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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001145 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 27, 2009 
 
Summary:  Supreme Court's judgment pronouncing former Prime Minister 
Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif eligible to contest 
election and hold public office dominated headlines in all 
newspapers on Wednesday.  All newspapers highlighted Prime 
Minister's statement declaring "Malakand division (Swat valley) a 
calamity-hit area."  President Zardari's remarks that he made while 
talking to the visiting delegation of the U.S. senators that 
"winning the hearts and minds of the IDPs was a critical component 
of the war against militancy, therefore, the international community 
 must step forward and assist Pakistan in this regard" received 
prominent display.  All newspapers reported that "ground forces, 
backed by tanks and helicopters moved into South Waziristan and 
after clashes with militants secured several key areas."  Several 
major newspapers reported that more "relief supplies for the 
displaced persons arrived from the United States," and that the 
"U.S. pledged $4 million for HEC (Higher Education Commission) 
financial aid program." 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on a variety of subjects including 
the Supreme Court's verdict on Sharif brothers' eligibility, IDPs' 
issue, North Korean nuclear tests, and Israel's decision to provide 
AWACS aircrafts to India and so forth.  The prestigious English 
daily, "Dawn," while describing the Supreme Court's verdict as 
"positive," also maintained that "there is no doubt that activities 
of politicians and public officials need to be scrutinized and the 
wrongdoers among them punished."  The Karachi-based, pro-Taliban 
Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam," termed the verdict as a "significant step 
to undo the dictatorial decisions of the Musharraf regime." 
However, the Lahore-based populist Urdu daily "Khabrain," 
editorialized that "this is not a good trend in politics that 
favorable verdicts are welcomed while allegations are hurled if the 
decisions are not favorable."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"From On-The-Run To In-The-Run; SC Allows Sharifs To Contest 
Elections" "The News" (05/27) 
 
 
"The Supreme Court on Tuesday declared former Prime Minister and 
PML-N Quaid Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his brother Mian Muhammad 
Shahbaz Sharif eligible to contest election and hold public office, 
quashing its earlier decision and also of the Lahore High Court, 
which had disqualified them." 
 
"Malakand Declared Calamity-Hit Area" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has declared the Malakand 
division a calamity-hit area and waived land revenue and other taxes 
on Tuesday." 
 
"President, PM Say Now It's World's Turn To 'Do More'" "The News" 
(05/27) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday said winning the hearts and 
minds of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) was a critical 
component of the war against militancy and, therefore, the 
international community must step forward and assist Pakistan in 
this regard.  He was talking to a delegation of the U.S. Senators, 
who called on him at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.  The delegation comprised 
Senators Thomas Carper, Mark Udall, Jeanne Shaheen, Kay R. Hagan and 
Mark Bagich.  The U.S. delegation also called on Prime Minister Syed 
Yousuf Raza Gilani separately at the Prime Minister House.  Talking 
to the U.S. Senators, Gilani expressed Pakistan's concern over the 
attitude of the international community towards the internally 
displaced persons as so far very little of the pledged assistance 
had been received." 
 
"U.S. To Help In Resumption Of Pak-India Dialogue: Senators" "Dawn" 
(05/27) 
 
"The United States would play a role in resumption of Pakistan-India 
composite dialogue for the resolution of all the outstanding issues 
between the two countries including the core issue of Kashmir.  This 
was stated by Senator Thomas Carper leader of the visiting U.S. 
Senate delegation during their meeting with Prime Minister Syed 
Yousuf Raza Gilani at the Prime Minister's House in Islamabad on 
Tuesday afternoon, says an official handout." 
"Nuclear Assets Are Safe: Gen. Tariq" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"Gen. Tariq Majid, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, has 
termed concerns over safety and security of Pakistan's nuclear 
assets unfounded.  Gen. Tariq was talking to a delegation of U.S. 
Senators, led by Thomas Carper, which called on him at the joint 
staff Headquarters." 
 
"Troops Clash With Militants In South Waziristan" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"Ground forces, backed by tanks and helicopters moved into South 
Waziristan on Tuesday and after clashes with militants secured 
several key areas and an important road.  Official sources said that 
six militants were killed and at least 12 others injured.  Three 
soldiers were injured in the clashes." 
 
