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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: June 04, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports on the U.S. announcement of an "additional $200 
million aid for internally displaced persons" dominated headlines in 
all newspapers on Thursday. Ambassador Holbrooke's meeting with 
President Zardari and his joint press conference "expressing U.S. 
concern to Pakistan on internal refugees" received extensive 
coverage.  In an exclusive story, the English daily, "The News," 
quoted Ambassador Holbrooke as saying that "the release of Hafiz 
Saeed 'had puzzled the Americans.'"  Some major dailies ran official 
wire service (APP) story and attributed Ambassador Holbrooke as 
saying that the "U.S. would not let the Pakistanis down at this 
critical hour of their fight against militancy."  Reports and 
photographs of President Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia and his 
meeting with King Abdullah also received extensive front-page 
coverage.  Also, several newspapers reported that the "U.S. 
government accidentally posted on the internet a list of government 
and civilian nuclear facilities."  The English daily "Dawn," 
reported that the "U.S. strongly criticized the decision to release 
Jammatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed." 
 
The release of banned JD's chief Hafiz Saeed on a court order came 
under critical editorial comments.  Surprisingly, most major Urdu 
newspapers refrained from editorializing this issue.  The 
Lahore-based liberal English daily, "Daily Times," noted that 
"America and the West in general have simply recorded the event of 
his (Hafiz Saeed's) release but comment too will surely come by and 
by, which will be disadvantageous to Pakistan."  The centrist 
national English daily "The News," exclaimed that "one can only 
wonder why it has proved so difficult to nab a man who is accused of 
heading organizations involved in multiple terrorist attacks."  The 
prestigious English daily, "Dawn," opined that the "release of Hafiz 
Saeed raises many questions about the sincerity and efficacy of the 
state in quashing Jihadi networks that operate on its soil." 
Commenting on the subject, the popular rightist Urdu-language daily 
"Ausaf," noted that "it seems that Pakistan government and judiciary 
have settled on to make their decisions despite all international 
pressure."  End Summary. 
 
 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
"US To Give $200m More For IDPs" "The News" (06/04) 
 
"Special US envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on 
Wednesday said the United States administration is seeking an 
additional $200 million in emergency aid to help the internally 
displaced persons (IDPs) of Swat and Malakand.  Addressing a joint 
press conference with President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign 
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad, the US envoy said that 
President Obama sent our team to Pakistan to show our concern to the 
people of Pakistan and to the world, our concern for the internal 
refugees which number in millions." 
 
"Holbrooke Has A Full Blown Agenda TO Discuss" "The News" (06/04) 
 
"Replying to a question about the release of Hafiz Saeed, Ambassador 
Holbrooke said it had puzzled the Americans. 'It is a matter of 
concern but before I speak on it, I would like to talk to officials 
in Islamabad to find out what led to this action. My experience in 
public life is that you don't achieve any objective by announcing on 
TV what you discuss in meetings in rooms,' he added." 
 
"Obama Seeks Abdullah's Advice On Speech To Muslims" "The News" 
(06/04) 
 
"President Barack Obama praised the United States' long strategic 
relationship with Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and said his visit was 
to seek King Abdullah's advice before making his much-heralded 
speech to the Islamic world in Cairo. 'I thought it was very 
important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek his 
majesty's counsel and discuss with him many of the issues that we 
confront here in the Middle East,' Obama told reporters as he met 
with the king at a farm near Riyadh." 
 
"Americans See Muslims At War With US" "Daily Times" (06/04) 
 
"As President Barack Obama departed for a trip to the Middle Easton 
on Wednesday, a fresh poll suggests that only one in five Americans 
has a favorable view of Muslim countries. That compares with 46 
percent of the people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corp 
survey who say they have an unfavorable opinion of Muslim countries. 
That's up five percent from 2002." 
 
"U.S. Govt Posts Sensitive Material On Internet By Mistake" "Dawn" 
(06/04) 
 
"The government accidentally posted on the Internet a list of 
government and civilian nuclear facilities and their activities in 
the United States, but US officials said on Wednesday the posting 
included no information that compromised national security. 
The 266-page document was published on May 6 as a transmission from 
President Barack Obama to Congress." 
 
