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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000976 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: MAY 07, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports and photographs of President Zardari's U.S. visit 
dominated all front pages on Thursday and overshadowed reports of 
"fierce clashes and explosions in Swat valley and Malakand region" 
that resulted in killing of 98 people including 47 militants. 
President Obama's statement made during a joint press conference in 
the White House that "U.S. would continue support to the democratic 
government of Pakistan" received prominent display.  All newspapers 
highlighted the report that Secretary Clinton was "impressed with 
recent Pakistani military action against the Taliban."  Report on 
signing of a MOU by Pakistan and Afghanistan to initiate talks on a 
transit trade agreement was also highlighted.  All major dailies 
highlighted report that at least "22 militants were killed in a 
paramilitary force's raid" at a village in Buner. 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the brewing humanitarian crisis 
in Swat, military operation against Taliban and President Zardari's 
ongoing U.S. visit.  In its editorial titled, "Hot and Cold," the 
English newspaper, "The News," noted that President Obama's "praise 
for the military last week must after all be rooted somewhere; it 
couldn't have come entirely out of the blue, especially as Obama has 
a reputation as a man who thinks out every move well in advance." 
Likewise, the Peshawar-based Urdu daily, "Mashriq," observed that 
the "U.S. officials issue statements in line with their needs and 
interests, therefore contradictions and discrepancies have become a 
everyday routine in their comments."  Commenting on a Boston Globe 
report on Pakistan's nuclear surrender, the center-right national 
daily "The Nation" wrote: "There is no reason for us to open up on 
this highly sensitive issue before any foreign power and no one 
should ever be allowed to even discuss the possibility of our 
surrendering the most potent weapon of security."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"U.S. Stands By Pakistan Democratic Govt.: Obama" "The News" 
(05/07) 
 
"The United States would continue support to the democratic 
government of Pakistan, declared American President Barack Obama in 
Washington on Wednesday.  He was addressing a joint press conference 
with President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan president Hamid Karzai at 
the Grand Foyer Hall of the White House.  President Obama said his 
government is in touch with the Congress for the approval of 
economic assistance bill for Pakistan.  The U.S. President pledged 
that his country would play a role in bringing Pakistan out of its 
present economic crisis by extending economic help." 
 
"Clinton Impressed By Operation" "The News" (05/07) 
 
"Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton ways she is optimistic 
that Afghanistan and Pakistan will fight extremists, and she is 
impressed with recent Pakistani military action against the Taliban. 
 Clinton said, adding that there was 'resolve going forward' in the 
Islamabad government's struggle with the Taliban." 
 
"India To Get Afghan Transit Trade Route; Hillary Oversees Signing 
Of Accord" "Dawn" (05/07) 
 
"Pakistan and Afghanistan signed on Wednesday a memorandum of 
understanding to begin talks on a transit trade agreement which will 
ultimately allow India to use the Wagah-Khyber route for trade with 
Kabul.  The memorandum of understanding commits the two 'countries 
to achieving a trade transit agreement by the end of the year, which 
we believe will have great economic benefits for both peoples,' said 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who hosted the Afghan and 
Pakistani Presidents for the first round of the second trilateral 
talks." 
 
"Clinton Pays Tributes To Benazir, Haqqani" "The News" (05/07) 
 
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid rich tributes to Pakistan's 
former prime minister Benazir Bhutto at the State Department 
Wednesday on the occasion of the inaugural session of the trilateral 
strategic talks between Pakistan, the United States and 
Afghanistan." 
 
"President Urges Massive U.S. Support To Fight Insurgency" "The 
News" (05/07) 
"President Asif Ali Zardari has put across Pakistan's perspective on 
security issues with regard to counterinsurgency in the tribal areas 
and the overall fight against extremism when he met members of the 
House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington at the Capitol Hill." 
 
"Pakistan To Get Five Choppers From U.S.: Malik" "The News" (05/07) 
 
 
"The United States will soon provide five helicopters to Pakistan to 
deal with insurgents effectively, Interior Minister Rehman Malik 
told APP on Wednesday.  Senior U.S. officials conveyed the decision 
to the Interior Minister, saying Washington is prepared to help 
Pakistan in its fight against militants." 
 
"Fierce Gun-Battles In Swat, Malakand; 47 Militants, 15 Troops And 
36 Civilians Killed" "Dawn" (05/07) 
 
"Forty-seven militants, 15 security personnel and 36 non-combatants 
were killed and several others wounded on Wednesday in fierce 
clashes and explosions in the Swat valley and Malakand region. 
Sources said the militants still had control over Mingora town." 
 
