bringing the culprits to book. India should also try to 
use diplomatic channels to keep building up the pressure 
on Pakistan, keeping in view its confessions so that 
action is taken against the guilty. The Pakistani 
government should be given adequate time to act upon its 
promises and demonstrate its sincerity. India avoided 
military action against Pakistan in the aftermath of the 
attacks. Instead, it resorted to diplomatic channels to 
exert itself. At last, it has emerged successful, while 
Pakistan was made to own up." 
 
--------------- 
HOLBROOKE VISIT 
--------------- 
 
¶9. "OBAMA'S SPECIAL CAMPAIGN," op-ed in the February 15 
right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily by strategic 
affairs specialist K. Subrahmanyam: "The Obama 
 
NEW DELHI 00000289  004 OF 004 
 
 
administration has appointed Richard Holbrooke as a 
special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan to 
concentrate on this most complex part of U.S. foreign 
policy. President Obama accepts that the Afghanistan 
problem cannot be solved until the safe havens for the 
Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan are destroyed. He 
clarified that Pakistan will only get U.S. aid if it acts 
forcefully against terrorists.... Holbrooke will face not 
just jihadi terrorist ideology, but the nuclear threat as 
well. Pakistan can blackmail the U.S. and the 
international community with the prospect of nuclear 
weapons technology getting into the wrong hands. The 
Pakistan army and government have proved, by releasing 
A.Q. Khan when Holbrooke came to the region, that they 
permitted nuclear proliferation and that if their demands 
are not taken into account it could happen again. It has 
given Holbrooke a fair idea of his limits in the region." 
MULFORD