"JD Chief's Release Angers U.S." "Dawn" (06/04) 
 
"The United States on Wednesday strongly criticized the decision to 
release Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed.On Tuesday, the 
Lahore High Court ordered his release, causing immediate rebukes 
from major world capitals." 
 
"Dawa Chief's Release To Be Challenged: Punjab Govt" "Dawn" (06/04) 
 
 
"The Punjab government has decided to file an appeal against the 
Lahore High Court verdict ordering the release of Jamaatud Dawa 
chief Hafiz Mohammed Saeed, home department officials said on 
Wednesday.  They said the government counsel had been asked to file 
the appeal in a day or two." 
 
"U.S. Mily Advisor Terms Pakistan 'Lost Cause'" "The Nation" 
(06/04) 
 
"A top U.S. military advisor has said that Pakistan is a 'lost 
cause' and without wholesale change the country risks spiraling into 
lawlessness. David Kilcullen helped engineer the surge strategy that 
resulted in a record drop in violence in Iraq." 
 
"Kerry Seeks Quick Action To Help IDPs" "Dawn" (06/04) 
 
"Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry urged the US 
and Pakistani administrations on Wednesday to respond immediately to 
the deteriorating humanitarian situation among Pakistanis displaced 
by fighting in the Swat valley.  'The humanitarian crisis in Swat 
gets worse every day, which is why it's so critical that the 
government of Pakistan and the Obama administration undertake 
immediate joint relief operations modeled on our successful efforts 
following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake,' said the senator in a 
statement issued by his office." 
 
"Govt Told To Work For Early Return Of Dr. Aafia" "Dawn" (06/04) 
 
"The Islamabad High Court asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 
Wednesday to work for possible step for early repatriation of Dr 
Aafia Siddiqui and disposed of a petition on the matter. Justice 
Raja Saeed Akram Khan also asked Pakistan embassy in Washington to 
remain in contact with US officials to bring Dr Aafia back." 
 
"Army To Stay In Swat For A Year" "Daily Times" (06/04) 
 
"The military offensive to expel the Taliban from Swat could take 
another two months to complete, and troops may have to stay for a 
year to prevent the Taliban from retaking control, commanders said 
on Wednesday." 
 
"Seven Qaeda Commanders Enter Pakistan" "Daily Times" (06/04) 
 
"Seven trained commanders of Al Qaeda have reached Pakistan to 
create unrest across the country, with the terror outfit planning, 
in collaboration with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), to carry out 
attacks and target President Asif Ali Zardari and all four 
provincial chief ministers, Daily Times learnt on Wednesday." 
 
"India Alleges Violation Of LOC Truce" "Dawn" (06/04) 
 
"India has accused Pakistani troops of breaking the ceasefire along 
the Line of Control with light firing on Wednesday, and claimed it 
was the eighth such violation this year. The ceasefire was agreed in 
2003." 
E 
"India Keen On Normalizing Ties With Pakistan: Krishna" "The News" 
(06/04) 
 
"India said on Wednesday it was looking to normalize relations with 
Islamabad through diplomatic channels and was closely monitoring 
developments in Pakistan, a day after angrily reacting to the 
release of a militant leader." 
 
"Obama had planted the seeds of 'revenge and hatred,' Says Osama" 
"The News" (06/04) 
 
"Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden said US President Barack Obama had 
planted the seeds of 'revenge and hatred' towards the United States 
in the Muslim world and warned Americans to prepare for the 
consequences.  Bin Laden's remarks were aired on Wednesday by Al 
Jazeera television, one day after his deputy described Obama as a 
criminal and warned Muslims not to fall for his polished words." 
 
"US Asked To Explain Legal Basis For Drone Attack Deaths" "Dawn" 
(06/04) 
 
"A UN human rights expert on Wednesday called on the United States 
to disclose safeguards it has put in place to avoid civilian 
casualties during 'deeply troubling' air attacks by 
remote-controlled drones.  'Targeted killings carried out by drone 
attacks on the territory of other states are increasingly common and 
remain deeply troubling,' said Philip Alston, the UN special 
rapporteur on extrajudicial killings." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"L'affaire Hafiz Saeed," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . Mr Saeed has said some right things after his release, such 
as that he is opposed to suicide-bombing. But his statement that the 
army has gone into Swat under international pressure places him 
outside the national consensus against the Taliban. America and the 
West in general have simply recorded the event of his release but 
comment too will surely come by and by, which will be 
disadvantageous to Pakistan. It will certainly be more critical than 
the comment made on the release of Maulana Abdul Aziz of Lal 
Masjid." 
 
