VZCZCXRO1955
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #0952 1321124
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121124Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6541
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
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UNCLAS NEW DELHI 000952 
 
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: PAKISTAN/TALIBAN; 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. 
 
---------------- 
PAKISTAN/TALIBAN 
---------------- 
 
¶1. "PAKISTAN'S WAR A SHAM," editorial in May 11 
nationalist RASHTRIYA SAHARA Hindi daily: "Pakistan's 
rulers know very well that if U.S. aid is stopped even 
for a few months, the country could collapse. Zardari 
has, therefore, declared an open war against the 
Taliban to keep the U.S. in good humor... the U.S. may 
take Pakistan at its word, but India should not be 
fooled by this sham war." 
 
¶2. "DOG'S TAIL STAYS BENT," editorial in May 11 right- 
of-center VIR ARJUN Hindi daily: "Thanks to the U.S. 
pounding the message home, now Pakistan is saying that 
India is not a threat to it. But old mindsets are hard 
to change. Pakistan will always claim Kashmir; it is 
unlikely that there will be any change in their policy 
on that score." 
 
¶3. "ZARDARI SPEAKS" editorial in the May 12 left-of- 
center Marathi daily MAHARASHTRA TIMES. "There is 
nothing new in President Zardari's recent statement 
that India is not a threat to Pakistan. Zardari has 
made such statements in the past, but each time the 
statement was followed by a terrorist offensive from 
across the border. It is as if the terrorist outfits 
compete with each other to discredit the Pakistani 
President." 
 
¶4. "A PUPPET SHOW," editorial in the May 11 right-of- 
center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "The Taliban are not a 
cohesive force, nor do they have any area under their 
control. Thousands have been killed because of the 
relentless bombings in the region. It is left to be 
seen what the outcome of the combined U.S.-Pakistan 
strategy may be, but India cannot be a mute spectator 
to the killings. War could come to our door next. China 
and Russia have also been observing an unnerving 
silence over the entire episode." 
BURLEIGH