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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001093 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 20, 2009 
 
Summary:  Wednesday's Urdu and English newspapers differed in their 
choice of lead stories.  In the Urdu papers reports that the 
"security forces were locked in fierce street battles with the 
Taliban fighters in Swat" dominated headlines.  On the contrary, the 
Secretary Clinton's statement announcing "$110 million aid for IDPs" 
and the CIA Director Panetta's remarks that the "U.S. does not know 
the location of all of Pakistan's nuclear weapons" dominated front 
pages in major English newspapers.  Several major newspapers 
highlighted report of arrest of "five veiled Arabs in Mohmand 
Agency" (FATA).  A top UN official Khalikov's statement that 
"Pakistan was facing one of the world's worst displacement crises" 
received extensive coverage.  The English dailies, "Dawn," and 
"Daily Times," published Ambassador Patterson's letter repudiating 
the erroneous report published recently in some newspapers regarding 
the alleged "involvement" of the former Vice President Cheney in 
Benazir Bhutto's assassination.  Likewise, dailies "Dawn", "Daily 
Times," the Urdu daily, "Ausaf," also reported U.S. journalist 
Seymour Hersh's contradiction describing this news report as 
"complete madness." 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the outcome of the All Parties 
Conference recently held under the auspices of the government to 
gather backing for the military operation in Swat.  The prestigious 
English daily, "Dawn," observed that "with the overwhelming majority 
of parliament now behind the government's policy, the Pakistan Army 
now has a clear mandate to fight and defeat the militants."  The 
centrist national English daily "The News" noted that "it seems 
clear that all major parties in the country have recognized there is 
no choice but to battle militants with all the might we can muster." 
 Quite the opposite, the pro-Taliban Jihadi daily "Islam," 
criticized the state-controlled media for "giving an impression that 
all the parties extended support to the government for the military 
operation in Swat valley."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Street Battles Continue In Swat; 16 More Militants Killed" "The 
News" (05/20) 
 
"Security forces were locked in fierce street battles with the 
Taliban fighters in Swat Valley, the military said on Tuesday. 
Military officials said security forces were advancing on several 
fronts towards Mingora.  In the last 24 hours, 16 militants were 
also killed, the army said." 
 
"U.S. Pledges $110 Million For IDPs" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"The United States on Tuesday announced a $110 million relief 
package to help those displaced during the military operation in 
Swat and the adjacent valleys.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, 
who announced the package at a White House briefing, described it as 
a new U.S. initiative to support the Pakistani people, their 
government and the military in their fight against the terrorists." 
 
"U.S. Wronged Pakistan For 30 Years, Admits Hillary" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"The U.S. Secretary of State acknowledged on Tuesday that Washington 
had not been consistent in its dealings with Islamabad.  Talking to 
reporters at the Foreign Press Centre and the White House, Hillary 
Clinton said 'it is fair to say that our policy towards Pakistan 
over the last 30 years has been incoherent.  I don't know any other 
word.'" 
 
"U.S. Senate Fails To Debate Pak Assistance Bill" "The News" 
(05/20) 
 
"The hearing on the Aid for Pakistan Bill, as endorsed by Chairman 
U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations John Kerry, announced 
during President Asif Ali Zardari's recent 9-day visit to America, 
has not yet started in the Senate's Committee." 
 
"Location Of All Pakistan Nukes Not Known: CIA" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"CIA Director Leon Panetta has said the United States does not know 
the location of all of Pakistan's nuclear weapons but is confident 
they are secure.  Mr. Panetta spoke days after the top U.S. military 
officer told Congress there was evidence Pakistan was adding to its 
nuclear weapons systems and warheads.  Pakistan, however, denies 
this." 
 
"Five Veiled Arabs Arrested In Mohmand" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"At least 13 militants were killed in a clash with security forces 
following arrest of five burqa-clad (veiled) Arabs, one Afghan 
national and a local man in Mohmand Agency on Tuesday, an official 
spokesman said." 
 
"UN Calls It One of World's Worst displacement Crises" "Dawn" 
(05/20) 
 
"Pakistan was facing one of the world's worst displacement crises, 
with aid workers struggling to reach many of the two million people 
who had fled fighting, Rashid Khalikov, Director of the UN 
Humanitarian Office in New York said on Tuesday." 
 
"Hersh Denies Accusing 'Cheney Squad' Of Killing Benazir" "Dawn" 
(05/20) 
 
"American journalist Seymour Hersh has rejected news reports that 
quoted him as saying a 'special death squad' working under former 
U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney killed Benazir Bhutto, the 
award-winning journalist described as 'complete madness,' I have 
never said that I did have such information." 
 