"Walking To Freedom," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . One can only wonder why it has proved so difficult to nab a 
man who is accused of heading organizations involved in multiple 
terrorist attacks. The Lashkar-e-Taiba, founded by Saeed in 1985, 
was linked to terrorist attacks in India in 2003 and 2005. The 
outfit was banned in 2002 and re-emerged as the JuD. It is of course 
quite possible that Indian accusations against it are wholly 
inaccurate, but then we must ask why two governments in Pakistan 
acted to ban it. They must, we assume, have had some evidence at 
hand when they did so." 
 
"Wanted: Better Laws," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
"The release of Hafiz Saeed raises many questions about the 
sincerity and efficacy of the state in quashing jihadi networks that 
operate on its soil. . . India is unhappy that Saeed and some of the 
others arrested in the aftermath of the attacks have been released. 
At the very least, their release sends a bad sign that the 
government here is perhaps not up to the task of prosecuting them 
even if evidence is adduced. The Pakistan government must urgently 
explain what it plans to do next, or else risk losing another 
opportunity for peace now that the elections have concluded in 
India." 
 
"Ray of Hope," an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language 
daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (06/04) 
 
"It seems that Pakistan government and judiciary have settled on to 
make their decisions despite all international pressure.  The 
release of Hafiz Saeed by the Lahore High Court demonstrates that 
judiciary in Pakistan is pronouncing judgments independently.  This 
is the moment that Pakistani nation has been waiting for the last 62 
years." 
 
"Hafiz Saeed's Release And Indian Reservations," an editorial in 
Lahore-based populist Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 10,000) (06/04) 
 
"The United Nations had sealed Hafiz Saeed's assets and put a ban on 
his travel yet the government went two steps beyond that and 
detained him - a step based on ill-intent... Religious, political 
and social circles are saying that Hafiz Saeed's release is a 
judicial decision that will not affect any country's interests. In 
this perspective, Indian reservations on the release are baseless 
and it is hurling allegations on the Jamaatud Dawa chief of having 
links with several terrorist outfits....  The Pakistani government 
must continue its operation against terrorism until the last 
miscreant is eliminated. However, there should be a distinction 
between terrorists and peaceful, patriotic individuals and 
organizations." 
 
"Pakistan And America," an op-ed by Brian Cloughley in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . Pakistan and America have different problems concerning 
terrorism. And one of the greatest problems is the arrogant 
presumption by Washington that Islamabad must do as it is told." 
 
"Indian Mischief: Talk Firmly With Holbrooke," an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (06/04) 
 
"Pakistan is fighting the war against terrorism initiated by America 
with Pakistani military and people giving sacrifices.  Pakistan 
leadership should not be apologetic while holding talks with 
American representatives.  American diplomats should be told about 
the mischief India is committing from the Afghan soil.  America 
should be asked to stop India from the mischief....  This is worth 
noting that bodies of Indian nationals have been found among the 
bodies of those killed by security forces in Malakand, Swat and 
adjoining areas." 
 
"Obama's Crucial Mideast Trip," an op-ed by Muhammad Ali Siddiqi in 
the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily 
"Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
". . .It is against such a background that President Barack Obama 
finds himself in the Middle East. He is scheduled to make his 
historic broadcast to "reach out" to the Muslim world today, and 
there is no doubt that a great deal of how the Arab-Islamic world 
will judge him depends upon what he says about the Arab-Israeli 
conflict, the fate of the Palestinian refugees, Israel's withdrawal 
from the occupied territories, the emergence of a sovereign 
Palestinian state and the final status of Jerusalem." 
 
"President Obama's Trip To The Middle East, And Expectations," an 
editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 
10,000) (06/04) 
 
"Israel and the U.S. are natural allies, yet the change in the 
leaders' tone at White House recently would have been unthinkable 
during George Bush's time. President Obama will have to take tough 
decisions if he is sincere about peace in the Mideast... 
Unconditional support for Israel has made U.S. the standard bearer 
of lies; President Obama needs to put words into action in order to 
change this identity." 
 
