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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000785 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: APRIL 14, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports on the approval of a "controversial Sharia 
regulation for the Malakand division" by President Zardari dominated 
headlines in all newspapers on Tuesday.  All newspapers reported 
that Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) and Tehrik-i-Taliban 
Swat "welcomed the National Assembly resolution."  Most 
editorialists also focused their attention towards the issue.  The 
English daily, "Dawn," noted that "simply endorsing the Nizam-i-Adl 
in a bid to bring peace to the Malakand division may be too little 
and have come too late."  Another English newspaper, "Daily Times," 
observed that "opinion is so polarized in Pakistan that developments 
in Swat after the February 12 agreement can hardly be presented as 
ominous.  In the eyes of many, the agreement with Sufi Muhammad is 
the treaty of the defeated." 
 
Reports and photographs of Senator John Kerry's meetings with 
Pakistani government officials also received wide front-page 
coverage.  Most major dailies quoted Senator Kerry as saying that 
the U.S. aid to Pakistan is "not conditional."  Also highlighted 
were remarks by Interior Adviser Rehman Malik that "India has not 
provided sufficient information required to proceed with the case 
against alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks."  Reports that 
"Pakistan would seek $4 billion at this month's donors' conference 
in Tokyo" also figured prominently.  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Sharia For Malakand As Zardari Signs Law" "Dawn" (04/14) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari approved a controversial Sharia 
regulation for the Malakand division of the North West Frontier 
Province on Monday after the National Assembly asked for what seemed 
to be a clear concession to Taliban militants of the Swat Valley to 
implement a peace deal between them and the Provincial Government." 
 
"Sufi, Swat Taliban Welcome NA Move" "Dawn" (04/14) 
 
"Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat 
on Monday welcomed the National Assembly resolution, expressing 
hopes that its implementation would restore peace to Swat." 
 
"MQM Only Party To Oppose Deal With Taliban" "The News" (04/14) 
 
"The Muttahida Qaumi Movement on Monday opposed the Nizam-e-Adl 
Regulation and abstained from voting on the issue in the National 
Assembly." 
 
"Kerry Says Aid Not Conditional; Assures Coop" "The Nation" (04/14) 
 
"Top U.S. Senator John Kerry, who arrived in Islamabad Monday 
morning on a two-day visit, held separate meetings with President 
Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign 
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and ISI chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha. 
President Zardari called for expediting the Kerry-Lugar Bill and its 
passage without any conditions and the Reconstruction Opportunity 
Zones (ROZs) legislation in the U.S. Senate, besides the need for 
working out a joint strategy to counter terrorism.  In his response, 
Senator Kerry said no conditions were being attached to Kerry-Lugar 
Bill and those were some measures for the effectiveness of the 
projects to be undertaken once the aid was delivered to Pakistan." 
 
"Negative Messages Creating Ill-Will, Gilani Tells U.S." "Dawn" 
(04/14) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani criticized the United States and 
its Western allies on Monday for creating 'ill-will' about Pakistan 
and cautioned Washington against attaching strings to its assistance 
package.  Prime Minister Gilani told John Kerry, Chairman of the 
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who is in Islamabad to 
discuss the proposed aid package with officials in Islamabad." 
 
"Kerry Conveyed Pak Concerns" "The News" (04/14) 
 
"The United States on Monday held out an assurance that its 
long-term partnership with Pakistan was not with any particular 
government, but with the people of Pakistan.  'I am here to discuss 
the new way forward.  We have made it very clear that the U.S. has a 
larger commitment (in Pakistan).  That is why there is a 10-year 
commitment in the (Kerry-Lugar) bill,' said Senator John Kerry, 
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who is on a 
two-day visit to Pakistan.  He pointed out that the Pak-U.S. 
relationship had to be seen beyond the allies' fight against terror 
and extremism, and was hopeful that Pakistan's concerns would be 
fully addressed in the final version of the legislation." 
 
"ISI Protecting National Interests" "The Nation" (04/14) 
 
"Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lt. Gen. Ahmad 
Shuja Pasha has made it clear to the U.S. that ISI had no agenda 
other than country's national security.  Well-placed sources told 
'The Nation' that ISI Chief made these remarks while talking to the 
visiting Chairman U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator 
John Kerry who met with in Islamabad on Monday." 
 
"India Yet To Provide Adequate Information About Mumbai" "Dawn" 
(04/14) 
 
"Prime Minister's Adviser on Interior Rehman Malik said on Monday 
that India had not provided sufficient information required to 
proceed with the case against alleged perpetrators of the Mumbai 
attacks." 
 
"Pakistan To Seek $4 Billion From Donors For Education, Health" 
"Dawn" (04/14) 
 
"Pakistan said on Monday it would seek $4 billion at this month's 
donors' conference in Tokyo for the badly neglected areas of 
education, health and poverty alleviation." 
 
