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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