VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #1070/01 1380919
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180919Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2770
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9406
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 5246
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 0350
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 7328
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1315
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001070 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 18, 2009 
 
Summary:  President Zardari's statement made during an interview 
with British daily, The Sunday Times, that "Swat is just the start," 
and that the "military operation will be extended to Waziristan" 
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Monday.  All newspapers 
highlighted President Obama's remarks brushing aside concerns about 
the safety of Pakistan's nukes.  His remarks that "he could consider 
all options to secure nuclear weapons" if the country became 
unstable garnered wide coverage.  Reports on the "security forces' 
penetration in Matta and Kanju areas of Malakand division," and 
"killing of 25 militants" also received extensive coverage.  All 
newspapers underscored report that hundreds of Sunni scholars 
"rejected" the Taliban brand of Sharia and "fully endorsed" the 
ongoing military operation in Swat and other areas.  Over the 
weekend, Urdu daily, "Jang," and "The Frontier Post," reported that 
the "U.S. provided $29 million in wheat and oil for internally 
displaced people." 
 
Most major newspapers ran editorials on a host of subjects including 
the French nuclear offer, Indian elections, IDPs, bomb explosions in 
Peshawar, All Parties Conference and so forth.  The English daily, 
"The Post," published an op-ed on Ambassador Patterson, which 
originally appeared in "Forbes," and maintained: "Patterson hopes to 
leverage the (Obama) administration's decision to treat Afghanistan 
and Pakistan jointly to break new ground on intra-regional trade, 
'to give the Pakistanis access to Central Asia and eventually to 
India.'"  Commenting on the "French nuclear offer," the prestigious 
English language daily, "Dawn," observed that "this amounts to a 
radical change in the international politics of nuclear 
proliferation that has a direct bearing on Pakistan."  However, the 
Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post," noted that "it is the 
test of the French leadership not to bow before any pressure from 
any side against the transfer of civilian nuclear technology to 
Pakistan."  The second-largest, Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" cautioned 
that the "extremists may not have the capability to pose any threat 
to our nuclear arsenal. However, America and India can conspire 
(against our nuclear assets)."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Waziristan Next, Says Zardari" "Dawn" 05/18) 
 
"Pakistan is to extend its war on the Taliban beyond Swat into the 
fiercely independent tribal areas bordering Afghanistan where Osama 
bin Laden and the Al Qaeda leadership are believed to be hiding. 
'We're going to go into Waziristan, all these regions, with army 
operations,' President Asif Ali Zardari told 'The Sunday Times' in 
an interview." 
 
"All Options Open On Securing Pak Nukes; Says Islamabad's 
Sovereignty To Be Respected; U.S. Working To Strengthen Pakistan: 
Obama" "The News" 05/18) 
 
"U.S. President Barack Obama has voiced confidence in the safety of 
Pakistan's nuclear assets. But at the same time, he made it clear 
that he could consider all options to secure the nuclear weapons, if 
the country got less stable.  'Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe,' 
he said in an interview with the Newsweek magazine.  'I don't want 
to engage in hypotheses around Pakistan, other than to say we have 
confidence that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is safe; that the 
Pakistani military is equipped to prevent extremists from taking 
over those arsenals.  As Commander-in-Chief, I have to consider all 
options, but I think that Pakistan's sovereignty has to be 
respected,' he said." 
 
"Forces Enter Matta And Kanju: ISPR" "Dawn" 05/18) 
 
"Security forces achieved significant successes in the Malakand 
operation and 25 militants were killed in clashes on Saturday night 
and Sunday, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.  An 
army officer also lost his life and seven security personnel, 
including an army officer, were injured." 
 
"Ulema Say Suicide Attacks Are Un-Islamic" "Dawn" (05/18) 
 
"Leading Ulema of the country declared on Sunday that suicide 
attacks and beheading of people were 'un-Islamic' acts and said that 
militants in Swat and Fata were pursuing the agenda of Pakistan's 
enemies.  The edict was issued at a convention of Ulema and Mashaikh 
from different parts of the country." 
 
"U.S. Provides $28 Million In Wheat And Oil For Internally Displaced 
Peoples (IPDs)" "The Frontier Post," "Jang" (05/16) 
 
"The people of the United States are providing $28 million in 
agricultural commodities including 50,000 metric tons of wheat 
valued at $16.8 million, and 6,800 metric tons of vegetable oil 
valued at $11.2 million for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 
The U.S. Embassy said in a statement on Friday." 
 