"Pakistan Loses $35 Billion In War On Terror: Tarin" "The Nation" 
(04/14) 
 
"Pakistan had lost $35 billion in the ongoing war against terror 
during the last eight years.  Due to security concerns in Pakistan, 
foreign investors were also not coming, Advisor to Prime Minister on 
Finance and Economic Affairs Shaukat Tarin said, adding the number 
of large operational industrial units in the country had reduced 
from 2,250 to 550." 
 
"Some Taliban Leave Buner" "Dawn" (04/14) 
 
"A group of 60 Taliban vacated the Bagra police post and left Buner 
on Monday, but their colleagues will continue 'peaceful preaching' 
in mosques till further orders from their leadership." 
 
"Baitullah's Close Aide Arrested In Karachi" "Dawn" (04/14) 
 
"A man suspected to be a close companion of Taliban Commander 
Baitullah Mehsud was arrested in Karachi on Monday." 
 
"U.S. Drones Fly Over Swat" "The News" (04/14) 
 
"The U.S. spy planes were seen flying over Matta Tehsil of Swat on 
Monday, sending a wave of fear among the residents across the 
troubled valley." 
 
"Three Militants, Soldier Killed In SWA Clash" "The News" (04/14) 
 
"The government finally turned its guns on the previously 
pro-government tribal militants in South Waziristan, as four people, 
including three militants and a soldier, were killed and several 
others injured in the first-ever clash after the 2007 peace 
agreement." 
 
"Qureshi For Climate Of Trust With India" "Dawn" (04/14) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that a climate of 
trust and cooperation with India would ease the pressure enormously 
on their shared border to allow Islamabad to direct its energies on 
the volatile western front.  'If we have to concentrate on the 
western border obviously we have to be comfortable on the eastern 
side.'  Mr. Qureshi said in an interview broadcast by CNN-IBN 
channel on Monday.'" 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Time To Show Spine," an editorial in the Peshawar-based, 
independent regional daily "The Frontier Post" (cir. 7,000) (04/14) 
 
"Senator John Kerry, heading the U.S. Senate foreign relations 
committee, has descended on Islamabad....  What they talk with our 
movers and shakers we will never know, as always. Habitually, these 
bigwigs keep that a closely guarded secret.  It is only a positive 
spin they put on display for public consumption.  It is days later 
that we come to know from American, and now also Indian, media that 
the honorable U.S. dignitaries had come to administer admonition and 
a dressing-down to our top echelons and twist their arms and that 
they had had the fun to their fill, with our grandees taking the 
punishment without any fuss or complaint but rather gleefully. 
Puppies have the American lords used them in the past; and will keep 
using them so now and hereafter, unless and until they show the 
spine and demand respect....  Isn't it time our top echelons show 
the spine, tell the Americans to pack up lock, stock and barrel from 
here, shut their Kabul shop of subversion and sabotage in Pakistan, 
keep their money with them, and leave us alone to cope with their 
work of wreck and ruin in our country?" 
 
"Nizam-i-Adl Regulation," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(04/14) 
 
"The Nizam-i-Adl has been approved by parliament and promulgated by 
the president.  But the debate in parliament was yet another missed 
opportunity.  The bigger point is that the politicians still need to 
reach a consensus on how to counter militancy....  If Swat and the 
Nizam-i-Adl were a test case, then the politicians have not done 
justice to finding that credible strategy. Simply endorsing the 
Nizam-i-Adl in a bid to bring peace to the Malakand Division may be 
too little and have come too late." 
 
"Getting Parliament To Endorse Seat Laws," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (04/14) 
 
"Opinion is so polarized in Pakistan that developments in Swat after 
the February 12 agreement can hardly be presented as ominous.  Facts 
are being juxtaposed with blind faith in the saintly person of Sufi 
Muhammad to transform Swat into a cradle of peace.  The Taliban, 
after entering Buner for Tabligh (spreading the faith), have killed 
a number of people supporting the local Jirga and are using local 
mosques to recruit the youth of the district.  Such is the effect of 
intimidation that it is the fresh 'Mujahideen' of a victimized Buner 
who will now ensure that the reign of warlord Fazlullah is 
perpetuated.  In the eyes of many, the agreement with Sufi Muhammad 
is the treaty of the defeated." 
 
"Need For Moderation," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/14) 
 
"It is unfortunate that in a democratic set-up vital decisions are 
being taken in a hush-hush manner.  The federal and provincial 
governments and the TTP had kept the details of the Nizam-e-Adl 
Regulation, and how it was going to be legislated, a closely guarded 
secret....  To allow every Parliamentarian to freely express his 
opinion, there is a need to debate the legislation in an in-camera 
session...." 
 
"Adl Regulation: A Challenge Successfully Met," an editorial in the 
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (04/14) 
 
"The National Assembly has passed a resolution urging President Asif 
Ali Zardari to back imposing Nifaz-e-Nizam-e-Shariah (Adl) 
regulation for furthering the objective of peace in Swat Valley.... 
Perhaps, President Zardari's move was also motivated by the 
hindsight that the people of Pakistan never forgave his predecessor 
for his infamous yes to Bush administration on joining the war on 
terror without consulting the Parliament....  Indeed, it was a major 
concession to consistent public demand for 'supremacy of 
parliament.'" 
 
