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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000680 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:   PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: March 31, 2009 
 
SUMMARY:  Reports and photographs of the "eight-hour gun battle" in 
Lahore dominated front pages in all newspapers on Tuesday. 
Newspapers reported that at least "eight people were killed and 100 
others injured after gunmen stormed a police training school." 
State Department spokesman Duguid's statement that "Pakistan needed 
immediate help for fighting terrorists" also figured prominently. 
All dailies reported that "a new group of militants calling itself 
Fidayeen-e-Islam" claimed responsibility for the attack.  Statement 
by a government adviser that "Baitullah Mehsood was involved in the 
Lahore incident" also garnered wide coverage. Newspapers also 
highlighted the white paper released after the launching of new 
Af-Pak policy calling for "building a stable civilian government and 
a vibrant economy."  Also front-paged were reports that "five 
security personnel and two civilians were killed" when their convoy 
was hit by a bomb on Bannu-Miramshah road. 
 
All major dailies ran editorials on the terrorism incident in 
Lahore.  The English daily, "Dawn," underlined the need for 
hammering out a "political and social consensus on this issue." 
Another English daily, "The Nation," noted that "the terrorists have 
succeeded in sending the message that no part of the country is 
beyond their reach."  The second largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
wrote: "If independent investigation proves involvement of Uzbek or 
Afghan elements in the Manawan tragedy then we need to ponder over 
the utility of having animosity with those whom even America could 
not defeat."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Eight-Hour Gunbattle" "The Nation" (03/31) 
 
"Terror hit Lahore second time in a month when heavily armed men, 
numbering about 10, took hold of the Manawan Police training centre 
in an eight-hour long gun-battle which climaxed into the killing of 
eight policemen and capturing alive of 4 terrorists on Monday 
morning. Above 90 other policemen were also injured in the attack." 
 
"Terror Overpowered For Once" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"At least eight people were killed and 100 others injured after 
gunmen stormed a police training school in the outskirts of Lahore 
on Monday morning and started shooting indiscriminately. Army and 
security personnel overpowered the attackers, after nearly eight 
hours of siege, at 3.30 p.m." 
 
"President, PM Strongly Condemn Police Academy Attack" "The News" 
(03/31) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza 
Gilani on Monday strongly condemned the attack by unknown gunmen at 
a police training centre in Lahore that killed several people. They 
directed the authorities concerned to investigate the matter take 
immediate steps to control the situation." 
 
"US, UK, India Slam Terror Hit" "The News" (03/31) 
 
"The US, the UK and India condemned the terrorist attack on police 
training school in Lahore." 
 
"Pakistan Needs Help To Fight Terror: US" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"The United States said on Monday that the attack on a police 
training institute near Lahore showed that Pakistan needed immediate 
help for fighting terrorists.  "One thing that is evident is that 
Pakistan needs our help and international support in fighting 
terrorism," said US State Department's assistant spokesman Gordon 
Duguid when asked for comments on the Manawan terrorist attack." 
 
"New Group Claims Responsibility" "The News" (03/31) 
 
"A new group of militants calling itself Fidayaan-e-Islam claimed 
responsibility of the attack on police training centre in Manawan in 
Lahore and last Friday bombing of the mosque in Bhigyari near Jamrud 
in Khyber agency and threatened more attacks if the government did 
not stop military operations in tribal area." 
 
"Mehsud Behind Strike: Malik" "The Nation" (03/31) 
"Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has said Bait 
Ullah Mehsud sent the terrorists from Waziristan and the attack on 
the Police Training Centre Manawan was also planned there. He said 
foreign hand in the terrorist attack could not be ruled out but so 
far there was not such evidence." 
 
"Lahore Attack Part Of TTP Campaign" "The News" (03/31) 
 
"Monday's terrorist attack on the Manawa Police Training School in 
Lahore was part of the pressure tactics used by the banned 
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), led by Baitullah Mehsud, to secure 
release of eight of its militants arrested after the assault on the 
Sri Lankan cricket team earlier this month." 
 
"US Sets Lofty Goals For Pakistan In New Strategy" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"Building a stable civilian government and a vibrant economy are two 
of the main goals of the new US strategy for Pakistan, says a white 
paper released after the launching of the new policy." 
 
"Kyani To Discuss AfPak Policy With Holbrooke, Mullen" "The Nation" 
(03/31) 
 
"Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Kyani would discuss the new US 
Afghanistan- Pakistan policy when he meets a high level US 
delegation in Islamabad next week." 
 
"Five Troops Killed In Bomb Attack" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"Five security personnel and two civilians were killed and 12 others 
injured when their convoy was hit by a bomb on Bannu-Miramshah road 
on Monday morning." 
 
