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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000637 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: March 25, 2009 
 
Summary:  Remarks by the newly reinstated Chief Justice Iftikhar 
Chaudhary pledging to "cleanse judiciary of corruption" dominated 
headlines in all newspapers on Wednesday. All newspapers front-paged 
reports that the TNSM (Tehrik Nifaz Shariat Mohammadi) chief, Sufi 
Mohammad, "threatened" to wind up his peace camp (in Swat) if the 
government failed to enforce the 'Nizam-e-Adl' laws.  In an 
exclusive story, the English daily, "Dawn" reported that "hectic 
consultations" began between Washington and Islamabad to "ensure 
that there are no surprises for Pakistan" in the new U.S. strategy 
for Pakistan and Afghanistan.  Reports of a bomb blast in Quetta 
that injured at least four persons received prominent display. 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the U.S. "exit strategy" on 
Afghanistan as hinted by President Obama during a recent interview. 
The prestigious English daily, "Dawn," observed that "Mr. Obama's 
reference to an exit strategy may have been meant to pacify his 
domestic audience and the U.S. international allies, all of whom 
worried about losing endless blood and treasure in a faraway place." 
 The second largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt," opined that 
"President Barack Obama talks of troop withdrawal strategy for 
Afghanistan, and on the other his representatives like Holbrooke are 
describing Pakistan as the root of all the problems."  The liberal 
English language daily, "Daily Times," advised the Pakistani 
politicians to "make up their mind whether they want to fight 
Al-Qaeda or not, and if not, what strategy they plan to pursue." 
End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
"Iftikhar Seeks To Cleanse Judiciary Of Corruption" "Dawn" (03/25) 
 
"Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who marched triumphantly 
into his office on Tuesday after a break of 16 months, appealed to 
lawyers to help him rid the judiciary of corruption." 
 
"Sufi Threatens To Close 'Peace Camp'" "Dawn" (03/25) 
 
"TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad threatened on Tuesday to wind up 
his peace camp if the government failed to immediately enforce the 
Nizam-i-Adl Regulation." 
 
"President Yet To Sign Nizam-e-Adl Draft" "Daily Times" (03/25) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari has not signed the proposed Nizam-e-Adl 
(Sharia) Regulation 2009 for Malakand division, although the 
document was sent to him 11 days ago by the NWFP government. The 
NWFP sent the proposed regulation to the president after NWFP 
Governor Owais Ghani approved it on March 13." 
 
"NWFP Resolves To Implement Nizam-e-Adl" "The News" (03/25) 
 
"The provincial policy committee on Tuesday reviewed the situation 
in different parts of the province and the Federally Administered 
Tribal Areas (Fata) and expressed the resolve to implement the 
Nizam-e-Adl in the troubled Malakand division." 
 
"Hectic Consultations Precede Unveiling Of US Strategy" "Dawn" 
(03/25) 
 
"Sending American troops into Pakistan is a "red line" that cannot 
be crossed, says US special envoy Richard Holbrooke, but he refuses 
to confirm or deny media reports that Washington may expand drone 
attacks to Balochistan. As the United States prepares to unveil the 
new strategy later this week, hectic consultations have begun 
between Washington and Islamabad to ensure that "there are no 
surprises for Pakistan in the new policy" 
 
"Four Hurt In Quetta Blast" "The News" (03/25) 
 
"Four persons were injured when a powerful bomb exploded near a cold 
drink outlet at the Liaquat Bazaar here on Tuesday afternoon. Police 
said the explosive device went off around 1:52 pm when the people 
were busy in shopping." 
 
"BRA Women Claim Carrying Out Bomb Attack" "Dawn" (03/25) 
 
"Four people were injured when a bomb exploded in a cafe in the busy 
Liaquat bazaar here on Tuesday, and the women's wing of the Baloch 
Republican Army claimed responsibility for the attack." 
 
"20 Extremists Back In UK After Training" "Daily Times" (03/25) 
 
"Pakistan has tipped off British government about more than 20 
Britons believed to have spent time with radical militant groups and 
then returned to the UK. A Sky TV report said the tracked men may 
have trained with extremist outfits." 
 
"Naek Speaks Of 'Befitting Response' To Drone Attacks" "Dawn" 
(03/25) 
 
"Acting President Farooq H. Naek said on Tuesday that the United 
States had been told to stop drone attacks. He said that if they 
continued misadventure, the matter would be taken up in parliament 
and the world would see a befitting national response." 
 
"Gilani Pays First Visit To Kahuta Laboratories" "Dawn" (03/25) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Tuesday that the 
government was fully aware of the country's defense needs and was 
pursuing a policy of maintaining credible minimum deterrence for the 
sake of peace and stability in the region.  The prime minister was 
addressing a gathering of nuclear scientists during his first visit 
to the Kahuta Research Laboratories on the outskirts of the 
capital." 
 