"The Knight's Move," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) 
 
"President Zardari has never seemed on the surface to be much of a 
chess player but we may have to revise our assessment if his move in 
respect of the Nizam-e-Adl, placing it squarely in the hands of the 
prime minister and parliament is anything to go by....  What may 
have stayed his hand and produced a move that has caught some 
off-guard, is that had he signed off on it by himself and it had all 
gone dreadfully wrong then he alone would be carrying the can. 
Passing it to Parliament spreads the responsibility - and the blame 
- around rather more widely....  The government late on Monday 
afternoon said that it had referred the agreement to parliament 
solely 'to allay international fears' about it - and this at a time 
when Senator John Kerry is in town to have a tte-`-tte about 
'conditionalities' attached to U.S. aid.  The Dark Knight's move may 
have far reaching consequences, and the game is far from over.  Your 
move, Parliament." 
 
"Swat Deal's Approval In The National Assembly," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (04/14) 
 
"Pakistan is an Islamic country and was created in the name of 
Islam.  There is no Muslim in the country who would oppose 
implementation of Islamic laws....  Although there was no 
expectation that anyone in the Assembly would have opposed the 
regulation, yet there was a possibility that a parliamentarian could 
have come up with an amendment or improvement.  Hence the 
government, ANP, Maulana Sufi Muhammad and other parties should 
accept the parliament's decision openheartedly." 
 
"Costly Peace," an op-ed by Ejaz Haider in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (04/14) 
 
"But while the Parliament's approval of the draft and the 
President's subsequent signing of it might sustain the current peace 
in Swat, it is a foregone conclusion it will not be able to stop the 
domino effect that has begun in the area, Buner being an example. 
The immediate question then is, and we can't go beyond the 
immediate: where will the state draw the line; or will it?" 
 
"Obama Must Think Again," an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (04/14) 
 
"The new approach adopted by Washington has already moved in the 
right direction by ensuring Islamabad and the people of Pakistan 
that its engagement with them will be for a long time....  To help 
develop Pakistan and save it from extremism, the U.S. will need to 
factor in not just the quantity of money it can give but also 
quality advice on its use." 
 
"Obama's Flawed Af-Pak Strategy," an op-ed by Javid Husain in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(04/14) 
 
"Obama like his predecessor has reversed the cause and effect 
relationship between the situation in Afghanistan and FATA in the 
formulation of his strategy.  It was the U.S. invasion of 
Afghanistan and the overthrow of the Taliban government which had 
forced the Taliban in Afghanistan and their sympathizers to take up 
arms against the coalition forces.  It was this development which 
had sucked the tribesmen from our tribal areas into the fighting in 
Afghanistan because of close tribal ties, despite the best efforts 
of the government of Pakistan.  It is thus the continued fighting 
and turmoil in Afghanistan which have embroiled our tribal areas and 
virtually set them on fire with dire consequences for Pakistan." 
 
"Drones Are A Red Herring!," an op-ed by Anjum Niaz in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) 
 
"Who can deny that the militants have infiltrated all across 
Pakistan.  They are threatening Islamabad.  But our blinkered media 
continues to drone on about drone attacks not questioning their 
rulers why they speak with forked tongues.  Why are they not taking 
the citizenry into confidence?  Vigilantism is our only survival. 
The initiated must move beyond the drones and fight to save 
Pakistan. A nuclear country of 170 million does not 'disintegrate' 
or does it?  We're being reminded that we are on artificial 
respiration and the plug can be pulled out any minute.  The 
Americans and the British have their finger on the hot button.  It 
will be a three-way war, between the U.S., Taliban and our military 
guarding our nuclear assets.  'The Americans will take out the 
nuclear arsenal, throw us to the Taliban and calmly walk away,' is 
the common perception among people whose hearts and heads are in the 
right place." 
 
"Why Hate America?," an op-ed by Mir Jamilur Rahman in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) 
 
"Historically, no ally of the United States has faced as many 
sanctions from the U.S. as Pakistan.  The Americans refused to 
supply 28 F-16 fighter aircraft though the money had been paid in 
advance.  These acts did not endear U.S. to Pakistan.  They created 
a big hate wave against the Americans.  With the withdrawal of the 
Soviet military forces from Afghanistan, the nuclear weapons 
development program of Pakistan came under intensive U.S. 
examination again....  The invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan 
generated more hate against Americans.  They are Muslim countries 
and Pakistanis have special regard for them....  They are killing 
more women and children than Al-Qaeda militants.  They will continue 
their killing spree in their quest for Al-Qaeda for a long time to 
come, unless the troops are tired and unable to function." 
 
"India's Obstinacy," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/14) 
 
"It should be quite clear to the Indians that terrorism is an 
extremely ticklish, worldwide phenomenon, and the forces of major 
powers are finding it hard to come to grips with it....  Under the 
circumstances, they not only need to see signs of trouble within 
their country and put their own house in order, but also display a 
serious sense of understanding of the problems Pakistan, itself 
fighting a deadly battle with militants, is facing." 
Patterson