"No Military Operation Under Way In Swat: Iftikhar" "The News" 
(05/07) 
 
"NWFP Minister for Information Mian Iftikhar Hussain Wednesday said 
no military operation was underway in the restive Swat valley and 
the security forces were only retaliating against the illegal 
activities of the militants." 
 
"Print Media Shuts Down In Swat" "Daily Times" (05/07) 
 
"The print media in Swat has shut down publication due to the 
deteriorating security situation, local journalists told 'Daily 
Times' on Wednesday." 
 
"22 Perish In Buner FC Raid; Four Bodies Recovered" The News" 
(05/07) 
 
"At least 22 militants were killed on Wednesday after the 
paramilitary forces raided a village in Buner, the force said in a 
statement.  The latest casualties in the Buner district came amid a 
military operation against the Taliban militants after they occupied 
police stations and started armed patrols." 
 
"'Spy' Beheaded In Buner" "Dawn" (05/07) 
 
"Militants beheaded a man on Wednesday after branding him a 'spy.' 
Sources said the man belonged to an influential family of Sultanwas. 
 This is the first incident of beheading in Buner district." 
 
"Upper Dir Tribes Refuse To Confront Taliban" "Dawn" (05/07) 
 
"The Sultankhel and Paindakhel tribes on Wednesday opposed the 
activities of Taliban and possible action by security forces in the 
district when the district administration sought their help in 
expelling militants from Upper Dir, but elders of both the tribes 
refused to take up arms against Taliban." 
 
"Peshawar Valley Hosts 0.7 Million IDPs" "The News" (05/07) 
 
"In the wake of ongoing clashes between security forces and 
militants in tribal areas and some districts of the NWFP, the 
Peshawar valley is hosting more than 0.7 million internally 
displaced persons (IDPs)." 
 
"15 Injured In D.I. Khan Mosque Bomb Blast" "The Nation" (05/07) 
 
"At least 17 people were wounded after unknown attackers threw a 
hand-grenade at a mosque on Wednesday in Dera Ismail Khan, troubled 
by sectarian violence, police said." 
 
"U.S. Legislator Questions Washington's Right To Bomb FATA" "Dawn" 
(05/07) 
 
"The House Foreign Affairs Committee of the U.S. Congress heard an 
unusual speech from a Republican lawmaker Ronald Ernest Paul, who 
described U.S. drone attacks as the bombing of a sovereign country 
and questioned America's right to do so.  'We are bombing a 
sovereign country.  Where do we get the authority to do that?  Did 
the Pakistani government give us written permission?  Did the 
Congress give us written permission to expand the war and start 
bombing in Pakistan?' asked the U.S. lawmaker." 
 
"Religious Parties To Agitate Against Taliban, U.S." "The News" 
(05/07) 
 
"About two dozen religious parties from the Barelvi school of 
thought have decided to launch a countrywide campaign to resist 
Talibanization, oppose the U.S. drone attacks and Washington's 
intervention.  They also decided to launch simultaneously 'Save 
Pakistan Campaign' in all the four provinces to counter the growing 
secessionist atmosphere in Balochistan and to create national 
harmony." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Hot And Cold," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/07) 
 
"President Obama's praise for the military last week must after all 
be rooted somewhere; it couldn't have come entirely out of the blue, 
especially as Obama has a reputation as a man who thinks out every 
move well in advance....  The developments in Washington are then 
somewhat disquieting.  What Pakistan does not need at this point is 
greater instability.  This of course would only benefit the 
militants who in the past too have taken advantage of the weaknesses 
of government....  There is a danger that somewhere along the line 
this may be lost sight of, adding to the complications we already 
face and which are reflected in the new, wary relationship unfolding 
with the U.S." 
 
"Views Of U.S. Officials And Contradiction," an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (05/07) 
 
"U.S. officials issue statements in line with their needs and 
interests, therefore contradictions and discrepancies have become a 
everyday routine in their comments.  U.S. policies with reference to 
Pakistan and the compliance of our rulers are unbearable for people 
of Pakistan, as they (Pakistani rulers) never established ties with 
U.S. on the basis of equality and mutual respect.  Perhaps, that is 
the reason that Americans always take Pakistan as their colony." 
 
"Nuclear Surrender?," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/07) 
 
"There is no reason for us to open up on this highly sensitive issue 
before any foreign power and no one should ever be allowed to even 
discuss the possibility of our surrendering the most potent weapon 
of security.  The U.S., which spared no stratagem it could think of 
to scuttle Pakistan's nuclear program while it was under way, finds 
it hard to stomach the reality that it tested the weapon 
successfully as a tit-for-tat to India....  Islamabad ought to be 
extra vigilant against any foreign designs to dispossess it of the 
nuclear stockpile.  There is no justification whatsoever for 
agreeing to engage the U.S. in discussions whose purpose of 
depriving us of these assets should not be hidden from our 
officials." 
 