"Relief Camps Running Shortage Of Facilities" "The Frontier Post" 
(05/18) 
 
"The fresh influx of displaced persons from military-action-affected 
areas of Malakand Division has forced the Provincial Government to 
seek further aid from Federal Government and other donor agencies as 
it has become out of its reach to accommodate more and more IDPs in 
the province." 
 
"IDPs Number Can Cross 2.5 Million" "The News" (05/18) 
 
"The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Buner, Swat 
and Dir Lower districts has reached nearly two million and could 
exceed 2.5 million, feared NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar 
Hussain on Sunday." 
 
"Displaced Persons Block Road, Seek Relief" "Dawn" (05/18) 
 
"Hundreds of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the 
conflict-hit Malakand region blocked the Grand Trunk Road for almost 
two hours on Saturday against slow pace of registration and 
non-availability of food packages." 
 
"Alarm Expressed Over Influx Of Refugees In Sindh" "Dawn" (05/18) 
 
"Expressing alarm over the influx of tens of thousands of Pakhtoons 
and Afghani people into Sindh following Swat operation, Jeay Sindh 
Qaumi Mahaz (Arisar) has announced that a shutter down strike will 
be observed throughout Sindh on May 25 against the settlement of 
outsiders." 
 
"Malik Asks People Of Secured Areas To Return Home" "Dawn" (05/18) 
 
"The military operation in Swat, Dir and Malakand will be taken 
through its logical end and can be extended to other troubled areas 
of the province and Federally Administered Tribal Areas to restore 
the government's writ.  This was stated by Interior Minister Rehman 
Malik at a press conference he in Mardan.  Mr. Malik said that over 
1,000 suspected militants had been killed in the Swat offensive so 
far and added that the number of displaced people stood at 1.1 
million.  He said that people belonging to the cleared areas could 
return to their homes, adding that they would be provided security 
and transport." 
 
"Lay Down Arms, Malik Asks Taliban" "The News" (05/18) 
 
"Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said the Taliban's eyes 
are on Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, but if we can make nuclear assets 
then we also know very well how to protect them.  He said the 
operation against militants will continue till flushing out of the 
last miscreant from Swat Valley and asked Taliban to lay down arms 
or prepare themselves for dire consequences." 
 
"Jets Bomb Militants' Hideouts in Upper Dir" "Dawn" (05/18) 
 
"Warplanes bombed Taliban hideouts in Upper Dir on Sunday when 
tribal elders failed to persuade the militants to leave the area. 
The bombing started at 4:30 p.m., targeting five villages in the 
district.  Several civilian areas were also hit, local people said." 
 
 
"43 Leaders To Help Formulate Anti-Terrorism Plan At APC" "Dawn" 
(05/18) 
 
"An All Parties Conference (APC) convened by Prime Minister Yousuf 
Raza Gilani will be held in Islamabad on Monday to devise a national 
strategy to eradicate the menace of terrorism and to garner support 
for the military action against the Taliban in Swat and other areas 
of Malakand.  The Prime Minister House has invited leaders of 43 
political parties, including those not represented in Parliament." 
 
"Taliban Come To Karachi For Medical Treatment And Rest" "Dawn" 
(05/18) 
 
"Taliban fighters seeking money, rest and refuge from U.S. missile 
strikes are turning up in increasing numbers in Karachi, according 
to militants, police officials and an intelligence memo." 
 
"Four Suspects arrested In Karachi" "Dawn" (05/18) 
 
"Police arrested four suspected militants belonging to Al Qaeda 
following a shootout in Model Colony on Sunday and seized a sizeable 
quantity of firearms and explosives." 
 
"Jamaat Asks Masses To Oppose Military Action" "The News" (05/18) 
 
"Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawar Hassan has urged the political 
forces, rights organizations and masses of the country to speak out 
against ongoing military operation in Malakand Division, as issues 
could not be resolved through use of force." 
 
"Sufi Seriously Ill: TNSM' "The News" (05/18) 
 
"TNSM chief Maulana Sufi Muhammad is seriously ill and currently 
receiving treatment, TNSM spokesman Ameer Izzat Khan told The News 
via telephone on Sunday." 
 
"Slain SSG Heroes Killed 8 Taliban" "The News" (05/18) 
 
"Family members of martyred Captain Najam Riaz have made a shocking 
disclosure about the alleged involvement of an important 
administrative official of Malakand in the killing of four SSG 
commandos at the hands of Taliban last week.  The heroic tale of 
brave commandos reveals how the valiant soldiers had broken the 
necks of eight Taliban, once they realized that they were about to 
be beheaded. The mother of Shaheed Captain Najam told 'The News.'" 
 
