VZCZCXRO5407
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #0885/01 1241117
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041117Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000885 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM 
REPORT, INDO-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL, PAKISTAN, PAKISTAN-U.S 
RELATION; NEW DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
STATE DEPARTMENT TERRORISM REPORT 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶1. "INCOMPLETE STUDY," editorial in the May 2 right-of- 
center Hindi daily DAINIK JAGRAN: "In its recent report 
on terrorism, the U.S. State Department has included 
India among the worst-hit countries in the world. But 
Pakistan does not figure in the list of countries whose 
governments support terrorism. This reflects America's 
double standards on terrorism; it avoids saying anything 
about the terrorists who target India." 
 
¶2. "U.S. ON TERRORISM," editorial in the May 2 right-of- 
center Hindi daily AMAR UJALA: "The U.S. has warned 
Pakistan if it does not take effective action against the 
Taliban, the U.S. will launch direct attacks in Pakistan 
to destroy terrorists. The problem is, instead of 
cracking down on terrorists on its soil, Pakistan sees 
India as a threat. Although the Obama Administration has 
reminded Pakistan of this folly, there are still many 
Pakistan sympathizers in the U.S. political system. Thus, 
it is a challenge for India to make the U.S. aware of the 
real situation. At the same time, we should accept the 
U.S. assessment that India's counter-terrorism efforts 
are outdated." 
 
---------------------- 
INDO-U.S. NUCLEAR DEAL 
---------------------- 
 
¶3. "NUCLEAR DEAL DID NOT BENEFIT INDIA" editorial in the 
May 4 Guwahati Assamese independent DAINIK JANASADHARAN. 
"India has benefited little from the much-hyped nuclear 
deal one hundred days after its signing.  In fact, 
surrendering India's independent nuclear policy (to the 
U.S.) seemed the only outcome of the pact... because 
America's traditional policy towards India has not 
changed much.  On the contrary, the Obama Administration 
is pressing India to support its policies for the sake of 
Afghanistan and Pakistan." 
 
-------- 
PAKISTAN 
-------- 
 
¶4. "TALIBAN OPPRESSION OF SIKHS IS NOT PAKISTAN'S 
DOMESTIC ISSUE, BUT A HUMAN RIGHTS MATTER" editorial in 
the May 4 Kolkata Urdu nationalist AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ. 
"The Jizya tax (tax levied for exemption from military 
duty) amount that the Taliban has demanded of the Sikh 
community in the Swat Valley is nothing but exhortation, 
and is entirely a tactic to blackmail. This has nothing 
to do with Shariah or Islamic jurisprudence, though the 
Taliban claims to do everything in the name of Islam. The 
 
NEW DELHI 00000885  002 OF 002 
 
 
oppression meted out to Sikhs by the Taliban is a 
Pakistani domestic issue, but it's also an international 
human rights question." 
 
¶5. "PAKISTAN AND JIZYA" editorial in the May 4 Kolkata 
Urdu centrist AZAD HIND.  "This is the first time we are 
hearing that the Taliban is demanding Jiziya from the 
Sikh community. It is clear that the Taliban is taking 
advantage of the weak Pakistani administration... but it's 
the U. S. that was behind the grooming of the Taliban." 
 
¶6. "TALIBAN'S ENTRY" editorial in the May 1 right-of- 
center Gujarati daily GUJARAT SAMACHAR.  "At a time when 
India is voting to elect a new government, neighboring 
nation Pakistan is being hounded by the Taliban, who are 
surging ahead in a bid to take control of Lahore, 
Islamabad and Rawalpindi.  Even America seems helpless, 
and caught in the cobweb of Pakistani politics. 
America's millions of dollars of aid to Pakistan to fight 
terror has gone down the drain, with Pakistan's rulers 
having done nothing to contain this menace... all in all, 
Pakistan is inching towards a failed state scenario." 
 
---------------------- 
PAKISTAN-U.S RELATIONS 
---------------------- 
 
¶7. "PAKISTAN & AMERICAN AID," editorial in the May 2 
right-of-center Urdu daily MUNSIF. "Despite the fact that 
Pakistan today is internally unstable and acts in a two- 
faced manner, it is still lucky enough to get American 
assistance. Even today, Pakistan is providing 
opportunities to the Taliban. President Obama is making 
all out efforts to get a bill passed by the congress that 
would pave the way for four hundred billion dollars to 
pour into Pakistan as part of extending military 
assistance. In addition, the president is in a way 
testifying that the Pakistani intelligence agency is not 
aiding and abetting the terrorists. The Pakistani action 
against the Taliban in Buner is likely to secure this 
largesse." 
BURLEIGH