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Viewing cable 09ISLAMABAD867, PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: April 24, 2009
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09ISLAMABAD867 | 2009-04-24 12:28 | 2011-08-26 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Islamabad |
VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHIL #0867/01 1141228
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 241228Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2398
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9279
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 5127
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0132
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 7212
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1199
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000867
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: April 24, 2009
Summary: Reports that the Taliban moved into Shangla district,
adjacent to Swat, and "forced the Frontier Constabulary to defer
stationing its units in Buner" dominated headlines in all newspapers
on Friday. All newspapers also highlighted U.S. Special Envoy
Holbrooke's phone call to President Zardari "to discuss the regional
situation." His pledge "not to leave Pakistan in the lurch" also
received prominent coverage. Defense Secretary Gates' statement that
"Pakistani leaders must act to stop Taliban" received extensive
coverage. All dailies reported that the Foreign Office "rejected"
Secretary Clinton's remarks that Islamabad was abdicating to the
Taliban, saying that "Pakistan was playing a positive and
constructive role."
Most newspapers ran editorials on the national security situation
and the growing Taliban threat in the country. Commenting on the
recent statement of Secretary Clinton the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" noted that "as time passes, the U.S.
assessment of the Pakistan situation following the conclusion of the
Swat peace deal is taking on a gloomier look and one finds top
American officials making statements that not only show the Obama
Administration's exasperation at Islamabad's attitude towards
terrorism but also its disregard of ordinary norms of diplomacy."
The prestigious English language daily, "Dawn," observed that
"American officials need to remember what went so wrong under the
Bush administration: poor policy coupled with unhelpful public
statements. Repeating the mistakes of the past will have the same
negative consequences." End Summary.
-----------------
News Stories
-----------------
"Taliban Ambush FC Convoy, Foil Buner Deployment" "Dawn" (04/24)
"The Taliban forced the Frontier Constabulary to defer stationing of
its units in Buner district on Thursday after they ambushed a police
vehicle that was piloting a convoy bound for the besieged region,
killing two policemen. Taliban have also moved into the adjacent
Shangla district, local lawmaker Fazalullah told AFP."
"Holbrooke Calls President Zardari" "The News" (04/24)
"The United States Special Representative for Afghanistan and
Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, phoned President Asif Ali Zardari on
Thursday and discussed with him the regional situation. The U.S.
Special Representative said that his country would not leave
Pakistan in the lurch and both would take fight against extremism to
its logic conclusion."
"Pakistan Must Act Against Taliban: Gates" "Dawn" (04/24)
"Pakistani leaders must act to stop Taliban who are posing a threat
to the country's stability, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said
on Thursday. Mr Gates told reporters that in his discussions with
Pakistani leaders, the government appeared to grasp the threat posed
by Taliban militants, but he stressed that the leadership needed to
take action."
"FO Rejects Hillary's Criticism" "Dawn" (04/24)
"The Foreign Office rejected on Thursday the US impression that
Islamabad was 'abdicating to the Taliban,' saying Pakistan was
playing a 'positive and constructive role' and would continue to do
so."
"Pakistanis Realizing Taliban Threat, Says Hillary" "Daily Times"
(04/24)
"Pakistan is beginning to recognize the severity of the threat posed
by an extremist insurgency that is encroaching on major urban areas,
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday. Clinton told a
House of Representatives subcommittee that 'changing paradigms and
mindsets is not easy, but I do believe there is an increasing
awareness in not just the Pakistani govt but the Pakistani people
that this insurgency - coming closer and closer to major cities -
does pose a threat.'"
"US Working To Improve Indo-Pak Ties: Hillary" "Daily Times"
(04/24)
"The United States said on Thursday it is engaged at the highest
levels on the 'profound question' of improving Pakistan-India
relations as any escalation over Kashmir would jeopardize security
and severely harm the ongoing war on terror."
"Hillary Urges Donors To Keep Pledges" "Dawn" (04/24)
"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a congressional panel on
Thursday that the United States and other nations who pledged more
than $5 billion to Pakistan last week needed to keep their pledges.
In a testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, Secretary
Clinton sought supplemental funding of $497 million for Pakistan,
saying that 'progress in Afghanistan, we believe, depends on
progress in Pakistan.'"