"NATO Planes Violate Pak Airspace" "The Nation" (05/18) 
 
"Two NATO jet fighters violated Pakistani airspace near Chaman, 
Pak-Afghanistan bordering area on Sunday.  Sources said that the 
NATO jet fighters continued flights over bordering village for 
several minutes and then returned to the Afghan side.  Flying of 
these fighters jet sent a wave of panic among the people of 
bordering areas." 
 
"U.S. Decides To Deploy Troops At Pakistan-India Border" "Jang" 
(05/18) 
 
"The U.S. Administration in a very significant move has finalized a 
plan to deploy its troops at Pakistan-India border, consequently the 
possibility of a fresh war in the sub-Continent cannot be ruled out. 
 Defense experts are expressing their serious concern on this state 
of affairs.  According to a report of the Press Bureau of India, 
following the victory of Congress in Indian elections, the U.S. 
Administration has started finalizing its plan to strengthen its 
military hold on sub-continent.  Initially, the U.S. administration 
has accomplished its preparations to extend its operation against 
Taliban.  A private news TV channel revealed quoting U.S. Special 
Envoy Richard Holbrooke that U.S. has informed New Delhi about the 
deployment of U.S. troops at Pakistan-India border.  According to 
the TV channel U.S. Senator John Kerry and Richard Lugar have told 
media that the U.S. troops would help Pakistan Army in war against 
Taliban." 
 
"U.S. Special Squad Killed Benazir" "The Nation" (05/18) 
 
"Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto was assassinated 
on the orders of the special death squad formed by former U.S. 
Vice-President Dick Cheney.  It was disclosed by reputed U.S. 
journalist Seymour Hersh while talking to an Arab TV in an 
interview." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"French Nuclear 'Offer'," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(05/18) 
 
"If France has now agreed on a deal as the one the U.S. has entered 
into with India, this amounts to a radical change in the 
international politics of nuclear proliferation that has a direct 
bearing on Pakistan.  It will be a diplomatic coup of sorts on Mr. 
Zardari's part if France as well as the Nuclear Suppliers' Group 
that has imposed an embargo on Islamabad actually agree to reverse 
their stance.  This will enhance Pakistan's nuclear credibility by 
indicating that it can be trusted." 
 
"French N-Deal Offer," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/18) 
 
"The French offer to transfer civilian nuclear technology to 
Pakistan is a positive sign.  This is a new and positive development 
if this decision is implemented during French President Nicolas 
Sarkozy's visit to Pakistan in September this year....  Now again it 
is the test of the French leadership not to bow before any pressure 
from any side against the transfer of civilian nuclear technology to 
Pakistan." 
 
"Nuclear Program - PM's Clear Assurance," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 150,000) (05/18) 
 
"Good to hear that the government and the army are well aware of the 
danger to our nuclear program.  Not only have both assured about the 
safety of our nuclear weapons, but the Prime Minister categorically 
said that no one will be given access to sensitive information.... 
The government should not shy from naming the enemies of our nuclear 
program, whether they are extremists or America and India.  The 
extremists may not have the capability to pose any threat to our 
nuclear arsenal.  However, America and India can conspire [against 
our nuclear assets]." 
 
"Pakistan's Nuclear Assets," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) 
(05/18) 
 
"Prime Minister Gilani in his policy statement on Pakistan's nuclear 
policy has finally accepted what we have been saying in our 
editorials that enemies of Pakistan are eyeing Pakistan's nuclear 
assets.  Prime Minister avoided naming the enemy of Pakistan, 
however his statement does not convince the people of Pakistan that 
the nuclear weapons are in safe hands. This is crystal clear to 
everyone that Pakistan's enemy number one is America who has 
strengthened India, and Israel.  America has not accepted Pakistan, 
a Muslim sQe, should have nuclear arsenal." 
 
"Ambassador To Pakistan's Economy," an op-ed by Maha Atal in the 
Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/18) 
 
"The strategy has four key components.  First, Patterson hopes to 
leverage the administration's decision to treat Afghanistan and 
Pakistan jointly to break new ground on intra-regional trade, 'to 
give the Pakistanis access to Central Asia and eventually to India. 
Secondly, Patterson is attempting to stimulate private investment in 
Pakistani businesses.  Thirdly, Ambassador Patterson has been 
travelling to U.S. cities with Pakistani business leaders to help 
them solicit investments from wealthy Americans.  Finally, to add an 
extra layer of security to those investments, Patterson is 
mobilizing the State Department's own funds in Pakistan to co-invest 
with local businesses, instead of funding development projects on 
their own." 
 