"Terrorists Hiding In FATA Planning Attacks: Holbrooke" "Daily 
Times" (03/31) 
 
"US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday said 
terrorists hiding in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) 
were planning further attacks on the West. 'I want to underscore 
that we are in the region collectively because there are men in the 
region who pose a direct threat to countries and cities in the US 
and Europe,' Richard Holbrooke told reporters in The Hague." 
 
"Qaeda, Taliban Planning 9/11-Like Attacks In US, Europe: NWFP IG" 
"Daily Times" (03/31) 
 
"Al Qaeda and Taliban are planning to stage terrorist strikes 
similar to the 9/11 attacks in the US and Europe, NWFP police chief 
Malik Navid told the National Assembly Standing Committee on 
Interior on Monday." 
 
"Hundreds Of Taliban From Swat, Bajaur Enter Dir" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"Hundreds of Taliban hailing from swat and Bajaur have recently 
shifted to parts of Dir where a possible showdown with security 
forces is likely, sources said." 
 
"Polio Vaccination, Girls' Education Not Banned In Swat: Taliban" 
"Daily Times" (03/31) 
 
"No ban has been imposed on anti-polio campaign or girls' education 
in the Swat valley, Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan said on Monday. 
'We have not imposed any ban on anti-polio vaccination. Parents are 
free to administer anti-polio drops to their children below five 
years of age,' Khan told reporters. He said the Taliban were not 
against girls' education but stressed that all female students 
should adopt veil in accordance with the teachings of Islam." 
 
"NWFP Wants Donors To Continue Relief Efforts" "The News" (03/31) 
 
"The NWFP government has asked all the donor agencies to continue 
their relief operations for the internally displaced persons from 
Bajaur and Swat district until a proper arrangement for their return 
to homes formulated. The appeal was made at a meeting relating to 
the welfare of IDPs of troubled areas of Fata and NWFP, held at 
Afghan Refugees Commissionerate, Peshawar, on Monday." 
 
"UN Aid For Afghan Refugees Set To Resume" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"Afghan refugees in Pakistan seeking to return to their home country 
will receive a boost when the United Nations resumes its voluntary 
repatriation program this week, the UN announced on Monday." 
 
"India Eyes Role In Obama Strategy" "Dawn" (03/31) 
 
"India on Monday welcomed the new US strategy to fight terrorism in 
Afghanistan and Pakistan even as New Delhi sought a role in the 
arriving campaign as a 'responsible power' with a stake in defeating 
extremism.  In a separate statement on the attack on Lahore's police 
academy on Monday, Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon 
offered condolences to the bereaved families and described terrorism 
as a menace to the entire region." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Pakistan Under Attack," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(03/31) 
 
". . . The militants involved in Monday's siege may have been 
overcome but it is time to hammer out a political and social 
consensus on this issue.  The country's mainstream political parties 
need to draw a line in the sand and show the people, with no room 
for ambiguity, where they stand in this battle for the soul of 
Pakistan. The religio-political parties must also make their 
positions clear. President Obama says that US ground forces will not 
enter Pakistan. We would be well advised to not give them the 
chance. If we can't do the job ourselves, others might do it for us. 
And that way lies disaster." 
 
"A Grisly Attack," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/31) 
 
"The terrorists have succeeded in sending the message that no part 
of the country is beyond their reach and that they can even attack 
the establishments and personnel of the law enforcement agencies 
with impunity. . . A major reason behind the success of the 
terrorists is the unending politicking, the imposition of Governor's 
rule in Punjab being the latest example." 
 
"Manawan Tragedy: The Need For Strong Action Against Perpetrators," 
an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu 
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (03/31) 
"If the government and its institutions are incapable of 
overpowering a few terrorists then what is the need of jeopardizing 
Pakistan for just $ 1.5 billion. If independent investigation proves 
involvement of Uzbek or Afghan elements in the Manawan tragedy then 
we need to ponder over the utility of having animosity with those 
whom even America could not defeat.  Isn't it better that we stop 
fighting American war and pay attention to our internal cohesion, 
security and law and order." 
"Police Targeted At Manawan," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (03/31) 
 
". . . One must wait for the final verdict when investigation into 
the attack at Manawan is concluded, but the footprint of the TTP is 
quite clear on the basis of past record. Just as President Asif 
Zardari announced a beefing up of the police in all the provinces, 
the message from the terrorists is: don't join the police and those 
who are already employed should resign and go home. This should be 
read together with the widely accepted observation that terrorism is 
best countered by the police and not the army." 
 