"Obama To Remind Zardari, Karzai Of Their Duties: US" "The News"
(04/24)
"Ahead of U.S. President Barrack Obama's meetings with Afghan and
Pakistani counterparts here next month the White House has said that
he would remind them of their responsibilities pertaining to the
fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban in the region."
"Obama To Seek Pak-Afghan Trade Agreement" "Daily Times" (04/24)
"United States President Barack Obama will try to mediate a new
trade agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan when he meets their
leaders next month, the US ambassador to Pakistan, Anne Patterson,
has said. Presidents Hamid Karzai and Asif Ali Zardari will be asked
to update their 'very antiquated' 44-year-old trade treaty, the
envoy said. A new treaty 'would help enormously by having cheaper
goods shipped into Afghanistan and help Pakistan by giving it access
to Central Asia,' she told Bloomberg."
"U.S. 'Extremely Concerned' About Taliban Advance" "The News"
(04/24)
"The United States is extremely concerned about security situation
in Pakistan, the White House said on Thursday, a day after
Washington said Islamabad had abdicated to militants in the Swat
valley region. 'I think the news over the past several days is very
disturbing, it is something that takes a significant amount of
President Barack Obama's time,' White House spokesman Robert Gibbs
told a news conference." senator john kerry has said that "pakistan
is in a moment of peril" and that the white house does not yet have
an "adequate policy or plan to deal with" the coun- try. meanwhile,
secretary of state hillary clinton has said that the "pakistan
govern- ment is basically abdicating to the taliban and to the
extremists." taken together, the statements indicate the alarm in
washington, at both the slide in pakistan and the american response
to it. relations between the us and pakistan have undeni- ably
worsened in recent weeks. the pakistan govern- ment has bristled at
the tough statements of american officials, which have unfortunately
echoed the tone of the bush adminis- tration's 'transactional' and
'condition-laden' approach. matters only deteriorated when the us
house of representatives proposed that aid to pakistan be tied to
ensuring pakistan doesn't support terrorist activity in india. for
its part, the pakistan army has been incandescent about continu- ing
statements by american officials against the isi and its alleged
involvement with militant groups. there are two aspects to consider
here. first, the paki- stani view. while officials here have been
rightly criti- cal on occasion, they have sin- gularly failed to
take the ini- tiative. the established pres- ent pattern is that
first the us raises an issue and then we respond. a new policy for
afghanistan and pakistan is presented - and then we commend or
criticise it. safe havens in fata are raised as an issue - and then
we raise questions about inadequate measures on the afghan side of
the border. where in all of this is pakistan's own outlook,
developed indigenously, pre- sented coherently and defended
persuasively? in short, if militancy is security problem no 1, then
what, where and how are we going to do something about it? in swat,
we have tried to do things our own way, but the government has never
explained what exactly it would do if sufi mohammad or maulana
fazlullah decided to take matters into their own hands. now that
sufi mohammad has categorically rejected the jurisdiction of the
superior courts and the ttp has taken over buner, prime minister
gilani has offered this gem: "if peace is not restored, we can
revisit the idea (of the nizam- i-adl)." next, the us approach.
secretary clinton may well be right in saying that the pakistani
people "need to speak out forcefully" against the government's
policy of appeasement in swat. but this amounts to going over the
head of the government it claims is an ally and under- mining its
authority among the people. and all the tough talk against pakistan
cannot conceal that the americans are themselves puzzled about how
exactly to approach pakistan. american officials need to remember
what went so wrong under the bush administration: poor policy
coupled with unhelpful pub- lic statements. repeating the mistakes
of the past will have the same negative consequences.
"Holbrooke Answers Geo Questions Today" "The News" (04/24)
"Geo TV will telecast an interview of U.S. Special Representative
for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke with Dr Shahid Masood
in 'Meray Mutabiq Special' at 11 pm on Friday (today). This is
Holbrooke's first ever interview to any TV channel in the region."
"Mullen Calls On Air Chief, JCSC Chairman" "Daily Times" (04/24)
"US Joint Chief of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen separately
met Pakistan's Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq
Majid and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Rao Qamar
Suleman on Thursday."
"Govt Not To Allow State Within State: Gilani" "The News" (04/24)
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the
government would not allow state within a state or parallel courts
and the writ of the government would be ensured at all costs. He
expressed these views while talking to newsmen after his visit to
the Cabinet Division here on Thursday."