"Taliban Warn Against Cellular Service In Waziristan" "Daily Times" 
(03/25) 
 
"The Taliban on Tuesday warned the government to stop expanding its 
mobile telephone network in Waziristan, claiming it would be used to 
spy on them." 
 
"UN Team For Benazir Probe Due Next Month" "Dawn" (03/25) 
 
"A United Nations technical team is expected to reach Pakistan in 
the third week of April to establish infrastructure in the country 
for the fact-finding mission to begin its investigation into the 
assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto." 
 
"UNHCR Appeals For Solecki's Release" "Daily Times" (03/25) 
 
"The UN refugee agency on Tuesday appealed for the release of John 
Solecki, an official who was kidnapped 50 days ago by Baloch 
insurgents." 
 
"Obama Seeks Swift G20 Action" "Dawn" (03/25) 
 
"US President Barack Obama sought swift action from G20 leaders on 
stimulating the economy abroad and new powers to wind down failing 
financial firms at home on Tuesday, a day after markets cheered his 
plan to soak up toxic assets weighing down the banks." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Exit America," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (03/25) 
 
"Mr. Obama's reference to an exit strategy may have been meant to 
pacify his domestic audience and the US's international partners 
with a troop presence in Afghanistan, all of whom are worried about 
losing endless blood and treasure in a faraway place. Here in 
Pakistan it is important to properly understand the thrust of what 
the U.S. is attempting to do in Afghanistan in the years ahead. The 
simplistic, and dangerous, conclusion would be that the western 
world is preparing to turn tail and therefore our security 
establishment's policy of hedging its bets and keeping its links to 
militant's alive stands vindicated." 
 
"Rogue State Within A Rogue State: American Analysis Or Plan? Cause 
Of Concern," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (03/25) 
"On the one hand President Barack Obama talks of troop withdrawal 
strategy for Afghanistan and on the other his representatives like 
Holbrooke are describing Pakistan as the root of all the 
problems....  The only strategy to face Taliban is that their status 
is recognized....  David Kilcullen's analysis is food for thought 
for the entire nation, its rulers and decision makers.  This could 
be a conspiracy to get a hold of Pakistan's nuclear weapons...." 
"Obama And 'Exit Strategy' For Afghanistan," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (03/25) 
 
"As Pakistan declares it wants NATO to leave Afghanistan, it has no 
post-withdrawal strategy of survival. It assumes that somehow, after 
withdrawal, America will continue with the same policy of "only 
carrots" towards Islamabad. In particular, Pakistan has no strategy 
about "filling the vacuum" in Afghanistan after the American exit, 
unless it wants the Taliban and Al Qaeda to oblige Pakistan while 
altruistically leaving Pakistan to be ruled as it is being ruled 
now. The plan to boost aid to Pakistan is still a part of a 
"realistic" policy of engagement in Afghanistan." 
 
"No Easy Exit," an editorial in the centrist national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/25) 
 
"With Pakistan and Afghanistan now joined at the hip in terms of 
American strategic thinking in the region and a planned U.S. 'surge' 
of 17,000 troops in Afghanistan in the near future; the need for an 
exit strategy is ever more urgent as 'drift' is nowhere on the Obama 
agenda. But surges and diplomatic engagement in Kabul and Islamabad 
are unlikely to produce the same results as in Iraq - where after 
seven years a semblance of stability is returning and honourable 
exit a real possibility. The two countries are like chalk and 
cheese, and what 'fixes' one may not 'fix' the other." 
 
"Possibility Of U.S. Troop Withdrawal [From Afghanistan]," an 
editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) 
(03/25) 
"We want to applaud Obama that he did not make the troops withdrawal 
an issue of his ego....  Pakistan administration, religious scholars 
and intellectuals should start thinking about the problems that will 
emerge with the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from Afghanistan." 
"U.S. Announcement Of Strategy Of Withdrawal From Afghanistan," an 
editorial note in the Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (03/25) 
 
"At last the U.S. has felt the need of a 'safe exit' from 
Afghanistan, and President Obama, in an interview, has said that as 
additional troops are being stationed in Afghanistan, there should 
be a policy of safe exit from Afghanistan too....   U.S. must 
understand that peace in Afghanistan is subject to pulling out of 
foreign troops from the war-torn country.  Moreover, the declining 
American economy also requires that instead of squandering dollars 
on the barren mountains and inhospitable land of Afghanistan, the 
U.S. administration must take care of the thousands of Americans who 
stand jobless owing to the global economic meltdown." 
 
"Afghan Imbroglio," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/25) 
 
"The U.S. knows very well that the principal threat to Pakistan's 
security and viability comes from what it calls the jehadist forces, 
which are the creation of its own masterstroke, dating back to the 
days of Afghan resistance to the Soviet forces... Now, it points a 
finger at Pakistan as being the most dangerous point from which 
could emanate threat to U.S. and Western interests... Mr Obama's 
exit strategy should give serious thought to the raison d'tre of 
these ugly ground realities and take pains to deal with the root 
causes of terrorism." 
 