"Foreign Terrorists In Swat," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/18) 
 
"The Chief of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major-General 
Athar Abbas, said Friday that out of the 4,000 militants fighting 
under the banner of Taliban in the Swat-Malakand region, 400 were 
'foreigners' who had been infiltrated from countries bordering 
Afghanistan 'by foreign agencies.'...  Now that our army has 
unveiled the truth, one can trust the reports since two years ago 
that 'foreigner' Taliban were busy beheading people in Swat....  Al 
Qaeda straddles the Durand Line and has a stronghold foothold in the 
Khost province." 
 
"Refugees At Risk," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"Access to camps needs to be restricted; only legitimate 
representatives of groups which have been registered should be 
allowed in.  Camp authorities too need to be warned about the sex 
trade now said to be on, so they can be on the alert....  Every 
crisis, in one way or the other, exposes both the best and the worst 
of humankind.  This is being seen too at the camps.... " 
 
"This Is The Cost, The Nation Has To Pay," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/18) 
 
"It is essential that security may further be beefed up across the 
country as well as at the camps of the IDPs because the militants 
would now get their beard shaved off and try to melt with the 
displaced persons....  There are however fears among the IDPs that 
the militants shall not be routed entirely as many might mingle with 
the fleeing population and will return back with a greater vengeance 
and punish the people....  For this, people of the area will have to 
be motivated and persuaded to identify the suspicious persons so 
that the militants are not able to re-establish their hold in the 
area after tremendous sacrifices by the people and the security 
forces." 
 
"Politico-Economic Impact Of The Military Operation," an editorial 
in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" 
(cir. 25,000) (05/18) 
 
"Given the scale of the economic problems facing the country today, 
which forced Pakistan to go on a stringent International Monetary 
Fund program, there is a dearth of resources that can be 
realistically targeted to meet the emergent needs of the IDPs; thus, 
the international appeal by the President.  Be that as it may, on 
the domestic front camps have been set up but the consensus is that 
they are inadequate to meet the numbers that are streaming in from 
the troubled areas." 
 
"Friends Not Masters," an editorial in the Peshawar-based 
Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"There is no exaggeration if we say that whatever is going on in 
Pakistan right now, only the U.S. is to be blamed for.  The day 
Pakistan decided to discard Taliban, it was entrapped in enormous 
problems.   If the U.S. leaves Afghanistan, there is a possibility 
that things will improve gradually.  However, if it decides to stay 
there, then it should act like a true friend of Pakistan." 
 
"Drones Attacks: U.S. Adds Fuel To Fire," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/18) 
 
"Defence analysts here believe that the United States wanted 
militants to remain engaged in fighting with Pakistan Army so that 
they are not only weakened but prevented from infiltrating into 
Afghanistan as American military feared heavy fighting by the 
resurgent Taliban during summer....  In our view U.S. appears to be 
unmindful of the ground realities and psyche of the tribal people 
and continuing with drone attacks which serve like adding fuel to 
the fire because these attacks instead of weakening the ranks and 
files of the Taliban are generating more sympathies and support for 
them." 
 
"Correcting The Focus," an op-ed by Imtiaz Gul in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(05/18) 
 
"Almost a dozen countries, the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Italy 
among them - have appointed special envoys to advise on how to steer 
Pakistan out of the woods.  The overriding objective is to protect 
Pakistan against radical gangs including those inspired by Al Qaeda 
or Mullah Omar.  They want Pakistan's security establishment to 
review its threat perception, as enunciated by President Barack 
Obama....  As a quid pro quo, the club of special envoys needs to 
reassure Pakistan about its external security by 'neutralizing' the 
threat from the east.  This requires the U.S. to display greater 
transparency and fairness in its diplomatic exchanges with Pakistan. 
It must also allay Pakistani fears of an encirclement by the 
Indo-Afghan-American alliance.  Unless Washington can persuade 
Islamabad that U.S. assistance to India is not a direct threat to 
Pakistan's strategic security and that it would stand by it in case 
of any ingress by India, it would be very difficult to get an 
India-centric Pakistani establishment to counter the long-term 
strategic threat i.e. the Al Qaeda-led radicalization that may soon 
become unmanageable." 
 
"IDPs" A Test Case," an op-ed by Syed Irfan Ashraf & Fazullah Jan in 
the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily 
"Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"If the IDPs are disillusioned with the government machinery and the 
response of civil society, the ranks of the Taliban will be swelled. 
 They have lost everything but hope.  Lest this hope too is lost, no 
effort should be spared to mitigate their pain.  This is the only 
way the Taliban can be defeated in this area." 
 
