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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001046 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 15, 2009 
 
Summary: Prime Minister Gilani's statement declaring that the "war 
on Taliban rebels will be won, no matter how long it takes" 
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Friday.  His announcement 
of convening APC (All Parties Conference) on Monday also received 
front page display.  Army Chief Kayani's visit to Swat received 
extensive media coverage.  All dailies highlighted his resolve to 
"flush out militancy from the area."  Alongside that story, all 
newspapers also reported that Army Chief Kayani would give an 
"in-camera briefing" on the military operation to the parliamentary 
leaders today (Friday).  The English daily, "Dawn," highlighted 
Assistant Secretary Boucher's remarks that the Obama administration 
"does not favor a Congressional legislation that would link U.S. aid 
to Pakistan to the elimination of cross-border attacks into India." 
Some major dailies reported that Admiral Mullen "confirmed" at a 
Senate hearing that the U.S. had granted Pakistan's requests for 
surveillance support missions by U.S. drones. 
 
Newspapers ran editorials on a hosts of subjects pertaining to Swat 
situation and other national issues.  The liberal Urdu daily 
"Express," editorialized that the military "operation cannot move 
ahead properly until the international community steps forward to 
provide financial assistance to Pakistan."  Commenting on the 
"politicking on refugees" the Lahore-based English language liberal 
daily, "Daily Times," noted that the "refugee problem is tough like 
all refugee problems anywhere else in the world. If the politicians 
stop undermining national unity at this stage, we are sure to win 
this war."  The Peshawar-based Urdu daily, "Mashriq," advised the 
Punjab and Sindh administrations to "come forward and lend a hand to 
accommodate Malakand IDPs, as this is the time to provide 
humanitarian assistance generously."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Win We Must, Win We Shall: Gilani; APC On Monday; COAS To Brief 
Leaders Today" "The News" (05/15) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday brushed aside 
concerns regarding the future of military operation in Swat and 
Malakand and expressed his firm belief that the Army would win the 
war against militancy.  'Militarily, we will win the war, but it 
will be unfortunate if we lose it politically, so we will also have 
to win the hearts and minds of the people,' the prime minister said 
while addressing the National Assembly in Islamabad on Thursday. 
Gilani announced convening of the All Parties Conference on Monday 
(May 18) and an in-camera briefing from Chief of the Army Staff 
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani for the parliamentary leaders on Friday 
(today)." 
 
"Kayani Vows To Flush Out Militancy From Swat" "The News" (05/15) 
 
"Security forces on Thursday claimed to have killed 54 militants, 
including three commanders, and suffered nine casualties during 
fighting in the Swat Valley.  Also, on the same day, Chief of Army 
Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani visited the valley and 
vowed to flush out militancy from the area." 
 
"Attack On Army Base In Peochar Repulsed" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"Security forces thwarted an attempt by militants to destroy their 
base in Peochar valley, a stronghold of Tehrik-i-Taliban Swat chief 
Maulana Fazlullah, the military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas said 
on Thursday.  Answering a question, the military spokesman said that 
no external power had any role in the planning, execution and 
financing of the operation." 
 
"124 Militants Killed In Swat; Deadly Battle For Mingora Looms" "The 
Nation" (05/15) 
 
"Artillery batteries shelled suspected militant hideouts in Swat and 
Lower Dir, with the military claiming to have killed around 124 
militants in the last 24 hours.  Residents trapped in Swat's main 
city of Mingora fear a deadly battle for the town looms, saying that 
armed Taliban have mined roads and dug trenches around up to 200,000 
civilians encircled by the troops." 
 
"Nine Militants Killed In Darra" "The News" (05/15) 
 
"Nine militants were killed and 12 others were arrested in search 
operation carried out by the security forces in Mulakhel area of 
Darra Adamkhel on Thursday." 
 
"Darra Taliban Threaten To Target Commercial Jets" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"The spokesman for Darra Taliban told 'Dawn' by telephone from an 
undisclosed location that they had set the deadline of June 14 for 
the government to stop military operation in the region and withdraw 
all troops.  In case their demand was not met by the deadline they 
would start shooting down commercial planes travelling through the 
air space in the region, he added." 
 
"Three Soldiers, 5 Militants Killed In NWA" "The News" (05/15) 
 
"Security forces on Thursday killed five militants in the North 
Waziristan Agency after a military convoy was targeted with 
improvised explosive device (IED) in the Pir Killay area, in which 
three soldiers were killed and four others sustained injuries." 
 
"Nine Policemen Hurt In D.I. Khan Blasts" "The Nation" (05/15) 
 
"At least nine police officers were injured in three blasts in Dera 
Ismail Khan late Thursday, officials said." 
 