"PM For 'Other Options' If Swat Peace Deal Fails" "Dawn" (04/24)
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has said the government
reserves the right to exercise other options if Swat peace deal
fails and the process of Talibanisation continues. Talking to
reporters on Thursday, he said the Swat agreement was aimed to
restore peace in the valley and provide speedy justice to the
people."
"PML-N Seeks Briefing By ISPR On Swat Plight" "Dawn" (04/24)
"National Assembly members voiced worries on Thursday about
marauding Taliban in the North-West Frontier Province, with the main
opposition party urging Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to
urgently take national leaders into confidence about how the
government planned to counter militants violating a peace deal."
"Army Alarmed As Taliban Eying On Mardan, Swabi" "Dawn" (04/24)
"After taking over Buner the Taliban roll into Mardan and that's the
end of the game, a senior Pakistani law-enforcement official in the
NWFP told 'The New York Times' on Wednesday. The report claimed
that when the Taliban entered Buner, the Pakistan army did not put
up a defense apparently abiding by the agreement signed by the
government in Swat. Local politician Jamsher Khan told NYT that
people were initially determined to resist the Taliban in Buner, but
that they were discouraged by the deal the government struck with
the Taliban in Swat."
"Sufi Extends Darul Qaza Deadline" "Dawn" (04/24)
"At the request of the NWFP government, TNSM chief Maulana Sufi
Mohammad agreed on Thursday to defer the deadline of April 23 he had
set for setting up Darul Qaza in Malakand. He, however, refused to
change his statement that the British-era political and judicial
system in Pakistan was 'un-Islamic'."
"No Plan To Occupy Tarbela: Taliban" "The News" (04/24)
"The commander of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in
Buner, Maulana Khalilur Rahman, on Thursday said they had no
intention of occupying the Tarbela Dam and moving beyond the
Margalla Hills as a Qaumi Jirga in Swarai demanded of the government
to exercise restraint."
"NATO Chief Ruled Out Raids Into Pakistan" "Daily Times" (04/24)
"NATO's Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on Thursday ruled
out any cross-border raids into Pakistan by the alliance's troops in
Afghanistan."
"Six Nato Fuel Tankers Torched In Peshawar" "Daily Times" (04/24)
"Six tankers supplying fuel to NATO forces in Afghanistan were
gutted and a guard sustained injuries after suspected Taliban opened
fire on them on Thursday, police said."
"Malik Presents 'Proof Of Indian Hand In Unrest'" "Dawn" (04/24)
"At a closed-door Senate session on Thursday, Interior Adviser
E
Rehman Malik presented a bleak picture of the security situation in
the country and showed what he called evidence of the involvement of
India, Afghanistan and Russia in terrorist activities. It is the
first time Pakistan has blamed these countries and cited evidences
which, it is believed, will be shared with the international
community, particularly the United States, which has expressed
concern over growing militancy in the country."
"India Denies Helping BLA" "Dawn" (04/24)
"India on Thursday denied any role in Pakistan's difficulties with
the Balochistan Liberation Army and said the accusation by a senior
official in Islamabad did not deserve a response. 'These are
entirely baseless allegations and we see no reason to dignify them
with a response,' an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said."
---------------------
Editorials/Op-eds
---------------------
"Setting Things Right," an editorial in the center-right national
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (04/24)
"As time passes, the US assessment of the Pakistan situation
following the conclusion of the Swat peace deal is taking on a
gloomier look and one finds top American officials making statements
that not only show the Obama Administration's exasperation at
Islamabad's attitude towards terrorism but also its disregard of
ordinary norms of diplomacy. One wonders that if the US were so
much concerned, what inhibits it from delivering to the Pakistan
Army the modern equipment that could facilitate the task of tracking
down the militants in the tricky tribal terrain."
"Problems On Both Sides," an editorial in the Karachi-based
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000)
(04/24)
"... The established present pattern is that first the U.S. raises
an issue and then we respond... In short, if militancy is security
problem No 1, then what, where and how are we going to do something
about it? In Swat, we have tried to do things our own way, but the
government has never explained what exactly it would do if Sufi
Mohammad or Maulana Fazlullah decided to take matters into their own
hands... Secretary Clinton may well be right in saying that the
Pakistani people 'need to speak out forcefully' against the
government's policy of appeasement in Swat. ... And all the tough
talk against Pakistan cannot conceal that the Americans are
themselves puzzled about how exactly to approach Pakistan. American
officials need to remember what went so wrong under the Bush
administration: poor policy coupled with unhelpful public
statements. Repeating the mistakes of the past will have the same
negative consequences."