"A Tall Order But Still Doable," an op-ed by Huma Yusuf in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"The last thing the Pakistan government needs is to eliminate the 
Taliban from the northern areas only to find that a new generation 
of militants has been recruited from amongst the IDPs.  That means, 
in addition to feeding, clothing and housing the IDPs, the 
government needs to devise ways of monitoring them without 
automatically criminalizing them.  What seems like a tall order is 
still doable, but only if Pakistan devises a clear strategy to 
manage the mass displacement, and sticks to it." 
 
"Zardari In Washington," an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"Hence this war is as much, if not more, a part of Pakistan's 
struggle for security as that of the U.S.  And, bearing in mind that 
there are no free lunches, then clearly if we wish to receive aid 
and ammunition, which we desperately do, we have to lump it and 
accept being viewed by some as a client state of the U.S.  Yes, of 
course, it is an unpleasant trade off.  And yes, it is one that we 
would not have had to make but for the disastrous policies and 
strategies of successive military dictators and weak civilian 
regimes." 
 
"Not A War For Apologists," an op-ed by Ahmed Quraishi in the 
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"Pakistan should stop being apologetic about maintaining contacts 
with some members of the Afghan Taliban, like Haqqani and others. 
We have interests in this region.  And these contacts do not amount 
to supporting 'terrorism.'  The Americans themselves are secretly in 
touch with the Afghan resistance.  The Afghan Taliban can help 
Pakistan in isolating the fake Pakistani Taliban.  If the Americans 
can't help protect the interest of their Pakistani ally, then 
Pakistan should step up.  The fainthearted in Islamabad need to step 
aside if they can't handle it." 
 
"Reassessing The Threat," an op-ed by Talat Masood in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"We have a reversed ideological blowback and Jihadi groups and the 
Taliban are both challenging the writ of the state.  In functioning 
as a security state we have lost our economic sovereignty and skewed 
national priorities.  Our dependence on the U.S., China and 
multilateral agencies has increased manifold.  Instead of ensuring 
the well-being and prosperity of our people we have promoted a 
nationalistic impulse that is self-consuming and breeding a culture 
of hatred and distrust." 
 
"Congress Victory And Pakistan," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/18) 
 
"By insisting less on the maxim of 'South Asia for South Asians,' 
India has gained special leverage in dealing with Pakistan whose 
economic survival now depends totally on the US and its allies. 
Letting the Americans become arbiters in the 'Af-Pak crisis' has 
taken India out of isolation as it deals with its neighbors. 
Pakistan will be under pressure to proceed against the terrorists it 
has acknowledged as being located on its soil even though its courts 
feel inclined to let them off. India will probably be willing to 
sign trade deals, but anything that Pakistan wants from India will 
be put on the back burner till Pakistan delivers on the Jihadis in 
addition to the Taliban." 
 
"A Decisive Vote," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/18) 
 
"Pakistan now needs to get its priorities clear. In the past we have 
heard President Asif Ali Zardari speak of a desire for closer ties 
with India.  The President must though realize that good intentions 
need to be coupled with careful ground laying and discussion, both 
at home and with the leadership in New Delhi.  Mere words otherwise 
mean nothing at all and can sometimes do more harm than good.  In 
the regional scenario that is now emerging, there will be 
considerable U.S. interest in better ties between Pakistan and 
India.  The indications of this are already coming in clearly. 
Islamabad must then see how it can best ensure its own interests are 
protected while accepting that it has much to gain from a reduction 
in tensions with New Delhi." 
 
"Manmohan Singh Should Resume Peace Talks With Pakistan," an 
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/18) 
 
"Pakistan's establishment knows that holding talks with Manmohan 
Singh would be easier then initiating them with a new leader. 
Manmohan Singh's reaction after Mumbai attacks was surprising, but 
politicians sometimes change there stance keeping in view the 
situation and he might have done the same.  The conditions have 
changed quite a bit and we expect that the Indian PM will adopt a 
positive approach in order to take steps to improve relations with 
Pakistan.  In the larger interest of the region India will have to 
restore peace dialogue with Pakistan." 
 
"Indian Lok Sabha Elections," an editorial in the center-right Urdu 
daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (05/18) 
 
"The Indian Lok Sabha election results brought a good message for 
India....  Manmohan Singh had reacted very cautiously over Mumbai 
attacks and did not utter a single word that could be termed 
aggressive.  Manmohan Singh's soft tone is to be praised, but the 
question is, can his soft words pave a way for resolution of Kashmir 
issue that is acceptable for the Kashmiris as well?" 
Patterson