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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000499 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MARCH 09, 2009 
 
Summary:  National political stories on the current row between the 
ruling PPP and the main opposition party PML-N, and the possible 
coalition setup in Punjab, dominated headlines in all newspapers on 
Monday.  Federal Minister Pervez Ashraf's statement announcing that 
the "time for reconciliation (with PML-N) was over" was highlighted 
by all major dailies.  Newspapers reported that the "PPP and PML-Q 
have worked out modalities of power-sharing in Punjab" in case they 
succeed to muster up the required number of supporting members in 
the Punjab Assembly that are need to their government.  Reports on 
killing of "14 kidnapped security men" by Taliban in Mohmand Agency 
received extensive display. 
 
Most newspapers ran editorials on the security situation in the 
region with special reference to the peace in Swat and FATA.  The 
leading Urdu daily, "Jang," advised the government to "deal 
effectively with all those elements who want to thwart the peace 
deal by resorting to continuous terror activities in other areas." 
The second-largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt," noted that "had 
President Obama announced withdrawal of American troops from 
Afghanistan in his first presidential address, the foundation of 
permanent peace in the region would have been laid."   Likewise, the 
Peshawar-based Urdu daily, "Mashriq," observed that "if the U.S. 
initiates dialogue with the moderate Taliban in Afghanistan to 
resolve the issue, it is for sure that situation will definitely 
improve."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"PPP Launches All-Out Attack On PML-N; Time For Reconciliation Over: 
Pervez Ashraf" "Dawn" (03/09) 
 
"Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf launched a 
frontal attack on the PML-N leadership on Sunday and announced that 
the time for reconciliation was over.  Addressing a news conference 
at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in his capacity as PPP's Deputy 
Secretary-General, he said the PPP would not remain quiet on the 
character assassination of President Asif Zardari." 
 
"Power-Sharing, Formula 'Agreed'" "The Nation" (03/09) 
 
"In anticipation of any future alliance between the PPP and the 
PML-Q, the two parties have reportedly worked out modalities of 
power-sharing in Punjab in case they succeed to muster up support of 
required number of Punjab Assembly members to form their 
Government." 
 
"No Objection To Peaceful Long March" "The Nation" (03/09) 
 
"Terming peaceful demonstration and rallies as democratic right of 
every person, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Sunday said that 
the government had no objection to the proposed long march of the 
lawyers if it would be peaceful and within the ambit of law." 
 
"March To Be Stopped Outside Capital" "Dawn" (03/09) 
 
"The government finalized on Sunday its plan to seal Islamabad and 
bar the lawyers-led long march from proceeding towards the 
Parliament House, but decided to show some flexibility by offering 
two alternative venues if the march remained peaceful." 
 
"14 Kidnapped Security Men Found Murdered" "Dawn" (03/09) 
 
"Security forces claimed killing 15 militants after the bodies of 14 
Khasadar men were found on Sunday.  Some of the Khasadar men had 
been kidnapped on Saturday night after their convoy was ambushed in 
Mohmand tribal region." 
 
"U.S. For Multifaceted Effort To Stabilize Pakistan; Obama To Work 
With Islamabad To Eliminate Safe Havens" "The Nation" (03/09) 
 
"US President Barack Obama has pledged to work closely with 
Pakistan's government to eliminate militant safe havens along its 
Afghan border.  'At the heart of a new Afghanistan policy is going 
to be a smarter Pakistan policy,' Obama said in an interview 
published in the Sunday edition of The New York Times." 
 
"Obama Hints At Talks With Afghan Taliban" "Dawn" (03/09) 
"President Barack Obama opened the door to a reconciliation process 
in which the American military would reach out to elements of 
Taliban in Afghanistan like it did to Sunni militants in Iraq, the 
New York Times said in a report based on exclusive interview with 
the President...." 
 
"New U.S. Afghan Policy Next Month" "The News" (03/09) 
 
"New U.S. Afghan policy would be announced within three weeks as new 
U.S. administration is favorably disposed towards reconciliation 
course in international disputes.  This was revealed by the U.S. 
Ambassador to Pakistan Ms. Anne W. Patterson in an exclusive chat 
with 'The News' at the Prime Minister Secretariat on Sunday, where 
she had turned up to attend the National Convention on International 
Day of Women." 
 
"World Concern About Pak Situation Grows" "The News" (03/09) 
 
"U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson has arrived in 
Islamabad from her capital after having extensive consultations with 
the senior officials, and she is commencing meetings with stalwarts 
of the political divide in Pakistan from today (Monday).  The U.S. 
Ambassador had initial meetings with the Foreign Office high ups for 
making an assessment of the situation." 
 
"LeT Now Biggest threat To U.S.: Report" "Dawn" (03/09) 
 
"The next major attack on the U.S. soil may come from militants 
associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba and not Al Qaeda, say American 
terrorism experts.  Juan Zarate, the Deputy National Security 
Advisor for counter-terrorism in the Bush administration, told the 
Chicago Tribune that even before the Mumbai terrorist attacks last 
November, the FBI and other U.S. intelligence agencies were focusing 
on LeT as the next beg threat to U.S. Security." 
 