"Condemnable Conspiracy To Eliminate Our Nuclear Technology; Is This 
The Agenda For President Zardari's U.S. Trip?," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 150,000) (05/07) 
 
"U.S. newspaper Boston Globe claimed in a report yesterday that the 
U.S. and Pakistan have started a dialogue for the protection of 
Pakistan's nuclear assets and elimination of enriched uranium. 
According to the report, based on accounts of two U.S. officials who 
have discussed this with Pakistani authorities, America has 
suggested that Pakistan send its nuclear material including enriched 
uranium to the U.S. in a ship where it will be destroyed.... 
President Zardari was urged to cancel his trip to the U.S. to 
protest the U.S. taunt of calling our civil government weak in 
comparison to the military.  But the President did not find it 
appropriate to cancel his foreign visit. There could be no greater 
tragedy for us if - as the Boston Globe has claimed -- the 
destruction of enriched uranium is part of President Zardari's 
agenda in the U.S." 
 
"Hostile Attitude Of U.S. Media Against Pakistan," an editorial in 
the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (05/07) 
 
"If we see in retrospect all the American media reports about 
Pakistan throughout the last two or three decades, we will find a 
commonality in those reports that those were full of hatred and 
ill-feeling against Pakistan.  It is an open secret that most of the 
American media outlets are directly or in some way involved in 
propaganda war of Zionist lobby.  And this Zionist lobby didn't 
digest the fact that Pakistan, a country with a frail economy has 
become a nuclear-powered state.  Now, they want to capture 
Pakistan's nukes in the garb of this propaganda.  But perhaps, they 
don't know that if the people of Pakistan can develop their nuclear 
capabilities, they are quite capable to jealously guard their 
nuclear assets too." 
 
"President Zardari's Difficult Trip To The U.S.," an editorial in 
the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (05/07) 
 
"The presentation of the Kerry-Lugar Bill in the Senate is 
encouraging in that it reflects the U.S. intent of strengthening 
long-term ties with Pakistan.  This is a step in the right 
direction. This bill is a clear demonstration of U.S. commitment to 
strengthen the civilian government and to improve the lives of 
ordinary Pakistanis.... " 
 
"Pakistan Gets Sucked In Trouble," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (05/07) 
 
"The emerging dreaded situation in Swat is a matter of grave concern 
to every patriotic Pakistani....  Attacks on and occupation of the 
symbols of governance is obviously unacceptable and could lead to 
large-scale hostilities for an indefinite period.  That is what our 
friends in the United States wanted and alas they have succeeded in 
their nefarious designs." 
 
"Swat's Story," an editorial in the centrist national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/07) 
 
"The truth is the Taliban had never laid down their arms, had made 
sure they never relinquished control of Mingora and, as some 
intelligence reports suggest, may never have intended to accept the 
'accord' brokered by Sufi anyway.  It is obvious the militants do 
not fall under the aging TNSM leader's control any longer.  And even 
if we assume his intentions were good, those of the fighters crazed 
by power and a lust for blood were not.  So, Swat's sad story 
continues.  The government and the military must now work together 
to re-gain control over these areas and to ensure that those guilty 
of crime are not allowed to go scot free." 
 
"Victims Of Conflict," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (05/07) 
 
"The humanitarian crisis in the country's conflict zones is 
deepening by the day.  Caught in the crossfire between militants and 
security forces, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced 
to leave their homes.  This human tragedy, which was years in the 
making, has now reached critical proportions....  Anti-Taliban 
sentiments may prove to be short-lived if the state does not look 
after these new as well as older refugees...  It is imperative the 
government does all that it can to provide the displaced with 
adequate shelter, food and other basic necessities. Our friends 
abroad too must be asked to pitch in on an emergency footing." 
 
"Shadow Of The Taliban," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(05/07) 
 
"While the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and its supporters constitute a 
direct challenge to the authority and resources commanded by the 
state, it is equally worrying that the extremist right-wing ideology 
they represent and the tactics they employ are casting a shadow that 
looms far beyond their strongholds....  The fact is that the Taliban 
have already extracted a heavy toll in terms of civil liberties and 
freedoms of citizens.  While the government and the security forces 
mull over methods to defeat the Taliban militarily, they would also 
do well to recall that the basic purpose of the state and its 
apparatus is to ensure the safety and personal freedoms of the 
citizens.  It may require years to neutralize the Taliban threat in 
this deeper sense." 
 
