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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000309 
 
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, NEW ADMINISTRATION'S 
FOREIGN POLICY, INDO-U.S. RELATIONS; 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 
-------- 
 
¶1. "DEFEAT IN SWAT," editorial in the February 18 
centrist NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Not even a week 
has passed since Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari 
admitted that the Taliban has established sway over large 
parts of his country and aims to take it over entirely. 
Now we hear that Islamabad has concluded a peace deal 
with the Taliban in the Swat valley. Zardari previously 
said the offensive against the Taliban in Swat was not at 
anyone's command, but rather in Pakistan's own national 
interest. So is this peace deal with the Taliban a part 
of the Pakistani government's offensive? What will Mr. 
Zardari call it? U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan 
and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on Monday said India, 
the United States and Pakistan all faced a common enemy. 
After this Pakistani action of giving in to the Taliban, 
will Mr. Holbrooke still maintain his view? Making peace 
with the Taliban is a dangerous development, not only for 
Zardari and Pakistan, but also India, South Asia, America 
and indeed the world." 
 
¶2. "HOLBROOKE'S ADVICE," editorial in the February 18 
right-of-center AMAR UJALA Hindi daily: "Obama had grand 
plans to focus his energies on Afghanistan. Now he 
probably realizes the complexities in actually 
implementing his plans. Soon after assuming power, he 
sent special representative for Pakistan and Afghanistan 
Richard Holbrooke to the region. Holbrooke said India, 
the US and Pakistan all have a common threat now: an 
enemy which poses a direct threat to our leadership, 
people and capitals. It is clear that Holbrooke is not 
aware of the reality, because while he is saying the 
Taliban is Pakistan's enemy, Zardari goes extending an 
olive branch to them. Islamabad has concluded a peace 
deal with the Taliban in the Swat valley. Islamabad is 
very clearly hoodwinking the United States. Holbrooke's 
thinking that Pakistan is on the same side as India and 
the U.S. shows that Pakistan has been able to throw dust 
in his eyes. Only Pakistan can deal with the Taliban, 
because it is Pakistan's creation." 
 
¶3. "PAK ON THE WRONG TRACK," editorial in the February 18 
right-of-center DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "Pakistan has 
been totally uncooperative and dishonest on the Mumbai 
terror dossier. It is necessary for India to move swiftly 
to tame Pakistan, because there is no other way. The 
world knows that the Pakistani coalition government has 
lost control over large parts of the country and that the 
Taliban has established its sway and aims to take it over 
entirely. Despite this, the Pakistan government has 
succeeded in convincing the world that it is a legitimate 
government that is firmly in the saddle. It is India's 
duty to expose Pakistan's duplicity to the world, because 
 
NEW DELHI 00000309  002 OF 002 
 
 
on its own the world is not able to comprehend its game 
plan. If American policymakers think that the danger is 
only from the Taliban, then they are mistaken." 
 
----------------------------------- 
NEW ADMINISTRATION'S FOREIGN POLICY 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4. "RELEASE OF DETAINEES: OBAMA'S FOREMOST CHALLENGE," 
editorial-page article in the February 19 independent 
Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA by columnist 
Pradip Dutta.  "America has pursued a war on terror 
chiefly with the help of its military power. That 
cornered terrorists to some extent but they are yet to be 
eliminated. Terrorist attacks have rather spread to other 
countries. The country whose President was attacked by a 
shoe-throwing Iraqi journalist will have to secure the 
confidence of the whole world, including that of Islamic 
nations. It will have to stop aggressive military 
interference in other countries. This has become the U.S. 
habit over the past six decades -- almost like a drug 
addiction. It reached its climax during Bush's regime... 
though recent surveys suggest U.S. perceptions of African 
Americans have improved, whether the Muslims are placed 
in that category remains to be seen. One fears they may 
be converted into the 'New Black'. The new Administration 
faces huge challenges. Obama has even referred to the 
rights of nonbelievers; we are not bothered about the 
rights of atheists, but Obama thinks about it. It seems 
no problem evades his attention. There lies the hope. 
Now, action is needed." 
 
------------------- 
INDO-U.S. RELATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶5. "LOVE FOR ISRAEL UNDER U.S. PRESSURE," editorial in 
the February 19 CPI (M) Bengali Organ GANASHAKTI, 
Kolkata.  "Despite Leftist opposition, the UPA government 
in Delhi like the former NDA government is committed to 
building closer and stronger defense ties with Israel. 
Israel's role is going to assume a new dimension in the 
evolving paradigm of U.S. dominance aimed at 
counterbalancing China in Asia. India will become a new 
active U.S. ally in the region. Israel is being 
positioned in the middle in order to steer strategic 
plans and keep the Indo-U.S. alliance hidden as far as 
possible. The more India gets closer to the U.S. the more 
the danger from terrorism increases. That escalates 
India's defense budget. The government has become so 
desperate to award arms contracts to Israel that it does 
not hesitate to flout all established norms... this is 
the result of getting trapped by the U.S." 
MULFORD