Militants Torch Police Post In Battagram" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"Militants ransacked and then set on fire a police check-post in 
Battagram district in the small hours of Thursday.  The check-post 
was established at Batta Mori to restrict activities of militants in 
the district." 
 
"School Blown Up In Peshawar" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"Suspected militants on Thursday blew up a government girls' primary 
school in suburbs of the provincial capital, a source in the police 
department said." 
 
"More Than 834,000 Displaced, Says UN" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"More than 834,000 civilians have fled recent fighting between 
security forces and the Taliban in the northwest of the country, the 
UN Refugee Chief said on Thursday." 
 
"$5 Billion Needed For Rehabilitation Of IDPs: UN" "The Nation" 
(05/15) 
 
"UNDP Disaster Reduction Advisor Zubair Murshid told a private TV 
channel that the rehabilitation process could take two to five years 
and added that over $5 billion is needed for complete rehabilitation 
of the IDPs of Malakand and elsewhere." 
 
"U.S. Opposes Linking Aid To Cross-Border Attacks" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"The Obama administration does not favor a Congressional legislation 
that would link U.S. aid to Pakistan to the elimination of 
cross-border attacks into India, a senior U.S. official said on 
Thursday.  'We do not want restrictions to make it impossible to 
achieve the goals that we all share,' Assistant Secretary of State 
Richard Boucher told a briefing in Washington." 
 
"U.S. Senate Panel Approves Emergency Aid For Pakistan" "Dawn" 
(05/15) 
 
"The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday approved a 
$91.3 billion measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan 
through September 30 and to provide emergency aid to the Pakistan 
government.  The Senate measure also includes about $900 million in 
economic and security aid for Pakistan which is battling militant 
Taliban fighters spilling over its border with Afghanistan. The 
House bill has about $1 billion for Pakistan." 
 
"Gates Urges Congress To Approve $700 Million For Pakistan" (05/15) 
 
"Stressing that Pakistan needs both economic and military assistance 
to uproot militancy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday 
urged Congress to approve $700 million for Pakistan 
Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) contained in defense budget 
for the fiscal year 2010." 
 
"U.S. Senators Link Pakistan Aid To Focus On Extremists" "The News" 
(05/15) 
 
"Senators on Thursday linked the U.S. aid to Pakistan's denouncing 
and battling extremists, who had threatened security in its 
northwest and displaced hundreds of thousands of refugees.  At issue 
is about $700 million that the Senate Armed Services Committee 
Chairman Carl Levin, a Democrat, said would, in part, pay to help 
Pakistan fight the insurgents.  'If Pakistan makes this fight 
against the extremists their own fight, then the U.S. should be 
willing to help Pakistan achieve a more stable and secure future,' 
Levin told Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Admiral Mike Mullen, 
Joint Chiefs Chairman, at a Senate hearing on the military's budget 
for the next year." 
 
"Modalities Of U.S. Aid Not Yet Worked Out: FO" "The News" (05/15) 
 
"Pakistan says that Islamabad and Washington need to distinguish 
between conditionalities, benchmarks, monitoring and overseeing the 
use of aid and assistance, which Pakistan will receive.  'We do not 
know at this point in time about those details. It is better to wait 
and see how things evolve,' the spokesman at the Foreign Office told 
the weekly media conference." 
 
"U.S. To share Drone Data, Not Technology, With Pakistan" "The News" 
(05/15) 
 
"The United States has taken the unprecedented step of sharing with 
Islamabad surveillance data collected by drones flying over 
Pakistan, the Top U.S. military officer said on Thursday.  Admiral 
Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, confirmed that 
Pakistan had requested surveillance support missions by U.S. 
unmanned aircraft at a Senate hearing." 
 
"Zardari Urges Delivery Of Aid Pledges" "Dawn" (05/15) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday called for a prompt delivery 
of the pledges made by the international community for addressing 
the challenges faced by Pakistan.  Discussing economic assistance to 
Pakistan with the British Secretary for International Development 
Douglas Alexander in London, the President expressed gratitude for 
the UK's development assistance for Pakistan amounting to 665 
million pounds sterling over four years." 
 
"No Transit Trade Rights To India: FO" "The Nation" (05/15) 
 
"Pakistan on Thursday said it had not granted any transit right to 
India for its trade goods as it was against the national interests. 
The details have yet to be finalized and Pakistan will not agree to 
any provision or arrangement that is not in its national interests, 
the Foreign Office spokesman, Abdul Basit said in his weekly press 
briefing." 
 
