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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001312 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 15, 2009 
 
Summary:  The government's order to launch a "decisive offensive 
against Baitullah Mehsud," chief of the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban 
Pakistan (TTP), and his allies in FATA dominated headlines in all 
newspapers on Monday.   Reports and photographs of a powerful 
explosion at a busy market in Dera Ismail Khan (NWFP) killing nine 
people also received front page coverage.  Newspapers reported that 
the "missiles from a drone killed at least three people in South 
Waziristan," however, a military spokesman "denied" the report and 
termed the occurrence as some "sort of explosion."  Several major 
dailies highlighted report that the "Air Force jets and helicopter 
gunships pounded suspected positions of militants in Bajaur Agency." 
 PM's Financial Advisor Shaukat Tarin's statement that the 
"government may seek $4 billion IMF loan in case of a delay in the 
arrival of funds pledged by the Friends of Pakistan forum" received 
prominent display in all newspapers. 
 
Most major Urdu dailies ran in-depth editorials on the federal 
budget for the financial year of 2009-10.  English language 
newspapers editorialized a host of other subjects including Iran's 
presidential elections, the ongoing military operation against 
Taliban militants and so forth.  Commenting on Ahmedinejad's 
triumph, the prestigious English daily, "Dawn," observed that he 
"now has a chance to draw confidence from his stunning victory, take 
steps to normalize relations with the West, especially America, and 
respond positively to Obama's overture to the Muslim world."  The 
Lahore-based liberal English daily, "Daily Times," observed that "if 
Iran tempers its policy or even if Mr. Ahmadinejad decides to tone 
down his aggressive rhetoric, it is important that the real ruler of 
Iran, Ayatollah Khamenai, is on board."  However, the second-largest 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt," continued its usual 
U.S.-bashing, and maintained that the "satanic trio of India, U.S. 
and Israel have hatched loathsome conspiracies to distract our 
military and government leaderships from Indian war mongering to a 
military operation against our own people, which is not the only 
solution to the problem of terrorism."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"'Decisive Offensive' Ordered Against Baitullah Mehsud" "Dawn" 
(06/15) 
 
"The government announced on Sunday that a 'decisive offensive' will 
be launched against Baitullah Mehsud, Chief of the banned 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), dismantle his network, and his 
associates, NWFP Governor Owais Ghani said at a press conference in 
Islamabad on Sunday night.  Governor Ghani said the army had been 
ordered to launch a crackdown on militants in the Federally 
Administered Tribal Areas.  'Details and the strategy of the 
operation will be decided by the army,' he said.  He said Baitullah 
was the root of the problem and suicide bombers were being trained 
by him.  He said it was the responsibility of every government to 
establish its writ, protect people's lives and property and maintain 
law and order." 
 
"Tribal Warlord Vows To Take On TTP Chief" "The Nation" (06/15) 
 
"A new militia leader has emerged in Pakistan to openly challenge 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan leader Baitullah Mehsud for the first time 
from within his own tribe, marking the start of a bloody 
confrontation in the wild Waziristan region that could have profound 
consequences for both Pakistan and the West.  In his first interview 
with Western news reporters, Qari Zainuddin vowed this week to wipe 
out Mehsud and rescue Pakistan from a reign of terror that has 
pushed the nuclear-armed U.S. ally toward collapse.  Zainuddin 
charged that Mehsud, who is the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, had 
betrayed both his Muslim religion and the Mehsud tribe of his native 
South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan." 
 
"9 Killed In D.I. Khan Blast" "The News" (06/15) 
 
"Nine people were killed and over 40 injured when a powerful 
explosion ripped through a busy market in Dera Ismail Khan on 
Sunday, Source said. The blast smashed the windowpanes of the nearby 
shops and houses, creating panic in the whole area." 
 
"Suspected U.S. Drone Kills Three In South Waziristan" "Dawn," "The 
News" (06/15) 
"A suspected U.S drone aircraft fired a missile at a vehicle 
carrying Taliban in Pakistan's South Waziristan region on Sunday, 
killing three militants, a tribal leader and an intelligence 
official said....  In a statement, however, a spokesman for the ISPR 
denied drone attack in South Waziristan Agency on Sunday.  He said 
it was some sort of explosion and not drone attack." 
 
"Militant Positions In Bajaur, Darra Adamkhel Hit" "Dawn" (06/15) 
 
"Air force jets and helicopter gunships pounded suspected positions 
of militants in Salarzai and Nawagai areas of Bajaur Agency on 
Sunday as the armed forces expanded their operation in the region. 
At least nine militants were killed and several others injured, 
officials said." 
 