"Sufi Asks Militants To End Blockades" "The News" (03/09) 
 
"TNSM Chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad, along with a large number of his 
black-turbaned activists, forced the Taliban fighters on Sunday to 
end their blockade of the Takhtaband Road and open the bypass for 
traffic on a day when a convoy of the security forces carrying 
ration came under attack in a village known as militants' stronghold 
in Swat." 
 
"Swat Taliban Agree To Remove Check-Posts" "Daily Times" (03/09) 
 
"The Taliban on Sunday agreed to remove all check-posts across Swat 
district following the successful completion of talks between the 
NWFP government, the banned Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi 
(TNSM) and the defunct Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a private 
TV channel reported." 
 
"Taliban Warn Government Against Issuing NICs To Women" "The Nation" 
(03/09) 
 
"The Pakistani Taliban in the troubled Khyber Agency have warned 
authorities not to issue national identity cards to women, saying 
the practice is 'un-Islamic.'" 
 
"Indian Surgical Strikes May Spark War: Musharraf" "The News" 
(03/09) 
 
"Former President Pervez Musharraf has cautioned war can erupt if 
India resorts to surgical strike.  He said this in his interview 
with a private TV channel in New Delhi on Sunday." 
 
"Mumbai Attack Suspects - Interpol Chief Asks India To Provide DNA 
Profiles" "Dawn" (03/09) 
 
"Interpol has asked India to provide DNA profile of terrorists 
involved in the Mumbai attacks, including Ajmal Kasab so that their 
international links may be ascertained, while addressing a press 
conference in Islamabad on Sunday, Interpol's Secretary General 
Ronald K. Noble said." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Swat Peace Deal - An Encouraging Development," an editorial in the 
leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) 
(03/09) 
 
"The successful progress on the deal between the NWFP government and 
the TSNM in Swat is encouraging on the one hand, but the bomb blasts 
in Peshawar, Darra Adamkhel and Khyber Agency that resulted in death 
of 17 people including eight personnel show alarming situation in 
other parts of the NWFP too.  It is imperative for the government to 
deal effectively with all those elements who want to thwart the 
peace deal by resorting to continuous terror activities in other 
areas." 
 
"Obama'a Positive Approach," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) 
(03/09) 
 
"President Barack Obama has said that America is not winning the war 
in Afghanistan, which is why talks could be held with moderate 
Taliban.  According to him, the Taliban gained strength in the last 
two years while the Karzai government could not win the confidence 
of Afghans....  Had President Obama announced withdrawal of American 
troops from Afghanistan in his first presidential address, the 
foundation of permanent peace in the region would have been laid. 
Now that he has realized the importance of dialogue with moderate 
Taliban, he should frame his new Pakistan, Afghanistan policy in 
keeping with this realization." 
 
"Positive Approach Of President Obama," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (03/09) 
 
"President Barack Obama has admitted that the Afghan war cannot be 
won, and the fighting in Iraq is a good example of this fact.  If 
the U.S. initiates dialogue with the moderate Taliban in Afghanistan 
to resolve this issue, it is for sure that situation will definitely 
improve there.  However, a favorable atmosphere must be created to 
achieve something before kicking off the dialogue process." 
 
"A Common Threat," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English 
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (03/09) 
 
"The battle to purge Pakistan's tribal areas of foreign militants 
has not only gathered momentum; the induction of tribesmen is also 
proving helpful in isolating militants in the area.  The 
continuation of talks is the only solution to this sensitive issue. 
The monster of terrorism is not only engulfing Pakistan and 
Afghanistan, but the whole world.  It is the responsibility of 
Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. to collectively fight this common 
enemy." 
 
"Progress For Peace In Swat," an editorial in the center-right Urdu 
daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (03/09) 
 
"This is good news that talks between the Frontier government and 
TNSM succeeded as a result of which 12 Taliban prisoners were 
released....  In order to achieve peace in Swat the people of the 
region should be assured that rebellion is not the way to get their 
demands accepted.  They should be told that peaceful political 
struggle could yield positive outcome." 
 
"Another Few Funerals," an editorial in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/09) 
 
"Our leaders continue to insist we are winning the war on terror. 
But there is little real evidence of this. The fact is that the 
terrorists have succeeded in changing countless aspects of life 
across our cities and towns.  This, for them, is an immense victory. 
 It is obvious they are now in control of many areas of the 
Frontier. The terrorists wish to take over our country and our 
lives.  The war on terror is not one that the authorities can win 
alone.  New tactics are needed and these can be devised only with 
the fuller involvement of people." 
 
"Downing Of The Drone," an editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist 
English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (03/09) 
 
"Though such planes fly at a height beyond the range of small arms 
yet if it was shot down, it was the result of hatred of the local 
people who lost their near and dear ones by such drones attacks.... 
Though downing or crashing of the spy plane will be of no value to 
the super power in financial terms a clear message lies for the U.S. 
to reconsider its policy, share intelligence and let Pakistani 
forces fight them out." 
 