"Pak-Afghan Accord To Improve Border Control System" "The News" 
(05/15) 
 
"Pakistan and Afghanistan on Thursday agreed to improve the border 
control system, import 1000MW of electricity from Tajikistan and 
Kyrgyzstan with an estimated cost of $750 million and establish rail 
links to boost regional trade, while Addressing a joint press 
conference along with Afghanistan's Minister for Economics Jalil 
Shamas, Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar 
said." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Swat Operation And The International Community's Responsibility," 
an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/15) 
 
"It would have been appropriate had the U.S. given Pakistan Army 
full control over the drones rather than partial control.  This 
would not only have helped the security forces in the progress of 
the operation, but would also have helped Pakistan government 
control issues arising from U.S. strikes.  If the U.S. 
administration starts thinking on these lines even now, there can be 
an improvement in the situation." 
 
"Politicking On Refugees," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/15) 
 
"The truth is that the refugee crisis after the military operation 
has created an opportunity for the policy of 'isolate and oust.'... 
 Pakistan is not fighting for American dollars, and no one is after 
its nuclear weapons; it is fighting the war of its survival beyond 
the point of 'negotiating' with the terrorists.  And the refugee 
problem is tough like all refugee problems anywhere else in the 
world.  If the politicians stop undermining national unity at this 
stage, we are sure to win this war." 
 
"Problems Evolved From The Military Operation," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (05/15) 
 
"The Punjab and Sindh administrations must come forward and lend a 
hand to accommodate Malakand IDPs, as this is the time to provide 
humanitarian assistance generously.  Our rulers must visit the camps 
of the IDPs by themselves to provide consolation to the affected 
people and monitor the relief activities, or else their grievances 
and deprivations will cause another kind of extremism against the 
government." 
 
"Precision Strikes," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/15) 
 
"A Los Angeles Times report tells of the U.S. government agreeing to 
undertake Predator strikes in limited collaboration with Pakistani 
military....  While the arrangement would help the U.S. attack the 
targets of its choice in Pakistan, blame for the consequences of any 
misfire would be borne by the Pakistan army.  The avowed arrangement 
hardly suits Pakistan." 
 
"Minimizing Collateral Damage," an editorial in the Islamabad-based 
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (05/15) 
 
"It is understood that in an Army operation no one can eliminate the 
chances of collateral damage due to obvious reasons....  Similarly, 
despite risks involved, the strategy adopted by the Army with regard 
to Peochar where heli-borne troops were dropped to take action 
against men of Maulana Fazlullah is the right approach to avoid 
collateral damage and engaging militants.  We would also expect the 
local people, who are still living in their areas, to cooperate with 
the law enforcing agencies in identifying and locating militants so 
that the operation is brought to an early end." 
 
"A Welcome Concern," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/15) 
 
"The order requiring of precision attacks is a welcome move as it 
will minimize collateral damage of civilians. This is important when 
the militants are using the civilian population as human shield. 
This new strategy will help achieve the desired results in the 
troubled areas of Swat. The resulting collateral damage, even if 
inevitable, brings grist to the grind mills of propaganda, working 
for the religious zealots." 
 
"Where's The National Spirit?," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(05/15) 
 
"Citizens across the country who have so far not been directly 
affected by the Taliban's activities must come to the aid of their 
brethren.... The issue of the refugees must be delinked from ethnic 
and political concerns since these undermine societal solidarity and 
further intensify the misery of the IDPs.  As citizens of Pakistan, 
the refugees have a right to protection and assistance offered by 
not just the state and but also fellow citizens....  Most 
importantly, perhaps, civil society must lobby with the government 
and its institutions for a successful, speedy end to the military 
operation and a clean-up of militant-infested areas.  The 
government's writ must be extended immediately to all its 
territories, for slow or evasive action against the insurgents may 
not only give the latter time to regroup, it may also encourage 
other militant organizations with intentions to spread anarchy." 
 
"Entire Nation Should Participate In Relief Operation," an editorial 
in the leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (05/15) 
 
"We must not overlook the risk that the anti-Pakistan elements can 
exploit the miseries and grievances of the IDPs.  The government 
ministers must come forward to help these destitute rather than 
doing just lips service.  Beside using Pakistan Army for the 
arrangements of these IDPs, the government should encourage the 
religious groups for this purpose, who have vast experience to their 
credit of making arrangements of mass gatherings." 
 
"Beggars And Choosers," an editorial in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/15) 
 
"Reports say that among the items sent to the IDPs have been old, 
quite obviously dirty and in some cases badly damaged clothes. These 
have been cast aside with considerable anger.  The people forced out 
of their homes are after all not beggars.  Most have lived in 
dignity, even if their earnings are limited, for most of their 
lives.  They need now too to be treated with respect. Pride is the 
one thing they still retain.  It must not be snatched away from them 
through insensitivity or a desire to show off how much is being 
given away." 
 
"Military Operation And Protecting The Local Populace," an editorial 
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/15) 
 
"The government should order that only those elements be targeted 
during the military operation that is working against national 
interests and those with links to foreign powers.  The U.S. should 
fight its war on its own, we should only eliminate our enemies." 
 