"Another Outrage," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/31) 
 
". . . We need a drastic change in our approach to terrorism and 
militancy. Our entire security strategy needs to change. We need to 
assess the status of our intelligence apparatus. Our allies must 
assist in this. It appears that full advantage of the offers to 
extend this training was not taken in the wake of the events of 
9/11. We must face up to the fact that well organized militant 
outfits exist in our midst. They have established many 
inter-connections and unparalleled expertise. The use of 15 or more 
attackers at Manawan shows their growing capacity and high 
motivation." 
 
"Accountability Of Assistance And Pakistan's Economic Problems," an 
editorial note in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) 
(06/24) 
"Reacting to President Obama's statement, a Foreign Office spokesman 
has said that it is not possible to keep a record of the assistance 
in the war on terror. Pakistan's stance on the issue is correct and 
principled....  It is unfortunate that the U.S. terms Pakistan a key 
ally in the war on terror, yet it has done nothing to get Pakistan 
out of its financial crisis. U.S. authorities cannot deny the fact 
that it is due to these [terrorist] acts that its domestic and 
foreign investments have gone down." 
 
"New Afghan Policy & Fata Politics," an op-ed by Syed Irfan Ashraf & 
Shaukat " in the Karachi-based center-left independent national 
English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (03/31) 
 
"Predictably, Obama's new strategy, if followed, would lead to a war 
in Pakhtun lands where an organized culture of militancy is ready to 
tackle the enemy. The US needs to reflect on the policy before 
implementing it in Afghanistan. Eight years in Afghanistan has 
brought them no gains and they will not make any from a new 
misadventure. There will be only bloodshed and misery as there is no 
exit from this deadly war theatre. At least, that is what history 
has taught us so far." 
 
"Obama's Policy Review," an op-ed by Masood Sharif Khan Khattak in 
the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(03/31) 
 
"President Obama said: 'To avoid the mistakes of the past, we must 
make clear that our relationship with Pakistan is grounded in 
support for Pakistan's democratic institutions and the Pakistani 
people.' These words have been very heartening because Pakistanis by 
and large have had this as the biggest impediment in the US-Pakistan 
relations. . . If the US truly wants to stand for a lasting 
opportunity then the 1.5 billion dollars aid to Pakistan every year 
must be exclusively, repeat exclusively, spent on development 
projects only in the NWFP, FATA and Balochistan. A foreseeable 
adverse situation in Balochistan needs to be averted. Obama himself 
said: 'But make no mistake: Our efforts will fail in Afghanistan and 
Pakistan if we don't invest in their future.'" 
 
"Obama's Address," an op-ed by Dr Rashid Ahmad Khan in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(03/31) 
 
"The new US strategy on Afghanistan has been welcomed in Islamabad 
as well as in Kabul. President Zardari and PM Gilani have termed the 
new US strategy as a vindication of Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan 
based on regional approach and combining political methods with 
military means to end the Taliban insurgency. But the new strategy 
also puts much greater responsibility on Pakistan as with the 
increased economic and military assistance from the US, Pakistan 
would be required to do more." 
 
"Better Wake Up Sirs, And Fast," an Op-ed by Kamran Shafi in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (03/31) 
 
"Pakistan must demonstrate its commitment to rooting out Al Qaeda 
and the violent extremists within its borders ... we will insist 
that action be taken - one way or another [are you listening, sirs?] 
- When we have intelligence about high-level terrorist targets, said 
President Obama.  Chilling words, what! Sure enough, the very next 
day our FO came out with a mealy-mouthed response to the American 
president's speech, to the effect that Pakistan would inform the US 
about its concerns 'in due course' . . . We Pakistanis must stop 
living in denial forthwith if this country is to survive. We must 
take head-on the terrorist/extremist/Al Qaeda menace if we are to 
leave our succeeding generations a country half worth living in. We 
must stand up collectively as the great nation we are and say to 
those that engineer situations to suit their own institutional needs 
and wants that enough is enough." 
 
"No Compromise On National Sovereignty" an editorial in the leading 
mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (03/31) 
"It is also a fact that the graph of foreign interference in our 
country has touched such heights that no one can deny it.  Even the 
thought of such interference in another independent, sovereign 
country cannot be entertained.  Our rulers give assurances that 
drone attacks will not recur, yet at the same time, following 
strikes in FATA, U.S. drones have started targeting areas in NWFP at 
will. It seems as if the U.S. considers Pakistan an American colony. 
In this context, the first thing is to ensure protection of our 
sovereignty and independence." 
"Announcement Not To Violate Pakistan's Borders," an editorial note 
in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (03/31) 
"In an interview with CBS, President Barack Obama rejected the 
possibility of sending U.S. forces inside Pakistan....  We welcome 
President Obama decision of respecting Pakistan territorial 
sovereignty.  It is also necessary that instead of hitting your head 
against rocky Afghanistan hills a political dialogue with people's 
representatives is initiated, in order to end three-decade long 
bloody war in that country." 
"How Far Can US Push Pakistan?" an op-ed by Muhammad Bilal in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (03/31) 
 