"Nation United Against Militants, Says Zardari" "The News" (05/20) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari while reiterating Pakistan's commitment 
to fight militancy in the region on Tuesday said that the government 
would establish and maintain the writ of the state to ensure the 
supremacy of rule of law.  The entire nation is supporting the 
ongoing operation against the militants and wanted to flush out 
menace of terrorism from the areas to ensure peace." 
 
"Kayani Holds Talks With NATO Officials" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani briefed top NATO 
officers on Tuesday about the fighting in the Swat valley and 
adjoining districts.  The meeting discussed plans to deepen ties 
between NATO and Pakistan's armed forces by providing training for 
Pakistani officers in NATO training centers and reviewed the status 
of NATO's main supply route to landlocked Afghanistan, NATO 
spokesman James Appathurai said." 
 
"Gilani Says No To Self-Styled Islam" "The News" (05/20) 
 
"Seeking support of Ulema in the war against militants and 
terrorists, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said 
by challenging the writ of the state, the militants had left the 
government with no other option but to resort to the extreme measure 
of military action.  There is no room for extremism and terrorism in 
Islam and the government is committed to rooting out this scourge 
from the country with the help of the people." 
 
"Malakand Operation Endorsed By Ulema" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"Ulema belonging to different schools of thought endorsed on Tuesday 
the military operation in Malakand division.  Speaking at a 
conference on 'Protecting the country from threats of extremism and 
terrorism' organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, 
Islamabad, they vowed to combat militancy." 
 
"Troops Claim Clearing Most Of Sultanwas" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"The army has made progress in its campaign to secure Sultanwas and 
is confident that the Buner area will be cleared of militants on 
Wednesday, military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told 'Dawn' on 
Tuesday. 
 
"33 Uzbeks Produced Before Media" "The News" (05/20) 
 
"As many as 33 foreign suspected militants, including teenagers, 
were produced before media by the authorities in Kohat on Tuesday. 
The spokesman for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj. 
Shahid said the militants were arrested from various areas of Darra 
Adamkhel and Kohat." 
 
"13 Militants Killed, 5 Foreigners Held In Mohmand" "The News" 
(05/20) 
 
"Security forces on Tuesday claimed to have killed 13 militants and 
arrested five foreign combatants in a fierce gunfight near Khapakh 
check-post in Halimzai Tehsil in the restive Mohmand Agency." 
 
"TTP Commander Nabbed In IDPs Camp" "The News" (05/20) 
 
"A suspected Commander of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) was arrested from Jalozai Camp on Tuesday, an official told 
'The News,' adding the militant was residing in the camp along with 
other internally displaced persons (IDPs)." 
 
"Taliban Forcibly Recruit People Against Military" "Daily Times" 
(05/20) 
 
"A Taliban arrested from a Taliban training camp destroyed by 
security forces in Swat district's Matta tehsil has revealed that 
the Taliban forcibly recruit and train people to fight against the 
military, a private TV channel reported on Tuesday." 
 
"Mahsuds Fleeing Homes After Zardari's Statement" "The News" 
(05/20) 
 
"Mehsud tribesmen have started fleeing their areas after President 
Asif Zardari's statement about a possible operation in the South 
Waziristan Agency.  In a recent interview, President Zardari was 
quoted as saying that the Swat operation was just the start and the 
troops would now extend their offensive to Waziristan, tribal 
sources told 'The News.'" 
 
"NATO Oil Tankers Attacked" "Dawn" (05/20) 
 
"Two tankers supplying oil to NATO forces in Afghanistan were 
partially damaged when militants attacked them near Chengai Walikhel 
area on the main Pakistan-Afghanistan road on Tuesday." 
 
"ISI Engaged In 'Strategic Hedging,' Alleges Gates" "The News" 
(05/20) 
 
"Accusing the ISI of engaging in 'Strategic Hedging' and 'playing 
both sides' in Afghanistan, top Pentagon officials have said that 
getting rid of the Al Qaeda safe haven in Pakistan is the top 
priority of the U.S. to win the war against terrorism in the region, 
Gates told the CBS news responding to a question that parts of 
Pakistan's ISI was still supporting the Taliban in Afghanistan." 
 
"Photos Show Islamabad Expanding N-Sites: ISIS" "The Nation" 
(05/20) 
 
"Satellite photos released on Tuesday show Pakistan has expanded two 
sites crucial to its nuclear program as part of an effort to bolster 
the destructive power of its atomic arsenal, a U.S. Arms Control 
Institute claimed.  The commercial image reveals a major expansion 
of a chemical plant complex near Dera Ghazi Khan that produces 
uranium hexafluoride and uranium metal, materials used to produce 
nuclear weapons, asserted analysts at the Institute for Science and 
International Security (ISIS)." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Spurious And Vicious," a letter to the Editor by U.S. Ambassador 
Anne Patterson in the center-right national English daily "The 
Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/20) 
 
"Regarding your story 'U.S. Special Squad Killed Benazir' (The 
Nation, May 18), we take exception to allegations that the U.S. 
government had anything whatsoever to do with the tragic 
assassination of Pakistan's former Prime Minister, late Benazir 
Bhutto.  We have deep admiration for Ms. Bhutto and are offended and 
outraged that your newspaper would republish this especially 
repugnant brand of spurious and unsubstantiated rumor.  Regrettably, 
these baseless, sensational and third-hand allegations have been 
repackaged and republished without any responsible attempt at either 
verification or solicitation of comment from an official source of 
United States government....  Apart from the circuitous and obscure 
web of allegations in this story, the most troubling of all is the 
complete failure to provide an opportunity for the accused party, 
the United States government, to refute these claims." 
 