"U.S. Provides Urgently Needed Air-Conditioned Tents, Electrical 
Generators To IDP Camps" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"More urgently needed U.S. relief supplies earmarked for those 
displaced by Pakistan's ongoing military operations against 
extremists was turned over to Pakistani officials at Chaklala Air 
Base near Islamabad on Tuesday.  The shipment of 50 air conditioning 
units, 25 power generators, and associated electrical distribution 
hardware will be sent to camps housing Internally Displaced Persons 
(IDPs)." 
 
U.S. Provides $4 Million To Expand Higher Education Financial Aid 
Programs In Pakistan" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"United States Agency for International Development (USAID) National 
Conference on Public-Private Partnerships for Higher Education 
launched USAID's Higher Education Commission Financial Aid 
Development (HEC-FAD) Program.  This $4 million program aims to 
expand and improve financial aid programs for higher education in 
Pakistan." 
 
"U.S. Sets Up Special Counter-Insurgency Fund" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"The Obama administration has established a special $400 million 
annual fund to help Pakistan fight extremists who Washington fears 
could threaten the entire region if not curbed.  The program, called 
the Pakistan Counter-insurgency Capabilities Fund, will provide the 
Pakistani military with equipment and training for 
counter-insurgency missions. " 
 
"Forces Capture Half Of Mingora; ISPR Says 29 Militants Killed in 24 
Hours" "The News" (05/27) 
 
"Security forces have gained control of half of Mingora city and 
killed 29 militants in various areas of Swat Valley during the last 
24 hours besides arresting 14 others, the Inter-Services Public 
Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Athar Abbas said on 
Tuesday." 
 
"Swat Operation Ahead Of Schedule" "Daily Times" (05/27) 
 
"Operation Rah-e-Rast is ahead of schedule and is forcing the 
Taliban to 'give up mentally and psychologically,' Peshawar Corps 
Commander Lt Gen Masood Aslam told 'Daily Times' on Tuesday, adding 
that more areas have yet to be cleared before declaring an end to 
the offensive." 
 
"Operation In Bajaur Imminent, Tribesmen Told" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"The administration of the Bajaur Agency has given six days to 
Mamond tribesmen to leave the area because of an imminent military 
operation for flushing out militants.  Political Agent Shafirullah 
Khan said that since tribal elders failed to dissuade Taliban from 
fighting security forces, the government was left with no other 
option but to launch a military operation." 
 
"Seven Militants Killed In SWA" "The News" (05/27) 
 
"The security forces on Tuesday launched a military operation 
against the Baitullah Mahsud-led militants in South Waziristan 
tribal region, reportedly killing seven militants, official and 
tribal sources told 'The News.'" 
 
"Was Fazlullah Taken Out in The Friday Night Bunker Hit?" "The News" 
(05/27) 
 
"Mystery surrounds the fate of a top-level Taliban occupant of a 
hilltop bunker in village Datta Khra, between the former Taliban 
stronghold of Kabal and Shamozai, which was completely destroyed in 
a gunship helicopter attack last Friday evening.  The possibility of 
Taliban commander Maulana Fazlullah being the prized casualty is not 
being ruled out by top military sources, but due to the sensitivity 
of the issue, no one is even willing to brook a guess." 
 
"Cracks Emerge In TTP Ranks" "The Nation" (05/27) 
 
"Pakistani Taliban led by South Waziristan based Baitullah Mehsud is 
no more a solidly unified entity as fissures and cracks are emerging 
in its ranks and files, an official with knowledge of ongoing 
developments in Swat said on Tuesday desiring not to be named.  He 
said that not only the TTP was experiencing differences in its ranks 
but its leader was also facing another serious problem with a tribal 
commander Qari Zainuddin challenging his absolute writ in the Mehsud 
area of South Waziristan." 
 
"20 Militants, Two Troops Die In Clash" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"Twenty militants and two security personnel were killed in a clash 
which followed an attack by militants on a checkpoint on Kalpani 
(Timergara) hills on late Monday night.  According to officials, the 
heavy exchange of fire continued for over two hours." 
 
