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PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #0823/01 1141115
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P 241115Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6339
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RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000823 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PAKISTAN / TALIBAN, SRI LANKA 
UNREST, U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS, U.S.ECONOMY; NEW DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
------------------ 
PAKISTAN / TALIBAN 
------------------ 
 
¶1. "WE TOO HAVE TO FIGHT THE TALIBAN," op-ed in April 23 
right-of-center AMAR UJALA Hindi daily by columnist 
Kuldip Talwar: "The Pakistan government believes that the 
Sharia deal with the Taliban in the Swat Valley will 
strengthen peace in the country. The international 
community is, however, not so sure. The Pakistani 
government's stamp of legitimacy to the Taliban is a 
matter of concern to other nations. The global community 
is watching with unease the expanding reign of the 
Taliban in Pakistan. This could accentuate tensions 
between Pakistan and the U.S. Meanwhile, this rising 
fanaticism in our neighborhood is a big danger for India. 
The Taliban are inching closer and we need to be 
prepared." 
 
¶2. "TALIBAN: AN INTERNATIONAL TERROR," editorial in the 
April 24 right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: 
"America is worried about the Taliban's presence near 
Islamabad. India also faces a threat, and is open to 
obtaining Israel's help in thwarting the Taliban. The 
Jewish lobby wants American strategic and financial 
support extended to India. According to the think tank 
Council on Foreign Relations, the new generation of 
Taliban and Al Qaeda will have nuclear weapons and 
Pakistan will be their epicenter. The governments of 
Pakistan and Afghanistan lack the capability to control 
extremism and terrorism because they have limited 
resources, and the leadership and government institutions 
of both countries are too weak to thwart the impending 
danger." 
 
¶3. "HILLARY'S WARNING," editorial in April 24 Kolkata 
independent ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA. "Hillary Clinton's 
warning clearly shows America's concern about Pakistan... 
she seems sorry that public opinion in Pakistan has yet 
to turn against their government's increasing surrender 
to the Taliban and Al Qaida. However, instead of helping 
Pakistan to strengthen its democratic institutions, the 
U.S. has always backed its military dictators.  These 
leaders have received huge incentives from Washington for 
their loyalty, while they consolidated their position by 
supporting the jehadi forces through the ISI.  So why cry 
about it now?" 
 
---------------- 
SRI LANKA UNREST 
---------------- 
 
¶4. "LAST SCUFFLE OF TAMIL TIGERS," editorial in the April 
24 right-of-center Urdu daily HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "Sri 
Lanka's war against the Tamil Tigers has reached its 
final and decisive phase. But the question is whether it 
 
NEW DELHI 00000823  002 OF 002 
 
 
is really the last struggle of the LTTE? That remains to 
be seen. It is possible that Prabhakaran could become 
untraceable, like Osama Bin Laden." 
 
¶5. "LTTE NEARLY FINISHED" editorial in April 24 Guwahati 
Assamese left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN.  "The LTTE's 
downfall is imminent, but conditions for Sri Lankan 
Tamils remains as they were nearly three decades ago. 
There was a time when the LTTE could have solved the 
problem through negotiation to secure the political 
interests of the Tamils.  But it chose to reject the 
government's offer of self-rule. Now it has lost 
everything - public support, the sympathy of the 
international community, and its ability to fight against 
the Sri Lankan army..." 
 
------------------- 
U.S.-CUBA RELATIONS 
------------------- 
 
¶6. "U.S AND CUBA HEAD TOWARDS POSITIVE RELATIONS" op-ed 
article by columnist V D Ranade in the April 24 centrist 
daily NAVASHAKTI.  "President Obama's bid to repair 
relations with Latin American countries, particularly 
estranged Cuba, is definitely a highlight of the 
recently-concluded fifth summit of the Americas. 
Acknowledging the presence of U.S. critics in the region, 
Obama did not just admit the need for a far more positive 
U.S. contribution in Latin America; he even said that the 
U.S. could learn a lesson from Cuba, which for decades 
has sent doctors to other Latin America countries to care 
for the poor. Obama presented a more all-inclusive agenda 
for Latin America than his predecessors, who focused on 
trade and counter-narcotics programs..." 
 
¶7. "US-Cuba relations," editorial in April 24 left-of- 
center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI: "US President Obama's 
effort to extend a hand of friendship to Cuba, forgetting 
the bitter past, is truly laudable. The leaders of both 
the countries should waste no time in starting 
talks. Obama is taking steps to improve ties with Latin 
American countries. An improved relationship with Cuba 
would be a great achievement for the U.S." 
 
----------- 
U.S.ECONOMY 
----------- 
 
¶8. "Obama's War," editorial in April 24 pro-DMK Tamil 
daily DINAKARAN: "Following the hue and cry from credit 
card holders, President Obama has initiated strong 
action. Obama's plan includes providing more time to 
repay installments, reducing interest rates, and minimum 
ages for issuance of credit cards. While banks are 
opposing this move, Obama said that Americans are 
addicted to credit cards, and the government would come 
to their rescue. 
BURLEIGH