"Govt. Seeks IMF Loan To Bridge Resource Gap" "Dawn" (06/15) 
 
"Pre-empting possible delays in external flows, Pakistan has asked 
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a $4 billion stand-by loan 
to finance the yawning budget gap in the year 2009-10 in case 
multilateral donors fail to release the pledged amount to Islamabad. 
 
'This facility is insurance, which can be used in case the 
assistance from the multilateral donors or friendly countries 
delayed or does not arrive,' Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance 
and Revenue Shaukat Tarin told newsmen in the post-budget press 
conference in Islamabad on Sunday." 
 
"Security Forces Continue Advance In FR Bannu" "Dawn" (06/15) 
 
"Security forces continued their advance on militant hideouts in the 
Janikhel area of Frontier Region of Bannu on Sunday. Curfew also 
remained imposed in Bannu city on the sixth day of the military 
operation." 
 
"Major Operation In Malakand Completed: Mukhtar" "Daily Times" 
(06/15) 
 
"The major military operation in Swat and other areas of Malakand 
division has been completed and only small, partial offensives are 
still being carried out, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar said in an 
interview with a private TV channel on Sunday. 
 
"Pakistan Showing Considerable Resolve: Gen. Petraeus" "Dawn" 
(06/15) 
 
"While the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated, Pakistan has 
demonstrated considerable resolve in fighting the extremists, says 
U.S.  Central Command Chief Gen. David Petraeus.  'In Pakistan, 
there is no question I think at this point that the Pakistanis see 
very clearly the existential threat that is posed to their country 
by the extremists,' Gen. Petraeus told a seminar in Washington." 
 
"Halt In Operation To Be Suicidal, ANP Warns" "The News" (06/15) 
 
"Awami National Party (ANP) is totally opposed to a let-up in the 
ongoing campaign to eliminate militants, warning any pause or laxity 
at this juncture could be suicidal for Pakistan as a nation, ANP,s 
Senior Vice-President Haji Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, during an informal 
chat with 'The News' said." 
 
"15 Suspects Held In Nowshera" "The News" (06/15) 
 
"Police and Elite Force in a joint search operation on Sunday 
arrested 15 suspected militants and as many proclaimed offenders, 
recovering huge quantities of arms and ammunitions from their 
possessions, district Police Officer (DPO) Abdullah Khan claimed." 
 
"Taliban Punish Family For Supporting Military" "The News" (06/15) 
 
"The militants caused almost Rupees 7 million loss to a family by 
torching their four houses and domestic goods in Behrain area of 
Swat Valley for their support to security forces." 
 
"Israel Accepts Limited, Unarmed Palestinian State" "The News" 
(06/15) 
 
"Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday endorsed for 
the first time the creation of a Palestinian state after weeks of 
pressure from Washington.  'If we have the guarantees on 
demilitarization and if the Palestinians recognize Israel as the 
state of the Jewish people, then we arrive at a solution based on a 
demilitarized Palestinian state alongside Israel," Netanyahu said 
during a key address on the Middle East peace process." 
 
"JI For End To Pro-U.S. Policies" "The Nation" (06/15) 
 
"Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Munawar Hassan on Sunday demanded of the 
government to revise its pro-U.S. foreign policy.  Addressing a 
press conference in Karachi, he said, 'peace cannot be established 
in Pakistan and Afghanistan without the withdrawal of American and 
NATO forces.'" 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Ahmadinejad's Triumph," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(06/15) 
 
"With Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stunning victory in Friday's election, 
the world looks to Iran with both hope and anxiety....  Ahmadinejad 
now has a chance to draw confidence from his stunning victory, take 
steps to normalize relations with the West, especially America, and 
respond positively to Obama's overtures to the Muslim world.  If he 
adopts a moderate course in domestic and foreign policies, tones 
down his rhetoric, liberalizes the domestic scene and pulls his 
country out of diplomatic isolation, Ahmadinejad will find that Iran 
can play a positive role in Middle Eastern affairs." 
 