"Fresh Nonsense Of A Senior U.S. Advisor," an editorial note in the 
popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (03/25) 
 
"A senior adviser to the U.S. CENTCOM has warned that the Pakistan 
state could collapse within six months, if immediate steps aren't 
taken to remedy the situation...  These remarks are baseless and a 
pack of lies and the Jewish lobby is behind this story.  And perhaps 
they are perturbed over the growing awareness of the Pakistani 
nation, and the independence of judiciary in the country.  The aim 
of this report is nothing but to generate a hype of Al-Qaeda, to 
persuade the U.S. administration that if it doesn't launch military 
operation inside Pakistan, the Al-Qaeda and Taliban will take over 
the country within six months." 
 
"U.S. Offer For Kashmir Solution," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (03/25) 
"According to a newspaper report, America has assured Pakistan of 
renewed efforts to resolve the Kashmir issue with the condition that 
Pakistan and Iran first play a role in bringing about [U.S] 
reconciliation with the Taliban. Any such effort from the U.S. 
should be welcomed. However, America has always abandoned us after 
achieving its objectives. If the U.S. plays a concrete role in 
helping resolve the Kashmir issue, it would go a long way in 
improving U.S. image at the public level. If that happens, Pakistan 
would have no objection to fostering a Taliban-U.S. reconciliation." 
 
"Pakistan's Major Threat: U.S. Ignorance," an op-ed by Shireen M 
Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (03/25) 
 
". . . Certainly nothing has impacted the Pakistani populace against 
the U.S. as the drone attacks have, and U.S. ignorance about the 
functioning of our society has made them continue with this negative 
policy. . . Perhaps the absurdity of the U.S. ignorance is reflected 
most clearly now in the statements coming from Obama's Special Envoy 
for this region, Richard Holbrooke. He showed it after his visit to 
Pakistan when he talked about people not being able to walk their 
dogs in Peshawar. More recently he declared, with his usual 
arrogance, that the 9/11 terrorists, the killers of Ms Bhutto, the 
Mumbai attackers and the perpetrators of the attack on the Sri 
Lankan cricket team were all one and the same lot." 
 
"War On Terror And U.S. Expectations," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (circ. 5000) (03/25) 
"In an interview with a British television President Zardari has 
said that we have not received a single dollar yet, and that Britain 
and the U.S. should help us or we will not be able to fight the war 
on terror.... Despite spending billions of dollars and an untold 
amount of weaponry, the U.S. President admits even today that 
terrorist havens continue to exist in Afghanistan and that Al Qaeda 
could still attack U.S. and allied interests. In this scenario, 
without giving the present [Pakistani] government a single dollar, 
how does the U.S. expect Pakistan to continue the war on terror 
according to its expectations, for the protection of U.S. 
interests." 
"Those Elements Who Challenge Pakistan's National Security Must Be 
Responded Befittingly," an editorial in the leading mass circulation 
centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (03/25) 
 
"The government must put in plain words why the U.S. officials are 
now declaring Quetta as a 'safe haven' for Mullah Omar and Usama Bin 
Laden?  Have they any concrete evidences for such serious 
allegations?  Haven't they planned to hit Balochistan with drone 
missiles in the garb of this preposterous stance?  This U.S. stance 
clearly shows that following FATA, their next target is Balochistan. 
 The remarks of the U.S. military adviser to General Petraeus, and 
Ambassador Holbrooke are a matter of serious concern for the whole 
Pakistani nation." 
 
"Mumbai Attacks: Indian Ratification Of Pakistani Stance," an 
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 100,000) 
(03/25) 
"Indian Home Minister P. Chidambram has said that there is no clear 
evidence of Pakistani state involvement in the Mumbai attacks 
although the attacks have links to the Pakistani soil. This Indian 
ratification of Pakistan's stand is a proof that terrorists are 
non-state actors and pose as much threat to India as they do to 
Pakistan. Hence, instead of strengthening the terrorists and 
weakening Pakistan, India should support Pakistan in its efforts to 
counter terrorists." 
"Umeed-e-Sehar (Hope of Light)," an Op-ed by Nasim Zehra in the 
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/25) 
 
". . . The Americans too appreciate Pakistan's current anti-status 
political developments. Hence, the Americans may have not been 
players but followers in the current phase. The flow of political 
events forced them to change their assessment on General Parvez 
Musharraf's viability as president and subsequently they changed 
their original position on supporting President Asif Zardari all the 
way. Instead, the British and the U.S. Secretary of States both 
called President Zardari to "encourage" him to take steps to prevent 
the impending March 16 confrontation. What we are experiencing in 
Pakistan is that the demands of a growing mass movement asking for 
rule of law, justice and good governance, the logical and effective 
response to the challenges Pakistan faces, our permanent 
Establishment's desire for internal stability and political 
cease-fire, the international demands made for internal political 
stability and good governance all seem to converge to force the hand 
of the state and politician in the right direction." 
 
Patterson