"Three Cops, One Militant Killed In Haripur Encounter" "The News" 
(05/27) 
 
"Three cops and a suspected militant were killed and an assistant 
sub-inspector (ASI) sustained bullet wounds in a pre-dawn encounter 
with local and foreign militants in Malikyar village in Haripur on 
Tuesday." 
 
"10 Mahsud Aides Held" "The News" (05/27) 
 
"The Police Special Investigation Unit and Intelligence Agencies in 
a joint action arrested eight alleged accomplices of Taliban Supreme 
Commander Baitullah Mahsud in Karachi on Tuesday.  Sources disclosed 
that their 7 accomplices are still at large." 
 
"U.S. Jets Violate Pak Airspace" "The Nation" (05/27) 
 
"Fear and horror were triggered among the masses when America's jet 
fighters B-52 intruded into Pakistan's airspace from Afghanistan 
border, witnessed said.  The jet fighters travelled at low altitude 
in the bordering Meradin area, located some 35 Kilometers away from 
Miramshah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency." 
 
"126,000 Fleeing Conflict Zones Daily, Says UN" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"About 126,000 people are daily fleeing fighting in northwest 
Pakistan in one of the 'fastest major displacements' in recent 
years, the UN refugee agency said on Tuesday, said Ron Redmond, 
spokesman for the UNHCR." 
 
"N. Korea Fires Missiles After Nuclear Test" "Dawn" (05/27) 
 
"North Korea reportedly fired two short-range missiles on Tuesday, 
in a move set to heighten tensions after its latest nuclear weapons 
test drew global condemnation." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"A Positive Verdict," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/27) 
 
"There is a need for a transparent accountability process of 
politicians. Shutting the Sharifs out of politics while others with 
dubious pasts were allowed to run for office was wrong.  But there 
is no doubt that activities of politicians and public officials need 
to be scrutinized and the wrongdoers among them punished.  If those 
tasked with governing the country are themselves above the law, it 
makes a mockery of the idea of the rule of law." 
 
"Eligibility Of Sharif Brothers," an editorial in the Karachi-based, 
pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (05/27) 
 
"Supreme Court's verdict is a significant step to undo the 
dictatorial decisions of the Musharraf regime in the Pakistani 
politics.  Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif must be happy that they 
have directly benefited from their struggle for the independence of 
judiciary.  Time has come for Nawaz Sharif to play his pivotal role 
in the politics at this critical juncture." 
 
"Supreme Court Decision On The Sharif Brothers' Eligibility," an 
editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (05/27) 
 
"Mian Nawaz has reacted to the Supreme Court verdict in his favor by 
saying that the country is now heading in the right direction.  We 
feel that this is not a good trend in politics that favorable 
verdicts are welcomed while allegations are hurled if the decisions 
are not favorable.  This harms the democratic process." 
 
"North Korea's Nuclear Test," an editorial in the center-right Urdu 
daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (05/27) 
 
"Prudence demands that discriminatory attitude about nuclear 
capabilities [of different countries] should end and all the 
countries that have tested nuclear devices should be recognized as 
the nuclear powers....  Only then comes the planning to rid the 
globe of the nuclear weapons." 
 
"North Korean Test," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/27) 
 
"The double standards applied by the international community in the 
case of nuclear weapons need to change.  There can be no justice in 
permitting them to some while denying them to others.  Judging 
nations as 'good' or 'bad' will always be a game of subjectivity. 
The case of Israel demonstrates the truth in this.  The North Korean 
experiment is a reminder of this.  Atomic bombs are indeed 
dangerous. Perhaps a uniform policy aimed at ridding the world of 
the menace they present then needs to be applied to all nations, 
whether big or small, powerful or weak." 
 
"N. Korea's Nuclear Adventure," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(05/27) 
 
"What prompted North Korea, an impoverished and economically 
devastated country, to opt for its second nuclear test in less than 
three years?  It will find few supporters for its actions as its 
domestic compulsions and foreign policy goals do not really justify 
a costly nuclear program.  In fact, the latter works against it by 
vitiating the environment in the region and raising the suspicions 
of neighboring states...  Without clear indications on North Korea's 
part, the Obama administration has not been able to formulate a 
coherent North Korean policy." 
 
