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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001261 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 09, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports of continued clashes between the armed villagers 
and Taliban in Upper Dir district that resulted in killing of seven 
more militants dominated headlines in all major newspapers on 
Tuesday.  The ongoing spate of political violence in Karachi 
continued to garner media coverage.  Newspapers front-paged reports 
that "eight more people fell victim to target killing in the 
metropolis."  Army Chief General Kayani's statement directing 
"preparation of a workable plan for safe and secure return of the 
IDPs to their homes" received prominent display.  The prestigious 
English daily, "Dawn," highlighted a report that "militants have 
blown up a college, a high school and two bridges in Buner 
district." 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the recent violent clashes 
between two rival factions of MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) in 
Karachi.  However, some papers editorialized the villagers' revenge 
for a deadly mosque bombing.  The centrist national English daily 
"The News" observed that the "rising up of people against the 
Taliban could be an important development in this final leg of the 
struggle against them."  The Lahore-based liberal daily, "Daily 
Times," noted that the "consequences of last week's suicide-bombing 
of mosque in Upper Dir has unfolded in the shape of local 
retaliation."  Commenting on some disagreement on military 
offensive, the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" advised that the "opposition should come forward and 
convince the miscreants for talks. If they can't do that then let 
the Pakistan Army do its job."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Lashkar Tightens Noose Around Taliban; 7 More Killed As Clashes 
Continue In Dir Upper; Gen. Athar Urges People to Rise Up Against 
Militants" "The News" (06/09) 
 
"Seven more militants were killed and two Lashkar men injured, one 
of them seriously, during clashes between the Taliban and armed 
villagers in Doog Darra area of Dir Upper district on Monday. 
Locals said the encircled militants started putting up resistance on 
Monday and were using heavy weapons against the Lashkar.  But all 
the supply lines and escape routes have been closed by the armed 
villagers as they have been surrounded by all sides.  The action 
prompted the top military spokesman to urge Pakistanis to rise up 
against the militants wherever they are in the country." 
 
"Karachi Remains In Grip Of Violence; 8 Dead" "Dawn" (06/09) 
 
"At least eight more people, including four workers of the Mohajir 
Qaumi Movement-Haqiqi and an activist of the Muttahida Qaumi 
Movement, were killed on Monday in the ongoing spate of political 
violence that has gripped the city for the past three days." 
 
"Kayani Wants Plan Kayani Return Of For Safe IDPs" "Dawn" (06/09) 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has ordered 
preparation of a workable plan for safe and secure return of the 
internally displaced persons to their homes.  The Army Chief, who 
visited Mingora and other areas of Swat along with Chief of Air 
Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleyman on Monday, directed the 
General Officer Commanding to focus on return of IDPs in peace and 
security and prepare a contingency plan for the post-operational 
stage." 
 
"Taliban Blow Up Buner Bridges, School, College" "Dawn" (06/09) 
 
"Militants have reportedly blown up a government college, a 
government high school and two bridges in Buner district on Monday. 
Local people said militants were making a last-ditch attempt to halt 
the advance of troops by blocking roads and blowing up bridges." 
 
"Government fully Backing Lashkars: Iftikhar" "The Nation" (06/09) 
 
"NWFP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said on Monday that 
both the government and the security forces were extending full 
support to the local Lashkars against the militants in Dir and other 
restive parts of Malakand Division." 
 
"Taliban Take 100 TNSM Men Hostage" "Daily Times" (06/09) 
"The Taliban have taken 100 members of the Tehrik Nifaz 
Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM) hostage including the local chief from 
Mamond area of Bajaur, a private TV channel reported on Monday.  The 
channel said that differences between the Taliban and the TNSM had 
intensified, while on the other hand a group of Taliban had refused 
to fight the military." 
 
"TTP Chief Asked To Renounce Violence" "The News" (06/09) 
 
"Malik Turkistan Bhittani, an eminent commander of late Abdullah 
Mahsud's group, has warned tribal elders to refrain from extending 
any support to the banned Baitullah Mahsud-led Tehrik-e-Taliban 
Pakistan (TTP), which, he said, was involved in brutal activities in 
the region.  He was speaking at a Mahsud tribal Jirga in Tank on 
Monday." 
 
"Senators Lambaste Taliban For Defaming Islam" "The Nation" (06/09) 
 
"Senators on Monday continued lambasting Taliban for defaming Islam 
and asked the government to unearth those foreign elements which 
were sponsoring militants in tribal territories." 
 