"A United Front," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/20) 
 
"So, with the overwhelming majority of parliament now behind the 
government's policy, the Pakistan Army now has a clear mandate to 
fight and defeat the militants.  Pakistan, it seems, may have 
finally turned the page on the militancy issue and at long last may 
have begun to present a unified national front against the 
militants.  If that is indeed the case, then it has been achieved 
not a moment too soon given the alarming rise of militancy in recent 
years.... " 
 
"APC Unanimity," an editorial in the centrist national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/20) 
 
"From the APC, it seems clear that all major parties in the country 
have recognized there is no choice but to battle militants with all 
the might we can muster....  The APC verdict will help achieve this 
with major political leaders making it clear there is no doubt in 
their minds as to what is needed and why....  But all the political 
parties, and the rest of us too, need to keep in mind that this may 
not be the final triumph.  A great deal will still need to be done 
to ensure the victory is a lasting one." 
 
"Concerns Of Political Parties On Swat Operation," an editorial in 
the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (04/22) 
 
"According to independent sources many important political parties 
including parties in the ruling coalition have criticized military 
operation in Swat, and the national policies of the government. But 
it is very regrettable that the state-run media has unfairly tried 
to give an impression that all the parties extended support to the 
government for the military operation in Swat valley.  Even the 
declaration of APC also demonstrated that there was no consensus on 
the issue of Swat operation." 
 
"Unanimity Against Militancy And Extremism," an editorial in the 
leading mass circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) 
(05/20) 
 
"After a long time, Pakistani nation heard a good news that the 
political leadership has expressed a view with unanimity.  All the 
political and religious parties supported the Swat military 
operation and urged the nation to extend cooperation to alleviate 
the miseries of the IDPs.   Now it is the responsibility of the 
politicians to inculcate political consciousness as it is the 
befitting answer to the growing extremism and fanaticism in the 
society. " 
 
"National Consensus On Operation," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (05/20) 
 
"The government must contact with all those parties and 
organizations that are against the military operation in Swat to 
understand their reservations and win their support, so that a 
complete national consensus and unanimity is developed on this issue 
as soon as possible." 
 
"Full Support," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/20) 
 
"The all-parties conference, in which 40-odd political parties 
participated, did not lend explicit support to the military action 
but the wording of the resolution it unanimously passed carries 
indirect approval.  The deletion of the clause, 'endorsed the role 
of armed forces of Pakistan in the present situation and grieved the 
Shahadat of personnel of these forces' from the original draft of 
the resolution indicates that the participants did not want to go on 
record backing an action that could have serious political 
implications for the country." 
 
"One Against Terrorism," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/20) 
 
"All the main political parties of the country, barring a few 
exceptions, have fully backed the government and the military in 
their efforts to eliminate the menace of terrorism.  That is very 
important in the context of the Swat operation and the pressure from 
the Western world, especially the U.S., to go the whole hog in the 
fight against extremism.  The APC gives the much-needed moral and 
political support to the government." 
 
"Political Leadership Too Supports Operation," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/20) 
 
"Monday's APC had more weight because it included parties and 
leadership outside Parliament as well.  It augurs well for the 
country that the leaders had a threadbare discussion on all issues 
of concern to the nation including IDPs, propaganda against nuclear 
assets, despicable drone attacks, arms twisting of the country, 
deployment of troops on eastern and western borders and conditions 
being attached to the proposed aid for the country.  However, all 
this would go waste if the Government did not take up these issues 
in right earnest with the foreign interlocutors." 
 
"APC: Better Late Than Never," an editorial in the country's premier 
business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (05/20) 
 
"The militants, in all probability, wanted to capture the state 
power through force, which cannot be allowed at any cost.  However, 
now that the operation has been launched, and the parliament's 
approval obtained, the government should take it to its logical 
end...." 
 
"Reading The Real Message Of APC," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/20) 
 
"The 'joint declaration' of the APC simply embodies the assent of 
all parties to the policy of 'reasserting the sovereignty and writ 
of the state on territories belonging to the state.'  But if you 
want a more emphatic backing of the military operation, it is not 
there; and if you want the political parties to take a stand against 
the Taliban by name, it is not there either.  Yet, if you count the 
numbers in parliament of the parties who have verbalized their 
support to military action and opposition to the Taliban, you have 
an overwhelming parliamentary majority....  Of course, the one item 
agenda helped in steering clear of problems." 
 