"Lessons From North Korea's Test," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/27) 
 
"As Mohamed ElBaradei, the outgoing Director General of the 
International Atomic Energy Agency, has made clear, the 
non-proliferation regime has to be made fair and the world has to be 
configured such that states do not consider that nuclear weapons 
potential can be the currency of power - or at least buy security 
against external aggression.  Mr. Obama talked about banning the 
bomb during his campaign.  He has also spoken about tightening the 
non-proliferation regime.  But as Mr. ElBaradei has said, neither 
can be done until the U.S. can take the lead and go for deep cuts 
before the 2010 NPT review conference.  Any move against offending 
states like North Korea must have the moral weight of manifest 
measures by the bigger powers." 
 
"N. Korea Does It Again," an editorial in the Islamabad-based 
rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (05/27) 
 
"International strategic experts are of the opinion that the 
objective of the test is to win the attention of the Obama 
administration to push the North Korea issue up the agenda....  The 
need is to build confidence among the weaker and small nations 
against the powerful ones who dictate terms and create instability 
through different means.  This hostile attitude by the neighbors and 
major players in the international arena forces the weaker ones to 
pursue for means for deterrence against aggression." 
 
"North Korean N-Tests," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (05/27) 
 
"North Korean action seems to have put the US in a rather awkward 
position, when it chooses to ignore a clandestinely nuclear Israel 
and is bent upon unraveling the NPT by providing India civilian use 
nuclear technology....  The NPT has lost its significance due to a 
unilateralist approach adopted by the US, especially after 9/11. 
The U.S. and its allies need to rethink their North Korea policy." 
 
"Provision Of AWACs To India And The Satanic Triumvirate," an 
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (05/27) 
 
"First AWACS plane from Israel has arrived in India....  Pakistan 
had been asking for AWACS since 1980s in order to protect its 
eastern border from possible Indian aggression.  Despite the fact 
that Democratic and Republicans admitted the services rendered by 
General Ziaul Haq and Musharraf, none of the parties accepted the 
two military dictators' requests....  The supply of the AWACS 
plane(s) has proved that in this region America only cares about 
India." 
 
"India Gets AWACS," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/27) 
 
"By spending so much, New Delhi on the one hand has ignored millions 
of poverty stricken Indians, and on the other, it intends fuelling a 
new arms race in the Subcontinent.  Pakistan under these 
circumstances cannot remain indifferent and would therefore be 
forced to take necessary steps.  Israel has always sided with New 
Delhi in its attempts to dominate Islamabad.  Its strategy to arm 
India with aircraft that are counted among the most sophisticated in 
the world poses a serious threat to Pakistan." 
 
"Induction of AWACS Into South Asia," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/27) 
 
"The sale of Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft worth $2.1 billion 
will take away the edge Pakistan had because of its acquisition of 
older generation P-3s from the United States.  All this should be a 
matter of concern to our policy makers, who must tell the United 
States and other countries that Pakistan will have no option but to 
upgrade its nuclear deterrence in the face of widening gap in 
conventional arms capability between Pakistan and India." 
 
"Taliban Under Pressure," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/27) 
 
"The operation in Swat has exposed the vulnerabilities of the 
Taliban elsewhere too.  Forced to mobilize on a big scale in South 
Waziristan, Mohmand and Orakzai, they have had to expose their Uzbek 
and Arab warriors to the Pakistan Army, resulting in their capture. 
Knowledge of their tactics by now should enable us to predict their 
behavior.  The Taliban will melt away.  They will begin recovering 
from the shock they have received from the Army.  The trend of 
kidnappings will become strong to fill the fast-emptying kitty of 
the Taliban warlord.  Funds will be sought from the Arabs in the 
Gulf who think that the Taliban are busy defeating the Americans in 
Pakistan.  And more weapons will be inducted into the region.  Now 
is the time to broaden and intensify the war against the Taliban and 
not give them time to regroup and come back again." 
 