"Some Washington Reflections," an op-ed by Tariq Fatemi in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . Obama should avoid addressing governments and speak directly 
to the Muslim people, confirming his commitment to democracy and 
stressing his resolve not to appease rulers of authoritarian 
regimes. While he should avoid getting into the intricacies of 
regional problems, he has to hold out hope that the US will promote 
resolution of those conflicts and confrontations that afflict the 
Muslim world, whether they be Palestine, Kashmir or Chechnya, 
because they are the sad legacy of the humiliating colonial era. 
Finally, he has to reject forcefully the current vicious portrayal 
of Muslims and dispel the false association of Islam with 
terrorism." 
 
"War In Waziristan," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . Through their latest act of abduction, the militants have 
made it clear that we as a state have no option but to physically 
eliminate them. The fact that there seems to have been a realization 
of this at the GHQ and in government is to be welcomed. But it would 
be a mistake to believe the war can end in the north. The terrorists 
have rooted themselves in our cities; their presence can be 
perceived everywhere. There must therefore also be removed from 
these places and the centers their have established in Southern 
Punjab and other places closed down. Only then can we be assured our 
children are safe and that we do not need to live in daily dread of 
terrorists whisking them away, as happened to those returning home 
as they do each year for the summer break from Razmak." 
 
"Window Of Opportunity," an op-ed by Farhat Taj in the centrist 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . The people of Pakistan have two enemies--the Taliban and 
Talibanisation. To deal with the former is the job of our soldiers 
and policemen and to control the latter is the duty of the political 
parties, like the PPP, the ANP and even the PML-N. The soldiers and 
policemen are magnificently performing their job. They are giving up 
their lives every day to eliminate the Taliban evil. If the 
political parties did not perform their job, in the near future we 
will have the Taliban eliminated by our brave security forces, but 
the talibanization will loom large. I would request the leaderships 
of the PPP, ANP and PML-N to mobilize their grassroots-level workers 
to help the IDPs and do not leave the field open to the pro-Taliban 
religious parties and groups, who have by now mastered the "art" of 
exploiting human sufferings for the realization of their militant 
version of Islam." 
 
"Ostrich Nation," an op-ed by Fasih Zaka in the centrist national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/04) 
 
". . . Despite the major issue of the refugees that we seem woefully 
unprepared for, there is one part of the dialogue that has not been 
aggressively pursued. Like the US with Afghanistan and Iraq, we 
cannot cut and run. Whenever this army operation is over, life will 
not normalize. In fact if anything, it shall remain traumatized. The 
army may have to prepare to stay for a while in these areas in a 
civil-military dictatorship to ensure the complete flushing out of 
the Taliban and to resume all essential services. Otherwise this 
will be just a longer-run short-term solution if the operation is 
cut completely." 
 
"Resolution Of Kashmir Dispute Is Pakistan's Priority," an editorial 
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (06/04) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that durable peace 
cannot be established in the region sans resolution of the Kashmir 
dispute....   Addressing meeting of the Kashmir Council, he 
regretted that India has stalled the dialogue process on the pretext 
of Mumbai attacks....  We should press for the just resolution of 
the Kashmir issue in keeping with the UN resolutions instead of 
stressing on the need for composite dialogue with India.  Moreover, 
we should bring before the world media the evidence of Indian 
interference in our tribal areas and Swat." 
 
"International Peace: Solving Kashmir And Palestine Disputes Is 
Inevitable," an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 
25,000) (06/04) 
 
"U.S. is the sole superpower of the world and all international 
institutions including the UN are tools in its hands. In this 
scenario, most of the responsibility for resolving international 
disputes lies with the U.S. As far as lip service is concerned, 
every U.S. President stresses on the importance of resolving [the 
Kashmir and Palestine] conflicts, but when the time comes for 
action, the fear of India and Israel stops them in their tracks... 
It would be a great gift for the world if President Obama succeeds 
in resolving the Kashmir and Palestine issues during his presidency. 
It is undeniable that resolving these disputes is a prerequisite for 
peace in the world." 
 
Patterson