". . . But for Pakistan's security establishment, India's presence 
in Afghanistan, Kabul's refusal to recognize the border and the 
festering Kashmir dispute are greater strategic threats.  'The 
concept of pressuring Pakistan is flawed,' Ahmed Rashid and Barnett 
Rubin have written in the Foreign Affairs magazine. 'No state can be 
successfully pressured into acts it considers suicidal.' America's 
leverage is thus limited: in pushing too much, it may lose even the 
limited cooperation it has." 
 
"US Message To Pakistan," an op-ed by Israr-ul-haque in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(03/31) 
 
". . . Why can't the US/NATO with the help of the electronic system 
of surveillance at their disposal and with their drones flying 
freely all over the tribal areas find the safe havens located in 
FATA. . . In case the US drone and missile attacks were actually 
hitting the safe havens and the militants, the fighting by them in 
Swat and other tribal areas would have by now petered out. But in 
fact the militant's operations with the passage of time are 
gathering momentum. . . This shows that the Taliban have their 
supporters in the Afghan army and the police as well. President 
Obama would therefore do well to rethink his regional approach and 
based on it his new military strategy." 
 
"Going Astray," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (03/31) 
 
". . . True, it would be an exercise in futility to doubt the 
sincerity of the US towards Pakistan which it rightly considers a 
front-line state, but at the same time it should also understand the 
difficulties Pakistan is facing, foremost among them being the 
fallout of the US war in Afghanistan and the spate of drone attacks 
in the tribal areas, which have generated a severe backlash among 
the tribal population. As recent reports indicate, the US is 
considering extending the drone attacks to Balochistan, including 
the provincial capital of Quetta, that will have serious 
repercussions for the security of the country. Rather than making 
Pakistan a scapegoat, the US government must remind itself that its 
top priority is restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan." 
 
"Swat Muddle Over Sharia," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (03/31) 
 
"The Chief of Tehreek-e Nifaz-e Shariat-e Muhammadi (TNSM), Sufi 
Muhammad, has warned of unrest in the Swat Valley if President Asif 
Zardari does not approve the Nizam-e Adl Regulation of 2009. . . The 
President is understandably hesitant to sign the Nizam-e Adl law 
because of the way the sharia in Swat has been envisaged . . . The 
other 'truth' that one must recognize is the consequences of 
negotiating peace with the terrorists from a position of weakness. 
The NWFP government did not engage in talks with Sufi Muhammad 
because it was keen to abandon Swat to him; it was compelled to do 
so because of the target-killing of ANP leaders and the failure of 
the security forces to stem the growing power of the TTP in the 
region. . . Swat is just one example of what will happen if the 
state decides to seek peace with the Taliban-Al Qaeda combine from a 
position of weakness." 
 
"The 'Am-Brit' Mess" an op-ed by Ahmed Quraishi in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (03/31) 
 
"You have to give it to the American propaganda machine. U.S. 
officials and America's long list of self-styled 'Pakistan experts' 
are advising Islamabad to stop meddling in Afghanistan. But it is 
kosher for the U.S. military to travel half the world to occupy 
Afghanistan and that's not meddling. Well guess what, Pakistan has 
more pressing interests as a next door neighbor of Afghanistan and 
it will protect its interests. Who says CIA's interests in 
Afghanistan are more sacred than ISI's. . . Washington and its list 
of 'Af-Pak' experts should stop treating our region as a laboratory 
for their strategic experiments. Instead of toying with silly ideas 
like backing 'secular Pashtuns' against the Taliban, the Americans 
can diffuse the entire tension in our region by sharing power with 
the Pashtuns in Kabul instead of the motley crew of Karzai, the drug 
lords and the assortment of former communist officials who sit in 
key offices today. This American-British mess - the 'Am-Brit' - is 
the reason why Pakistan's entire western regions are disturbed today 
and there are those busy 'convincing' us that the 'Am-Brit' scheme 
of things is the best option for us. The question is: Whose side our 
government is on?" 
 
"Setback Amid Progress In Iraq" an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(03/31) 
 
". . . It is the duty of the government in Baghdad and those outside 
it to help restore normality so that the withdrawal of American 
troops at the end of 2010 does not lead to a new era of anarchy. All 
sides should ensure that the general election scheduled towards the 
end of this year is peaceful." 
 
Patterson