"IDPs Show Antipathy Towards Taliban" "Dawn" (06/09) 
 
"As world's humanitarian concern for Pakistan's internally displaced 
persons grows, most IDPs express deep 'antipathy towards Taliban' 
but they also questioned the government's will to eliminate the 
militants, a U.S. magazine reported on Monday." 
 
"Holbrooke Pays Quiet Gulf Visit to 'Raise Funds For IDPs'" "Dawn" 
(06/09) 
 
"U.S. Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke 
is quietly touring the Gulf countries, raising funds for Pakistan to 
help it look after millions of people displaced because of its 
campaign against militants, according to diplomats." 
 
"CJ Iftikhar Met Holbrooke On FO Advice" "The News" (06/09) 
 
"The meeting of U.S. Special Envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan 
Richard Holbrooke with Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad 
Chaudhry was held following advice of the foreign office to the 
Supreme Court's registrar.  While the meeting led to many tongues 
wagging, with some drawing their own conclusions and raising 
questions that in cases stretch out to the limits of conspiracy 
theories, it was neither a one-on-one meeting between the two nor 
anything bypassing the government's foreign ministry." 
 
"Zardari For Unconditional Talks With India" "Dawn" (06/09) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari urged India on Monday to resume the 
process of composite dialogue 'unconditionally' to jointly address 
common problems, including terrorism.  Violence and militancy were 
no solution to political problems, the President said during a 
meeting with Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, the Executive Director of Kashmir 
Center in Washington." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Proactive Action," an editorial in the centrist national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/09) 
 
"In Dir, villagers, angered by the suicide bombing at a mosque that 
killed 33 people, have laid siege to Taliban strongholds and killed 
13 militants.  The clashes are evidence of growing hatred for the 
Taliban and the havoc they have created....  The rising up of people 
against the Taliban could be an important development in this final 
leg of the struggle against them....  They need to be encouraged as 
a means to challenge the militants and isolate them from people who 
they have, in the past, claimed to represent." 
 
"Dir Villagers Against Taliban," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (06/09) 
 
"The consequence of last week's suicide-bombing of a mosque in Upper 
Dir has unfolded in the shape of local retaliation....  There are 
three reasons for the turning of the popular tide.  One is the 
breakdown of the Swat accord with Maulana Sufi Muhammad and the 
other is the national consensus against the actions of the Taliban 
and in favor of military operations.  The third of course is the 
transformation of the media from a clearly pro-Taliban opinion 
factory to a balanced 'national' comment that tells the suffering 
people in the tribal areas in very clear terms that the Taliban are 
morally and legally wrong in what they are doing." 
 
"Swat: Opposition Leaders Should Come Forward For Political 
Solution," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right 
Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (06/09) 
 
"Many prominent opposition leaders have demanded a halt to military 
operation in Swat and asked for a political solution of the 
issue.... The opposition leaders have also asked America to leave 
the region, saying that America is the cause of all the 
lawlessness....  Opposition should come forward and convince the 
miscreants for talks.  If they can't do that then let the Pakistan 
Army do its job." 
 
"Swat Revived," an editorial in the centrist national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/09) 
 
"Pakistan has never fought a war like the one it fights now, nor had 
to plan for a post-war regeneration on this scale....  Already there 
are reports of residents discussing how to revive the tourism 
industry in Kalam....  Tourism may be the easier nut to crack - 
putting farms back on their feet and replacing lost livestock will 
be much harder....  Difficult it may be but not impossible, and the 
deep well of social capital within of Swati communities will help to 
sustain the process of post-war regeneration.  But social capital is 
not measured in hard cash - and hard cash they need.  Swat presented 
an overarching threat - it could again - but it may also be an 
unparalleled opportunity for the government and the people to remake 
the social contract." 
 
"Valiant Tribals Rise Against Militants," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (06/09) 
 
"After having been driven out of the main cities and towns of 
Malakand, the militants are on the run and desperate to find save 
havens in the far-flung and inaccessible mountainous areas of 
Malakand.  They used the suicide bomber to terrorize the people of 
Hayagay Sharqi but unlike other areas, the locals drawing 
inspirations and strength from the ongoing operation of the security 
forces in the neighboring areas decided to stand up and punish them 
which is a good omen as terrorism can only be defeated with the 
power of the people." 
 
"Where Is Good Governance?," an editorial in the leading mass 
circulation centrist Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (06/09) 
 
"Target killing once again continues in the country's largest city 
and industrial hub....  It is worth noting that following the Swat 
and Malakand operation the Karachi security was in a state of high 
alert with police and Rangers patrolling the city.  Such incidents 
in the presence of security personnel are a question mark for the 
rulers....  Karachi is confronted with grave law and order 
@1(Y5Qo9e7d7