"Human Exodus And War Against Taliban," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (05/07) 
 
"If the battle in Swat is to be won, Pakistan must be ready for the 
'refugee' problem....  Islamabad must not seek to brush the camps 
under the carpet but highlight them as a component of the war on 
terrorism.  The IDPs must not only be looked after well but be 
compensated for the financial losses they have endured so that that 
they are tempted to return, ensured of the repossession and 
reconstruction of the homes and businesses they have left behind." 
 
"Humanitarian Crisis," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (05/07) 
 
"With 1.1 million people thrown out of their homes and forced to 
live in uncertain conditions, this would constitute a humanitarian 
crisis of major magnitude.  The question is whether the NWFP 
government is able to handle it....  There is a need on the part of 
the federal government to make available sufficient funds to deal 
with the situation.  Before approaching international donors, it 
should launch an appeal for funds at home." 
 
"Swat: Need To Understand The Dangers," an editorial in liberal Urdu 
daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (05/07) 
 
"Whether it is Swat or the Taliban's rise, imperialist U.S. should 
not forget the historic reality that these creatures are its own 
creation.... Special Envoy Holbrooke has clearly said that the Swat 
deal should be considered over and that President Zardari was 
already against the deal.  Americans probably consider it a deal 
made on gunpoint.  An impression is being created that Pakistan made 
the deal from a position of weakness. Now that the Taliban have 
rejected the deal and are waging war, and the Nizam-i-Adl is under 
threat, the government should make it clear to the world that it 
will never compromise on its security and that the operation against 
terrorists will continue." 
 
"Swat, Malakand: Peaceful Citizens' Exodus," an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (05/07) 
 
"The nation should remember that the Taliban in Swat and other 
troubled areas are becoming a national security threat.  Perhaps 
there was no other option except military operation to deal with the 
emerging situation in these areas.  Maulana Sufi and his son-in-law 
Maulana Fazlullah have no control over the Taliban and they [the 
Taliban] are carrying out activities on their own. Only the army can 
now deal with this situation." 
 
"Taliban And Sharia," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (05/07) 
 
"The Taliban and the 'background phenomenon' of Al Qaeda base their 
worldview on their vision of Sharia without which they would 
virtually have no ideological locus standi.  They have meted out 
harsh punishments to the 'non-practicing' Muslims of Khyber Agency 
and elsewhere on the basis of Sharia...  The Taliban Sharia is 
disputed too....  The only thing different was Sufi Muhammad, and 
his family relationship with Fazlullah was actually symbolic of the 
relationship Al Qaeda has with the Muslim Ummah.  The ANP may have 
won the battle by exposing this relationship as a false one." 
 
"Signs Of Disquiet In Washington," an op-ed by Tariq Fatemi in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (05/07) 
 
"Washington's expressions of impatience and hints of nostalgia for 
the military regime will be counter-productive.  The Obama 
administration has to demonstrate faith in the democratic 
dispensation, for a multi-ethnic state, such as Pakistan, cannot but 
be a democracy, where all the constituent elements believe they are 
equal stakeholders.  True, our democracy has been messy but only a 
government enjoying legitimacy can create the national consensus 
essential to confronting the militants.  American threats and 
blandishments will only make matters worse." 
"A Letter From Pakistan/Princeton To President Obama," an op-ed by 
Sehar Tariq in the centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (05/07) 
 
"You (Obama) surround yourself with 'experts' on Pakistan but with 
no people who live amidst and understand this great mass of 
humanity. You talk to those who walk the corridors of influence in 
Washington but not those who form the real epicenters of power in 
Pakistan - its streets, its valleys and mountains.  You continue to 
engage with the political and military leadership but ignore those 
who are the real forces of change - representatives of civil 
society, journalists, lawyers, Islamic scholars and students.  The 
politicized epicenters of power are throbbing with people ready to 
resist the forces of extremism....  The people of Pakistan are ready 
to lock arms and battle this beast.  The question is whether you 
will stand by the people of Pakistan in this battle on their terms 
or choose the Af-Pak policy of no hope and no change.  You are 
either with us or against us - us the people - in whose veins the 
blood runs green not red!" 
 
"The Talibanization Of Minds," an op-ed by Kamila Hyat in the 
centrist national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (05/07) 
 
"There is a need to win back the hearts of people, to address their 
needs - otherwise there is a danger that the Taliban will succeed in 
winning over this space too.  They have indeed exploited the gap in 
wealth with immense dexterity in Swat and elsewhere, using 
desperate, impoverished people against feudal elements and linking 
this up with their warped religious ideology." 
Feierstein