"Military Might," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/27) 
 
"To keep up morale and ensure we can build a united front against 
militants, preventing any attempt at a future resurgence, a 
long-term recovery plan for Swat and other areas needs to be 
announced now.  The militant move to pull back from Mingora suggests 
they may be thinking of further action at some point later, after 
troop numbers have been reduced in the area.  This after all is a 
game they are experienced in.  Our best hope against such tactics is 
to ensure local people are ready to fight them off." 
 
"Assistance For IDPs And International Community's 
Responsibilities," an editorial in the leading mass circulation 
centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (05/27) 
 
"This is the biggest ever internal displacement in Pakistan.  No 
doubt, the federal government as well as the provincial 
administration along with other national and international 
organizations are leaving no stone unturned to provide assistance to 
the IDPs of Swat valley, but the problem is so enormous that the 
international community will have to come forward to lend a helping 
hand in these efforts." 
 
"Worrisome Dimensions Of IDPs Issue," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/27) 
 
"The Government and the international community are doing their best 
to provide them every comfort at camps set up close to their areas. 
There are apprehensions that IDPs are being misused by land and drug 
mafia that is taking them to different corners of the country in 
fulfillment of their nefarious designs.  This aspect should be 
looked into seriously." 
 
"Whose War Is This?," an editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing 
pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (05/27) 
 
"Prime Minister Gilani has declared that the war on terror is 
Pakistan's own war.  We would like to ask that if this war is ours, 
then whom we are fighting with?  Are we not fighting with our own 
Muslim brethrens?  More than 66 thousand expecting mothers have 
taken refuge in the IDPs camps.  Will Prime Minister tell us for 
whose survival this war is vital?  Pakistan has suffered more than 
anyone else in this American war, how can we call it as our war?" 
 
"Crises That Loom Beyond The Military Action," an op-ed by Shireen 
¶M. Mazari in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (05/27) 
 
"Coming back to the issue of religious extremism, one fallout of the 
military operation is going to be a dangerous coalescing of this 
brand of extremism with the political and economically marginalized 
segments of our society - the numbers now growing because of the 
manner in which the IDPs are being treated by the state and its 
various entities.  Unless there is a qualitative change in the 
state's approach to this issue of violent extremism, we are not 
going to rid ourselves of militancy - whatever label it is given." 
 
"What Next?," an op-ed Asad Munir in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/27) 
 
"The way Operation Rahe-e-Rast is being conducted, one can assume 
that within eight to ten weeks, may be earlier, the forces will 
flush out terrorists from Malakand.  The Taliban will resort to 
suicide bombing and other terrorist activities to pressurize the 
government, demoralize the public and divert army's efforts in other 
direction.  However, since all the segments of society have realized 
that the Taliban are a threat to the security of the country, the 
terrorists are likely to fail in their design." 
 
"How Many 'Bombs' Will Deter?," an op-ed Zubeida Mustafa in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/27) 
 
"As Pakistan plods on with its war in Malakand against the Taliban 
and struggles to cope with the hundreds of thousands who are being 
displaced, controversy over its nuclear arsenal would be the last 
thing it would ask for....  There is a need to reduce our excessive 
dependence on the United States which forces us in to a position of 
subservience allowing us little room for maneuver....  It must be 
remembered that if our dependence on the U.S. keeps growing and we 
cannot even mobilize our resources for the social sector, Pakistan 
will be reduced to being a banana republic." 
 
"Government Should Take Notice Of U.S. Violation Of Pakistani 
Airspace" an editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily 
"Din" (cir. 10,000) (05/27) 
 
"Let it be recalled here that U.S. helicopters violated Pakistani 
airspace early yesterday morning.  In this perspective, it was being 
expected that during their meetings with the U.S. Senators, the 
national leadership including the President, the PM and Mian Nawaz 
Sharif would raise this issue with them.  However, this did not 
happen.  It is our leaders' duty to repeat their protest on the 
drone strikes with each U.S. delegation that visits Pakistan, so 
that when these delegations return to the U.S., they can put 
pressure on administration officials and Pentagon." 
Patterson