"The IDP Challenge," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/20) 
 
"The scale of displacement is massive: over 2.1 million people, 
according to the UN, and probably more.  The immense challenge of 
rescuing the bulk of these people from poverty and facilitating 
their return still lies ahead.  That will be possible only when the 
militancy problem has been resolved once and for all.  The IDPs 
choosing to return home must be offered whatever material or 
financial help can be given." 
 
"Undue Suspicion," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/20) 
 
"This will be considered another attempt at putting curbs on 
Pakistan's legitimate pursuit of nuclear power.  Last week, 
unnecessary apprehensions were expressed about Pakistan's capacity 
to safeguard its nuclear weapons.  It was being contended that the 
militants could take control of the warheads.  Now an equally 
irrational noise is being created about Pakistan's processing 
activities....  Pressure building tactics would create more trust 
deficit between the two, while just the opposite is the need of the 
hour." 
 
"Rehman Malik's Misplaced Fear," an editorial in the Islamabad-based 
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (05/20) 
 
"He (Malik) had made similar but irresponsible comments a few months 
back when he claimed that FATA Taliban were planning to carry out 
attacks in Washington and New York, endorsing U.S. propaganda and 
apprehensions.  One fails to understand what objective Mr. Malik has 
in his mind when he says that Taliban were eyeing our nuclear 
weapons.  Obviously, such statements serve the nefarious designs of 
our enemies, who want to create a scare about our nuclear assets and 
our ability to secure them.  One may say that Pakistan is perhaps 
the only country on this planet where even those who ought to be 
responsible persons come out with such ridiculous statements." 
 
"A War On Two Fronts," an op-ed by S.M. Naseem in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(05/20) 
 
"If military action continues for much longer, citizens will get 
weary and the refugees will get restless and may even succumb to the 
lure of the Taliban's agenda.  There is, therefore, the need to 
upscale and remove imperfections in the public relief effort, along 
with increasing the intensity of military action while keeping 
collateral damage to a minimum. Otherwise, the Taliban will gain 
ground as modern-day Robin Hoods." 
 
"Stop Romanticizing This War," an op-ed by Dr. Haider Mehdi in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(05/20) 
 
"The entire Pakistani leadership is doing exactly all of the three 
ceaselessly: it is waging a mindless war against its own people, it 
is alienating its own citizens in a losing battle for their hearts 
and minds, and its decayed cynicism is leading to separatist 
movements in Balochistan and the NWFP.  If this war continues, soon 
we will be doing 'ethnic cleansing' in Balochistan, Punjab, Sindh 
and the NWFP.  The strategy of 'romanticizing' this war is 
ill-conceived. It is about time that Pakistan's political 
establishment restores a sense of community to its nation which has 
been torn by a conflict that has been entirely the making of a 
foreign power and its allies." 
 
"Countering Militancy," an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/20) 
 
"Any counter extremism military action causes social disturbance and 
displaces the people in a large number.  Humane aspects need to be 
handled in a sophisticated manner.  Good care of IDPs would keep 
them detached from extremists; however if neglected, they could 
become sympathizers of militants....  Overall, state and people have 
to act in unison, compatibility and concord to generate requisite 
synergy for countering the menace of extremism and the ensuing 
militancy." 
 
"Of Lies, Media Spins And The U.S. Targeting Our Nukes," an op-ed by 
Shireen M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/20) 
 
"Seymour Hersh, in a conversation with this scribe recently from the 
UAE, hinted that compromises by our political leadership had already 
been made on the nuclear program.  But the U.S. also knows that as 
long as the Pakistan army remains a strong, cohesive organisation, 
our nukes cannot be accessed.  That is why we need to ensure that 
this institution does not fall prey to U.S. machinations, including 
getting bogged down in internal military operations that suffer the 
same fallout as has happened in all earlier operations in our 
history.  How much more do we need to go through before our leaders 
see that the threat from the U.S. is equally grave as that from the 
militants?" 
 
"Pak Security Forces Mean Business," an op-ed by Lt. Col. Zaheerul 
Hassan (R) in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan 
Observer" (cir. 5,000) (05/20) 
 
"I feel not any hesitation while saying that militants and their so 
called leaders are being sponsored and launched in FATA, Swat and 
other areas by RAW with the tenet support of CIA and Mossad.  The 
unrest of Baluchistan, Bajaur and political instability are directly 
linked with the present militancy of Swat.  The malevolent 
propaganda of Jews media is targeting Pakistan Military Forces, its 
agencies and nuclear assets to hit Pakistani solidarity since their 
masters knew that direct attack on our country is not possible." 
Patterson