"The Final Fall," an editorial in the centrist national English
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/24)
"... Even as the threat grows, by the day, by the hour, even by the
minute, our government fails to say how it plans to hold back the
menace. Does it indeed intend to do so at all? Or has it fallen in
with that flawed line of thinking about the Taliban being friends
and the Indians foes that has contributed so immensely to the
problems Pakistan faces today. The ANP, apparently unashamed by what
is happening, continues its increasingly absurd attempts to defend
the deal. With each statement its' leaders make, another nail is
driven into the coffin of the proud party founded by Khan Abdul
Ghaffar Khan that stood for peace, and tolerance and the values of
liberal thought. Will we find the moral courage, the will, the
strength to stand together and fight off the Taliban? Can we wrest
back from them the territory they hold, inch by inch, foot by foot
and acre by acre - or is the battle already lost? We wait for our
leaders to offer up an answer."
"Displeasing U.S. Act Of Inciting The Pakistani Nation," an
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 125,000) (04/24)
"The U.S. and its allies are engaged in a propaganda campaign
against Pakistan's integrity since the day peace was established in
Swat, to the extent that now Hillary Clinton has appealed to
Pakistanis to raise their voice against the government's policy of
tolerating the Taliban. The U.S. usually reserves such statements
for countries it does not favor like Iran, Cuba, Venezuela and
Zimbabwe. But this is the first time a U.S. Secretary of State has
included Pakistan in this group. Wisdom demands that the U.S. wait
for the Swat peace deal to produce results and give time to the NWFP
government and Taliban and Sufi Muhammad to make their efforts for
peace successful. If God forbid, events take a different turn, as
being feared by the U.S. and highlighted by Maulana Fazlur Rehman,
the government has said that it will change its policy and the
nation would undoubtedly support it. Instead of issuing orders from
Washington, the U.S. should strive to get its troops out of
Afghanistan because the real cause of terrorism is U.S. presence in
Afghanistan."
"Hillary Clinton Should Cast A Glance On U.S. Policies," an
editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000)
(04/24)
"Secretary Clinton should understand that Sufi Muhammad's statements
on the judiciary and other issues are unacceptable for the majority
of Pakistanis. Pakistan's government, civil society and military
leadership are under no illusion whatsoever. Pakistan has a strong
constitutional infrastructure and can face any kind of challenge.
However, the U.S. should review its own policies and avoid making
unreasonable demands on Pakistan."
"Threats To The Country And Government's Duties," an editorial in
the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 100,000) (04/24)
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the
Pakistanis and the Pakistani diaspora should raise their voice
against the government's policy of tolerating the Taliban... This
statement is akin to inciting Pakistanis against their government.
But since the government is not properly informing the nation about
Swat, the people have no option but to believe such statements. And
it is not just Swat that is worrying the nation. The situation in
Balochistan is no less dangerous..."
"Mr. Kerry's Correct Analysis," an editorial in the Lahore-based
independent Urdu daily "Din" (04/24)
"Chairman of Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the mover of the
Kerry-Lugar Bill, Mr John Kerry has rightly pointed towards the
threats to Pakistan and insufficient U.S. assistance... Mr Kerry
has also called the Obama administration's "Af-Pak" term
inappropriate... It is encouraging that senior U.S. leaders like
Senator Kerry are not only aware of the problems Pakistan is
facing due to the war on terror but are also desirous of increasing
U.S. cooperation and assistance to Pakistan as they feel that the
U.S. is responsible for these problems. Pakistan army and state
institutions have become insecure due to the war on terror. In
these circumstances, the U.S. should increase its level of
cooperation with Pakistan and take help from leaders like Mr. Kerry
to removQisunderstandings between the two countries."
"General Kayani Must Play His Role," an editorial note in the
Karachi-based, pro Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000)
(04/24)
"U.S. Admiral Mike Mullen has met with Army Chief General Kayani for
the second time within a week... People of Pakistan are
disappointed with their political leaders, and they don't expect
from them that they will be able to prevent the U.S. drone attacks
ever. Therefore, it is the responsibility of General Kayani as the
ultimate sentinel of the nation to play his role to bring the drone
strikes to a halt."