"President Ahmadinejad Back In The Saddle," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (06/15) 
 
"For the outside world, however, the victory of Mr. Ahmadinejad was 
a foregone conclusion.  The Spiritual Leader, Ayatollah Khamenai, 
with all his overwhelming supra-parliamentary powers, was on his 
side, as were the dreaded moral police called basij. It must however 
be granted that the countryside loved Mr. Ahmadinejad and voted for 
him....  Perhaps it is just as well that Mr. Ahmadinejad will be in 
charge as Iran responds to the new policy posture that the U.S. and 
its Western allies are preparing in the region.  If Iran tempers its 
policy or even if Mr. Ahmadinejad decides to tone down his 
aggressive rhetoric, it is important that the real ruler of Iran, 
Ayatollah Khamenai, is on board." 
 
"U.S. Satisfaction Over Withdrawal Of Troops From The Indian 
Border," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (06/15) 
 
"American Central Command Chief General David Petraeus has said that 
Pakistan has redeployed its Indian border forces to the western 
border to fight terrorists....  The satanic trio of India, America 
and Israel have hatched loathsome conspiracies to distract our 
military and government leaderships from Indian war mongering to a 
military operation against our own people, which is not the only 
solution to the problem of terrorism....  The American satisfaction 
over redeployment of the forces to western border is obvious because 
this redeployment will fulfill the objectives of America and India." 
 
 
"Victory of Ahmadinejad," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) 
(06/15) 
 
"The victory of President Ahmadinejad in the latest Iranian 
presidential election partially could be credited to the Americans 
for their support to his challenger. President Ahmadinejad also 
benefited from his hard-hitting anti-Israel and anti-American 
rhetoric.  The U.S. was expecting success of his opponent Mr. 
Mousvi, but he could muster only 33 percent of Iranian votes. It is 
yet to be seen what impact this presidential election will leave on 
the international politics and on this region." 
 
"A Sweeping Win," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/15) 
 
"Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad retains presidency following general 
elections that brought a record 85 percent of eligible voters to the 
polling booths, signaling the continuation of current policies, much 
to the shock of the U.S. and other Western countries." 
 
"Cantonment In Swat," an editorial in the country's premier business 
newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (06/15) 
 
"Ordinarily, given our peculiar perspective on stationing forces 
where there are none before, the presidential decision would have 
invited some criticism.  But that is not the case for a cantonment 
in Swat where the people have seen with their own eyes innocent 
persons being branded as spies and are beheaded, or hanged from 
trees or flogged in full public view by barbaric forces let loose on 
innocent citizenry in the name of Islam.  What we have on our hands 
today is not a civil war that the people are divided and there 
should be a debate on the need and justification of pitching a 
garrison in Swat on a permanent basis.  It is a case of putting on 
ground a big, unassailable check-post to check the marauding hordes 
of mercenary forces.  And the sooner it is done the better it would 
be to help facilitate the early return of the IDPs." 
 
"Bannu - The Prelude?," an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/15) 
 
"There are at least two battles against the Taliban happening 
simultaneously, they are separate but at the same time 
interconnected.  Though we lack any form of independent verification 
of what the military spokespersons tell us, it does seem reasonable 
to infer from their statements that the battle on the ground is 
going the way of our armed forces....  The second battle is for 
'hearts and minds' and includes the propaganda war being fought on 
both sides.  Here, the battle is fought across a national arena with 
the shock-troops of the Taliban using the loudspeakers of local 
mosques to get their message across - and very effectively....  The 
competencies that the military are gaining are not matched by a 
similar learning curve among the politicians who are their nominal 
masters.  This incongruity in developmental terms makes the 
coordination of thought and action between the two entities 
difficult at best, and perennially dysfunctional - which brings us 
to the battle for Bannu....  We can win the battle for Bannu, and 
Waziristan if we want to; but bringing the competency gap between 
the two institutions fighting for national survival is another 
matter entirely.  The military has begun to find itself again; 
whilst civilian governance is still throwing its toys around the 
playpen." 
 
"Operation Now In South Waziristan After Swat," an editorial in 
Hyderabad based liberal and independent Sindhi daily "Ibrat" (cir. 
80,000) (06/15) 
 
"Had the Pakistan Army launched the offensive in Swat with a 
well-thought-out plan and proper intelligence information, the 
massive IDPs issue would have been avoided.  We believe this war 
against terrorism can be succeeded provided that the government 
takes the people of this country on board, as the civilian 
causalities can give a dangerous blow to this struggle." 
 