"Battle For Hearts And Mind," an op-ed by Sultan M. Hali in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/15) 
 
"The war could rage for months even years, with a nearly invisible 
enemy, using highly sophisticated weaponry and communication, 
merging in the shadows.  Under these circumstances, it must be 
assured that the IDPs will be dealt with fairly and with 
compassion....  Before the whispering campaign becomes a din and 
drowns saner elements in its crescendo, the battle for hearts and 
mind must be planned and executed in such a manner that the IDPs 
themselves vouch for the legitimacy and need for the military action 
against the miscreants." 
 
"Look After the Displaced Persons," an op-ed by Dr. Ijaz Ahsan in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(05/15) 
 
"If hearts and minds have to be won, the IDPs will have to be looked 
after as never before. $1.9 billion are being earmarked by the U.S. 
along for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the IDPs and also 
of the areas they come from.  This is a colossal amount...  The 
government of the day owes them all possible efforts to ameliorate 
their lot, to look after them, to urgently create conditions for 
their return to their homes, and to ensure prompt resettlement and 
reconstruction in their areas.  The nation is watching.  The rulers 
better put their act together." 
 
"Hope Among The Ruins," an op-ed by Ayaz Amir in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/15) 
 
"There is no doubt that the operation in Buner was hastily 
undertaken.  With the right preparations much of the present misery 
and disorder we are seeing could have been avoided....  But the 
basic premise remains that there was no alternative to taking on the 
Taliban.  They were a threat to the state. People who still think 
otherwise should take the trouble of visiting Buner and seeing 
things for themselves.  Now the most pressing national task is to 
back the army and ease the pain of the refugees, and -- this being 
very important -- undertake measures to reduce the pain of our 
brothers and sisters in Balochistan.  There is no point in fighting 
for Swat if we are eventually to lose Balochistan." 
 
"A Quagmire?," an op-ed by Masooda Bano in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/15) 
 
"Having millions of displaced people as a result of a war, where the 
target is unclear and in which the enemy is ill-defined, will force 
Pakistan into supporting a civil war, which will only become messier 
with time....  Rather than plunging the country into a war which has 
no sense of direction, the state needs to put its act together and 
make a serious effort to understand what forces are strengthening 
the militants in Malakand division....  If they don't have popular 
support, and the state is determined to quell them then logically 
how they could have patrolled the streets of Swat and taken over 
government offices without some influential forces supporting them." 
 
 
"Decisive Operation In Swat," an op-ed by Col. Ghulam Sarwar (R) in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/15) 
 
"There is an urgent need to explain to the masses that the task to 
overcome the Taliban may take time.  The Taliban have entrenched 
themselves in the mountain areas over a period of time, so the Armed 
forces shall have devise necessary plan to eradicate their 
influences....  In the end, we would suggest that the army should 
see to it that it does not get sucked into a prolonged fight against 
civilians. There is a need to cordon off the entire Swat Valley and 
also routes of escape from the militants and blocked, otherwise, 
they would create trouble in FATA and the neighboring areas." 
 
"The Battle for Pakistan," an op-ed by Najmuddin A. Shaikh in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (05/15) 
 
"It would be wise for us, the overwhelming majority of the people of 
Pakistan who want to see the country become the moderate and 
tolerant Islamic state that the Quaid had envisioned, to demand that 
the current campaign against the Taliban be pursued relentlessly. 
It will take time, and it will be testing not only for our Pashtun 
brothers who are bearing the brunt of the present conflict, but for 
all of us.  The armed forces are now committed, one hopes, to the 
elimination of the military threat.  It is civil society that has to 
erode and then eliminate the ideological threat that has been 
allowed to grow over the last thirty years." 
 
"Imran Khan's Strange Politics," an op-ed by Shafqat Mahmood in the 
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/15) 
 
"He (Imran) has just one mantra that this is America's fault, 
America's fault, America ... etc.  America has contributed to it but 
is that the only problem we confront?...  In this difficult time for 
the country, he is on the wrong side of history.  No one doubts that 
American presence in Afghanistan has seriously contributed to our 
troubles.  But, we must also remember that barbarian hordes linked 
to Al Qaeda also have designs on our country and threaten our way of 
life.  We have no choice but to fight them.  Imran must stand by his 
people and the armed forces.  He should rise above his prejudices 
and help in the fight for Pakistan." 
 
"How Can They Win Friends?," an op-ed by Ayesha Siddiqa in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/15) 
 
"The world is worried about increasing Talibanization in Pakistan. 
It is concerned that this phenomenon might reach other countries 
too. Hence expatriate populations are looked upon with suspicion and 
blamed for all ills in foreign countries.  However, it is important 
to recognize that these states are equally responsible for creating 
an environment that propels people towards aggression or a certain 
ideology." 
Patterson