"Adrift And Lost, Pakistan Awaits A Miracle," an op-ed by Ayaz Amir
in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000)
(04/24)
"... Yes, the Americans are a problem and, stuck in Afghanistan,
they have their own axes to grind. True also that more often than
not we give the impression of being a plaything in their hands,
serving their interests more than our own. But this can be corrected
and we can be masters of our own fate if we set the direction of our
national compass right. The stakes couldn't be higher. We shake
ourselves and take matters in hand. Or we allow the present drift to
continue, in which case we could do worse than study the fate of
Yugoslavia."
"More Complicated Than You Think," an op-ed by Ejaz Haider
in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times"
(cir. 10,000) (04/24)
"... Pakistani state and society is far more complex and
multi-layered for it to come apart in the way reports in the US
press predict."
"Fighting The Hordes," an op-ed by Ayesha Siddiqa in the
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn"
(cir. 55,000) (04/24)
"We can fight the threat posed by the Taliban only if we muster the
required will, develop a clear understanding of what lies ahead and
then evolve a coherent strategy. . . This is a time when everyone
needs to stand up and not seek shelter in political expediency. As
such, Mian Nawaz Sharif cannot hide behind his political deal with
the PPP and support the Malakand agreement while at the same time
talk about the threat posed by Talibanisation."
"Confusion & Illusion," an op-ed by Harris Khalique in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/24)
"... If the leading politicians representing mainstream political
parties and media gurus who have fully encroached upon the prime
time on television and front pages in the print media continue to
confuse people, and the military continues to harbor its illusion of
power over different fighting groups which it sponsored in the past
for a different geo-strategic game, all will be lost. Frankenstein
once created attacks its own creator. When the house in on fire, the
fire has to be put out first and then you determine whether the
cause was a short circuit or a fireball thrown from outside."
"Extreme Positions," an op-ed by Dr Masooda Bano in the centrist
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (04/24)
"... It is clear that military operations are not a solution to
fighting militancy, and if the state is moving away from that
strategy, that is good news. However, to say that the alternative to
military operations is to concede to demands of groups which are
armed and can impose their will on the public is clearly going to
another extreme. Both of these are responses of an incompetent
state."
"People Will Have To Come Out To Save Country," an editorial note in
the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000)
(04/24)
"The hype of Talibanization is a tactical move of the anti-Pakistani
elements in the psychological warfare against the Pakistani nation.
In fact, they want to paralyze the Pakistani nation psychologically
before the final showdown, so that they (Pakistanis) cannot play
their role to save country except to become deaf and dumb silent
spectators. It is time for the people of Pakistan to wake up and
come to the streets to demonstrate their power and chase away this
deliberate move."
"Solution Of People's Problems Can Restore Trust On Government," an
editorial in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang"
(cir. 300,000) (04/24)
"If people of Balochistan are provided with basic amenities like
drinkable water, economic infrastructure, employment, healthcare and
education even after six decades of deprivation, and they are given
a fair chance to play a part in decision-making process and
legislation at all level from the local management to the provincial
and national legislatures, it is for sure that they will support the
government to foil the conspiracies of foreign forces with all their
heart. And no foreign intelligence agencies will be able to exploit
them so easily."
"Interior Advisor's Address To The Senate," an editorial note in the
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir.
50,000) (04/24)
"Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has rightly said that we are willing
to give the Baloch people everything but independence. The
government should put its words into action, but if despite all
this, some elements remain involved in sabotage, then they must be
dealt with strongly. The government should keep all options open,
instead of just relying on force. The government must also discuss
matters on the diplomatic level with countries it has reservations
about."
"External Red Herrings And State Abdication," an editorial in the
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir.
10,000) (04/24)
"The Interior Adviser, Mr Rehman Malik, repeated himself at the
Senate Wednesday when he claimed that India was involved in
fomenting trouble in Balochistan with the help of the Kabul
government, but his addition of "some hostile agencies" along with
India might mean others like Uzbekistan, Iran and the CIA. Far away
in Washington, speaking at the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the
US Secretary of State, Ms Hilary Clinton, bemoaned the abdication of
Pakistan in the face of a dangerously expanding hold of the Taliban
over Pakistani territory... In fact, this is not the time for
isolating Pakistan in the world but for being "introvertQon our
domestic terrorism with whatever help we can get from the
international community."
Feierstein