"Now They Are Targeting Pakistan," an op-ed by Dr. Samiullah Koreshi 
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" 
(cir. 5,000) (03/09) 
 
"Her (Lady Clinton) proposal was 'to call a high level international 
conference on Afghanistan to be sponsored by the United Nations and 
attended by wide range of countries including Pakistan and possibly 
Iran.'  This proposal is aimed at targeting Pakistan as an 
international culprit and as a patron of the terrorists.  This is a 
double-edged proposal....  If this is so, Pakistan should keep 
itself away from the proposed conference and be vigilant about its 
independence and sovereignty if these words convey any sense to the 
powers that be in Pakistan." 
 
"Peering Into Pakistan's Predicament," an op-ed by Dr. S.M. Rahman 
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (03/09) 
 
"The United States urgently needs a new strategy.  Washington must 
get over the idea that it can and should micromanage political 
outcomes in countries like Pakistan.  Trying to produce governments 
that both uncritically accept all U.S. security requests and also 
pass our democracy litmus test is hopeless given the fact that the 
overwhelming majority of voters in Pakistan are hostile to U.S. 
strategy in the region." 
 
"How We Lost Swat," an op-ed by Nasir Abbas Mirza in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (03/09) 
 
"We lost Swat the day we made discriminatory laws based on sectarian 
and religious divisions....  We lost our way when we set up parallel 
systems with all kinds of Islamic councils and courts....  The loss 
of Swat is not the end of it.  It is just another battle lost by us. 
This battle, and the many more to come, can only be won with more 
liberties, more freedom and more rights.  And a state with a will to 
protect these at all costs. That's the real battlefront of this war 
against terror and extremism." 
 
"Reviving the Peace Process," an op-ed by Talat Masood in the 
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/09) 
 
"The terrorist attack in Lahore on the Sri Lankan team once again 
exposed the weakness of the Pakistani state.  The ease with which 
the terrorists committed the crime and melted away in the population 
reaffirms the international concern that Pakistan is a safe haven 
and a victim of terrorism.  It is apparent that terrorist network 
and infrastructure has expanded in every province and that these 
elements have evolved over time in shifting political environments. 
It is not only confined to FATA, NWFP and Baluchistan but has crept 
into Punjab and other parts of the country.  The Lahore incident 
also demonstrates that radicalism is moving eastward at a fast 
space....  War on terror climate has given terrorists an unwanted 
leverage. " 
 
"Clutching At Staws," an op-ed by Shaheen  Ali in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(03/09) 
 
"Words along will not distance the federal government from a deal 
with non-state actors on Pakistani territory.  At the end of the 
day, the buck stops with the federal government.  Hoping that these 
Pakhtuns in the back of beyond can take all the 'blame' will simply 
not work.  We cannot have our cake and eat it; we either have an 
honest peace accord and give it our best or we don't.  Delaying 
tactics in signing the Nizam-i-Adl regulation 2009 will not absolve 
the federal government.  It will only make matter worse." 
 
"Kidnapping As A Political Tool," an editorial in the country's 
premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) 
(03/09) 
 
"Nothing exposes the absurdity of our political culture as 
succinctly as the kidnapping of foreign guest workers on the 
Pakistani soil to settle score or extract concessions otherwise 
denied by the government. So it shocked every thinking person when 
the heretofore unknown Baloch Liberation United Front (BLUF) 
kidnapped John Solecki...  But equally shocking, perhaps more, was 
the kidnappers demand which revealed the bizarre dimensions of 
high-handedness to which the people of Balochistan have been 
subjected by the state....  His kidnappers should realize that 
keeping him incarcerated is an insult to the human cause he is 
engaged in, as representative of the UN refugee agency. It is for 
their own good that they should not cross the red line that 
separates a just struggle for rights from terrorism." 
 
"Kashmir Dispute And Pervez Musharraf's Confused Thoughts," an 
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (03/09) 
 
"Former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf has suggested 
elimination of the Line of Control in Kashmir followed by more 
autonomy to Kashmiris.  He made the remarks addressing a seminar in 
New Delhi....  Instead of presenting national standpoint on disputes 
between Pakistan and India, Musharraf went for statements that will 
increase Kashmiris disappointments and might be welcomed in 
India....  The government of Pakistan should ask Musharraf to avoid 
giving statements on Pakistan-India disputes without proper 
permission and briefing by the Foreign Ministry." 
 
"LoC Is Not Berlin Wall!," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/09) 
 
"Lest there should be any doubt about the crying need for the two 
nations (India and Pakistan) to resolve old contentious issues to 
end mutual acrimony and forge reconciliation in the interest of a 
securer and more prosperous life for nearly 1.25 billion people, it 
must be stated that unless the spirit of justice rules in the 
settlement of these disputes, the precondition of durable peace for 
ending the Subcontinent's problems, would not have been met." 
Patterson