"Admission Of Innocent Killing," an editorial in the second-largest, 
center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(06/15) 
 
"Like many American officials, American Central Command Chief 
General David Petraeus has also admitted that innocent people are 
being killed in drone attacks....  Now that even General Petraeus 
has admitted and understood facts on innocent killing, what is 
hindering cessation of drone attacks...?  American authorities 
should now apologize from Pakistan and relatives of the innocent 
victims, pay them monetary compensation and take their war, which is 
not Pakistan's anyway, from our soil to some other place." 
 
"A Generation Lost," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (06/15) 
 
"The police claim that the 14-year-old from Landi Kotal, who was 
caught with an explosives-laden suicide jacket and a hand grenade, 
was trained in Afghanistan by the TTP....  Would-be aggressor though 
he may be, Sulaiman and countless others such as him are in fact 
victims.  When the state fails to provide the basic ingredients of a 
prosperous life, there is nothing to prevent a poverty-stricken, 
disillusioned citizenry from turning against it.  And those who feel 
abandoned by the state become ripe pickings for extremist or 
anarchic groups....  But Pakistan has managed to engineer the loss 
of a generation of its own children.  Having followed ill-conceived 
strategies from disastrous notions of 'jihad' to confused education 
policies, it has created a generation that moved steadily towards 
the far side of the ideological right - even when not directly 
assimilated by extremist elements....  For every one Sulaiman, there 
are thousands others who were indoctrinated with ultra-right-wing, 
and potentially terrorist, leanings." 
 
"Division Among Militants," an op-ed by Waqar Ahmed in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(06/15) 
 
"Some media reports have revealed intercepted conversation among the 
commanders of the militants, which shows that they have been 
completely demoralized in resisting the army.  High-ranking 
commanders of the insurgents are threatening their own fighters in 
desperation....  However, there are a number of reasons which have 
brought about a division among the militants.  The local people 
became fed up with the criminal activities of the Taliban like 
beheadings, kidnappings and especially their tactics of torturing 
innocent people....  The brutality of the Taliban was such that 
close to three million people fled their homes, choosing to stay in 
camps rather than under the Taliban.  As things stand now, the 
Taliban are no longer in a position to misuse and exploit Jihad in 
organizing the insurgents.  Unlike the militants, Pakistan's armed 
forces have been fully supported by the people of Pakistan." 
 
"The Cost Of War," an op-ed by Talat Masood in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/15) 
 
"There is no doubt that deciding to join the war on terror led to 
substantial flow of U.S. and international assistance from 
individual countries and donor agencies and did contribute for a 
while in bringing about macroeconomic stability and increased growth 
rates....  What is however seldom realized internationally or by 
domestic audience that the cost of war that Pakistan had to bear and 
continues to bear is many times more than the aid that it has 
received so far....  With expanding insurgency in tribal belt and 
increasing acts of terrorism in Pakistan the direct and indirect 
costs are growing exponentially....  Despite the huge cost of war 
the results until recently were not very encouraging...  The 
question on the mind of every one today is what is it we want to 
achieve in the end." 
 
"Words Need Action," an op-ed by Ayaz Ahmed Pirzada in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(06/15) 
 
"The Muslim world is now willing to listen to proposed solutions to 
the problems Mr. Obama mentioned, and the onus is on the United 
States to provide them.  Pakistanis did not have to scratch their 
heads to decipher as to what was for them in the speech.  There was 
none except reiteration of American aid package to Pakistan and 
bracketing it with Afghanistan in efforts to fight against 
terrorists." 
 
"The Storm Of Extremism And Fundamentalism In India," an editorial 
in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) 
(06/15) 
 
"According to reports in the western media, the trend towards 
extremism and fundamentalism in India is stronger than in 
Pakistan....  India is beset not only by caste and ethnic divisions, 
with separatist movements in several provinces, but is racked by 
atrocities against Muslims, Christians and low-caste Hindus. If 
these atrocities continue, it would be dangerous not only for the 
region but also the entire world." 
 
"A Balanced Budget In The Given Situation," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (06/15) 
 
"The Federal Budget for the fiscal year 2009-10 with a consolidated 
outlay of Rupees 2.89 trillion presented in very difficult economic 
situation appears to be a bold exercise on the part of the elected 
government to revive the economy with record allocations for the 
Public Sector Development Program, takes care of the poor segments 
of the society and aimed at generating resources to meet the 
expenditures....  Though the country is in the grip of despondency 
in the sake of the ongoing militancy and gloomy economic scenario, 
the budget represents the determination of the government that it 
has the ability to move ahead with a vision and sound planning and 
not ready to bog down." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson