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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001435 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JUNE 30, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports of about 18-hour power outage in several towns and 
cities across the country caused by a technical fault that triggered 
violent protests dominated headlines in all newspapers on Tuesday. 
All newspapers highlighted news that the Taliban miscreants from 
North Waziristan "scrapped" a peace deal they had signed with the 
government 16 months ago.  The security forces' claim to "have 
killed at least 13 militants in attacks on their hideouts in Khyber 
Agency" received prominent display.   Newspapers also highlighted 
the Pakistan Foreign Office's statement repudiating as 'malafide' 
some media reports, which claimed U.S. money was being used to 
secure Pakistan nukes.  Prime Minister Gilani's remarks that the 
"terrorists bearing head money would soon meet their nemesis" also 
received prominent coverage in all major newspapers.  Reports and 
photographs of jubilation in Iraq as the U.S. troops pulled out of 
Baghdad received extensive media coverage. 
 
Some major dailies ran in-depth analytical editorials on the 
national security situation including the sectarian clashes in the 
restive Kurram Agency, and others editorialized the Foreign Policy 
Journal's report that placed Pakistan on 10th in a list of 'failed 
states.'  The populist, often sensational national English daily 
"The News," wrote: "Indeed, while the government has essentially 
stood by and watched, twiddling its' thumbs, there has been what 
amounts to a genocide in Kurram - the only tribal agency that houses 
a significant non-Sunni population."  Commenting on the 'failed 
state' issue, the second-largest Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt," observed 
that "such pieces of information usually surface when Pakistan 
hesitates from accepting a new American aspiration....  We should 
ponder as to what America wants this time around."  However, the 
Lahore-based liberal English daily, "Daily Times," noted that that 
"if there is a hope quotient, Pakistan is more upbeat about survival 
than it was six months ago. That should count as something."  End 
Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Mangla Goes Off Grid, Power Deficit Up By 1,100MW" "Dawn" (06/30) 
 
"All control and power cables of Mangla Dam Power Station were burnt 
early on Monday morning, taking the dam off line and widening the 
power deficit by an incredible 1,100MW.  Up to 18-hour load shedding 
was reported from different urban and rural feeders of the country, 
triggering violent protests in Lahore, Gujranwala, Shuja Abad and 
Mianwali." 
 
"Taliban Scrap N. Waziristan Peace Deal" "Dawn," "The News" (06/30) 
 
"Clashes between security forces and militants intensified in North 
Waziristan on Monday and the Taliban scrapped a peace deal they had 
signed with the government 16 months ago.  Previously known as 
pro-government, militants, Taliban led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur in the 
troubled North Waziristan tribal region on Monday formally trashed 
the peace deal with the government in what they termed 'as a protest 
over U.S. Drone attacks.'" 
 
"13 Militants, Seven Civilians Killed In Khyber Blitz" "The News" 
(06/30) 
 
"Security forces on Monday claimed to have killed at least 13 
suspected militants in attacks on their hideouts in Bazaar Zakhakhel 
area of Landikotal, Khyber Agency, while seven members of a family 
were killed and four others injured when an artillery shell struck a 
Hujra in Sra Shaga area in Jamrud Tehsil, the FC sources claimed but 
without giving the names of the dead militants." 
 
"U.S. Money Not Being Used For Nuke Safety: FO" "Pakistan Observer" 
(06/30) 
 
"Pakistan has rejected as 'malafide' reports that U.S. money was 
being used to enhance safety and security of country's nuclear 
program, and categorically reiterated that its command and control 
systems were completely indigenous.  Foreign Office spokesman 
emphasized that Pakistan is fully capable of looking after the 
safety and security of its strategic assets itself." 
 
"Terrorists Carrying Head Money Will Meet Their Nemesis: PM" "Daily 
Times" (06/30) 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said that the 
terrorists bearing head money would soon meet their nemesis. 
Welcoming the family members of the father of the nation 
Quaid-e-Azam to the National Assembly, Gilani expressed the 
confidence that the ongoing military operation in Swat and Malakand 
would soon free the country of the scourge of terrorism.  Gilani 
said that the second and third tier of the militant leadership had 
been eliminated and those carrying head money would soon meet their 
nemesis." 
 
"Iraqis Celebrate As U.S. Troops Leave Baghdad" "Dawn" (06/30) 
 
"Invading U.S. troops pulled out of Baghdad on Monday, triggering 
jubilation among Iraqis hopeful that foreign military occupation is 
ending six years after the invasion to depose Saddam Hussain." 
 
"Zardari Praises Soldiers: Operation To Continue Till Militants 
Eliminated" "Dawn" (06/30) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday that the military 
operation in Malakand division would continue till the elimination 
of militants.  'Either the militants have to lay down arms, give up 
militancy and accept state's authority or they have to be 
exterminated.  Let there be no doubt or mistake about it,' said the 
President while addressing MNAs and Senators of the Pakistan 
People's Party." 
 
"Pullback From Eastern Border Ruled Out" "Dawn" (06/30) 
 
"Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira has ruled out the withdrawal 
of troops from the eastern border for deployment at the western 
border.  'We cannot and will not do it,' he said at a press briefing 
along with military spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas in Islamabad on 
Monday." 
 
"Army Facing Tough Choice After NWA Ambush" "The News" (06/30) 
 
"The Army high command is required to make a tough choice whether to 
extend its military operation from South Waziristan to North 
Waziristan following the provocative attack by the Taliban militants 
on a military convoy in North Waziristan's Madakhel area on Sunday 
despite the existence of a peace accord.  The priority for now is 
South Waziristan where the military campaign against the 
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) head Baitullah Mehsud is gaining 
momentum.  But the military cannot ignore the deadly ambush on the 
250-member convoy in which a significant number of soldiers were 
killed and injured.  A senior government official said such attacks 
could demoralize the troops if punitive measures aren't 
undertaken." 
 
"Dir Villagers Kill 2 Afghan Militants; 30 Houses of Militants, 
Supporters Torched" "The News" (06/30) 
 
"After days of hiatus in fighting, thousands of armed villagers in 
the mountainous Doog Darra area of Dir Upper district launched an 
intensified offensive against the holed up Taliban and killed two 
Afghan militants besides torching 30 houses of Taliban and their 
supporters in Shatkas and Bar Doog villages on Monday." 
 
"18 Injured In Buner Blast" "Dawn" (06/30) 
 
"A bomb blast in Swari bazaar (Buner) on Monday left at least 18 
people, including two policemen, injured.  According to officials, 
the timed device with five to eight kilograms of explosives had been 
placed on the roof of a traffic post at the College Chowk." 
 
"Fierce Clashes Kill 25 In Kurram Tribal Region" "Dawn" (06/30) 
 
"Clashes between rival groups continued in the Kurram tribal region 
on Sunday night leaving another 25 people dead.  Reports of fierce 
clashes have been received from Mangek, Makhzai, Jindari and Tangi 
areas of Lower Kurram where warring groups attacked each other with 
heavy weapons.  A senior official in Peshawar told 'Dawn' that 
violence subsided on Monday after security forces had dislodged 
armed men from two important positions." 
 
"8 Taliban Shot Dead In Swat" "The News" (06/30) 
 
"Security forces on Monday claimed to have killed eight militants in 
Khwazakhela area of the Swat Valley.  An Inter-Services Public 
Relations (ISPR) statement said security forces conducted a raid on 
a compound in Khwazakhela, killing eight militants.  Weapons and 
explosive devices were also recovered in the raid, it added." 
 
"2 Militants Killed In Darra Operation" "The News" (06/30) 
 
"The security forces on Monday claimed killing two militant during a 
search operation in Akhorwal area of Darra Adamkhel on Monday. 
Sources said the security forces, backed by gunship helicopter, 
launched a search operation following an exchange of gunfire with 
the militants in Akhorwal area and pounded the hideouts of the 
militants." 
 
"7 Terrorists Nabbed In Lahore, Explosives Seized" "The News" 
(06/30) 
 
"CIA police Lahore claimed to have arrested seven terrorists 
belonging to Jaish-e-Muhammad and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 
and recovered explosive material and illicit weapons from their 
custody." 
 
"Pakistan Starts Production Of JF-17 Thunder Jets Today" "Pakistan 
Observer," "The Post" (06/30) 
 
"Pakistan will formally start the serial production of JF-17 
'Thunder' warplane with collaboration of China from today (Tuesday) 
at Kamra. Pakistan and China signed an agreement for the production 
of 42 JF-17 fighters. Launching ceremony of JF-17 sub assemblies 
would be held at Pakistan Aeronautical complex Kamra today." 
 
"Iran Starts Recount Of Disputed Vote" "The Post" (06/30) 
 
"Iran's top election body on Monday began a partial recount of the 
fiercely-disputed presidential election but the move is unlikely to 
placate the opposition which is insisting on a new vote." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Kurram Clashes," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/30) 
 
"Indeed, while the government has essentially stood by and watched, 
twiddling its' thumbs, there has been what amounts to a genocide in 
Kurram - the only tribal agency that houses a significant non-Sunni 
population....  While the region has a long history of sectarian 
tensions, the recent increase in violence is attributed to the 
influence of the Taliban, and their orthodox, Sunni ideology.... 
The location of Kurram makes it strategically important as far as 
the wider fight against terrorism goes.  It is said that some key 
crossing points into Afghanistan, which have been used by militants, 
are located within it.  If the authorities are serious in their 
desire to clean up the northern areas and flush out the militants, 
now is the time to move in." 
 
"Kurram Agency Violence," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(06/30) 
 
"Unless tackled with all the seriousness the bloodletting demands, 
the situation in Kurram Agency could get out of hand and have wider 
repercussions.  More menacingly, the Taliban have made their deadly 
presence felt....  One can understand the government's reluctance to 
open another front at a time when Swat cannot be said to have been 
fully cleared of the Taliban and the operation in South Waziristan 
has just begun.  But given the people's misery, the government has 
no choice but to make its presence felt meaningfully and ensure 
peace." 
 
"Is Nuclear Pakistan A Failed State? Absolutely Not," an editorial 
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (06/30) 
 
"American magazine, Foreign Policy Journal has placed Pakistan at 
number 10 in the list of failed states....  The failed state mantra 
against Pakistan began when this Muslim state continued to move 
forward honorably despite American sanctions imposed under Pressler 
and Symington amendments.  And then in 1998 Pakistan proved its 
scientific and technical excellence by conducting nuclear tests.... 
Such pieces of information usually surface when Pakistan hesitates 
from accepting a new American aspiration....  We should ponder as to 
what America wants this time around." 
 
"The 'Failed State' Syndrome Again," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (06/30) 
 
"Looking from Pakistan, Al Qaeda seems to be ensconced inside 
Afghanistan, most probably in the province of Khost.  Looking from 
Afghanistan, it seems hiding somewhere in the Federally Administered 
Tribal Areas (FATA) although its operatives have been arrested from 
all the major cities of Pakistan in the past.  In the middle of 
these two observation points, it is safe to say that Al Qaeda is on 
the Pak-Afghan border even though the border is just a line and Al 
Qaeda can't stay perched on the line.  What is meant is that it 
could be anywhere in Pakistan and/or Afghanistan....  Joined at the 
hip with the Taliban, it extends the 'ungoverned space' far into the 
non-tribal areas....  But if there is a hope quotient, Pakistan is 
more upbeat about survival than it was six months ago.  That should 
count as something." 
 
"Pakistan A Failed State. Ridiculous," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (06/30) 
 
"A thorough analysis of the index prepared by the Foreign Policy 
Journal indicates that Pakistan is better off among 177 countries 
and the real purpose behind the report was arms twisting so as to 
make it dance at the tune of the Western countries.  It is 
ridiculous to describe a country as a failed State....  A failed 
State cannot be asked by others to extend support in fighting out 
terrorism....  It would be advisable for the so-called think-tanks 
or the journals preparing reports on different countries to be 
objective in their assessment rather than taking dictations from 
their financiers to target a particular country for the attainment 
of certain objectives." 
 
"The Issue Of Lobbying Firms And The Failed States List," an 
editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 
10,000) (06/30) 
 
"If we analyze the outcome of spending hundreds of thousands of 
dollars to lobbying firms, we will realize that the firms' 
performance is nil.  Pakistan's rating in the list of failed states 
shows that Pakistan's efforts in the war on terror, and economic 
planning, are being ignored by the U.S. and the international 
community.  In these circumstances, it is important not only to 
scrutinize funds being given to dubious lobbying firms and to end 
contracts with lobbying firms with below par performances, but to 
also take action against individuals who are filling up their 
pockets in the process." 
 
"Long Drawn-Out Battle," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/30) 
 
"What has been achieved in Swat is the downgrading of insurgency to 
the level of simple militancy.  The Army has pushed the militants 
out of the towns and cities of Swat, Buner, Malakand, and Upper and 
Lower Dir.  What it has failed to do is to nab the principal 
leaders.  What is more, avoiding a head-on clash with the Army, the 
TTP managed to save hundreds of its armed supporters who are now 
lying low waiting for a chance to regroup and strike back.... 
Baitullah Mehsud changed all that by physically eliminating the 
tribal elite and replacing them with local commanders loyal to him. 
The Army faces a hard task in the region where the TTP leadership 
reportedly enjoys the support of thousands of battle-hardened 
militants drawn from a number of countries, where they cannot hope 
to go back for fear of being imprisoned or hanged.  The foremost aim 
of the Army should be to deprive Baitullah Mehsud of his capacity to 
orchestrate terror attacks in the rest of the country." 
 
"Hard Fighting," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (06/30) 
 
"Fighting the Taliban in their heartlands - the Waziristan agencies 
- is going to be a very different matter to fighting them in Swat or 
Buner....  This is going to be no 'sweeping up' of a few 
raggle-taggle 'remnants'; this is going to be a hard-fought bitter 
battle against a force which is no less able, and perhaps better 
equipped, than our own....  The Prime Minister said last Sunday that 
the war against anti-state elements had entered its final phase and 
the military operation would be completed 'soon.'  'Soon' is a very 
elastic concept.  The general public on hearing 'soon' may 
reasonably think 'days and weeks' - whereas the reality is that the 
fight we are now engaged in is more likely to last many months, 
perhaps years, and in real terms may never - ever - have a defined 
ending.  Terrorism is going to continue in Pakistan - even if we 
'win' the war in the Waziristans - and elsewhere in the world as 
there always be those who wish to challenge the writ of the state by 
violent means." 
 
"Who Is Providing Modern Arms To Taliban?," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (06/30) 
 
"It has now been revealed to the world that the [local] Taliban 
fighting the Pakistani forces have the latest weapons, which are 
only possessed by the U.S. and NATO forces.  There is also evidence 
that the Taliban are being provided the latest weapons from 
Afghanistan. Analysts have also found proof that a large number of 
Indian and Israeli agents are present in the Tribal areas disguised 
as Taliban...  The need is to intensify the operation against 
militants so that the nation can breathe a sigh of relief because 
suicide attacks and bomb blasts by the militants have created unrest 
in the country." 
 
"Decisive Action Needed To Eliminate Terrorism," an editorial in 
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (06/30) 
 
"The U.S. administration must pay attention to the Army Chief's 
statement that the war on terror cannot produce desired results 
until the supply to Taliban from Afghanistan, as well as Taliban's 
cross-border infiltration into Pakistan is stopped.  Hence the U.S. 
needs to take positive measures to stop Taliban's movement into 
Pakistan [from the Afghan side]." 
 
"Window Of Consent," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(06/30) 
 
"Taking advantage of the window of consent provided by public 
backing for the anti-militancy campaign, the military has been 
ramping up the drive against Baitullah Mehsud in South 
Waziristan....  A more calibrated strategy now seems to be in play. 
This has involved holding back on an all-out ground assault to first 
concentrate on targeting the leaders of the TTP and gradually 
ratchet up pressure on the militants' redoubt, while trying to 
minimize the military's vulnerabilities in a challenging theatre of 
combat....  The aim of the new offensive is to isolate Baitullah 
Mehsud and deny space to him and his network to respond once the 
ground has been prepared for a decisive assault....  Neutralizing 
the TTP and its leader is described by the authorities as striking 
at the heart of the militant threat.  If successful, this blow could 
leave the militant network in disarray and lead to its possible 
disintegration, unleashing a domino effect across FATA and sending a 
powerful signal beyond." 
 
"Do These Lives Matter At All?," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in 
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (06/30) 
 
"Attacking weddings, funerals, caravans and weekly village fairs 
with its deadly arsenal of missiles and killing civilians isn't 
something new for the U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan.  In fact, 
this is a major reason for the rising sentiment against the U.S.-led 
foreign forces in the country....  The same practice that has made 
the Afghan war unwinnable for the U.S. is now being gradually 
extended to Pakistan.  On June 23, the funeral of a Pakistani 
Taliban commander, Khwaz Wali, in South Waziristan was attacked by 
the U.S. drones in the hope of getting someone important like 
Baitullah Mehsud.  Instead, up to 70 people, mostly non-combatants 
were killed and scores of others were injured....  The U.S. and its 
allies should have learnt their lessons in Afghanistan where the 
defeated Taliban have become resurgent primarily due to the growing 
animosity towards the presence of foreign forces.  Instead, they are 
repeating their mistakes in Pakistan's tribal areas and pushing the 
common people further into the arms of the militants.  And by not 
taking effective steps to make the U.S. realize its blundering 
mission in the region, the Pakistan government is making its own 
task of stabilizing its turbulent tribal borderlands even more 
difficult." 
 
"The Media-Savvy Taliban," an op-ed by Faizullah Jan in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (06/30) 
 
"One way to see the Taliban defeated is to deny them access to the 
media through which they threaten the terrified people.  As a tool 
of power, the media has the capacity to lionize or demonize 
characters, making non-entities into larger-than-life figures.  If 
shunned by the mass media many negative characters would lose their 
constituency.  The media should concentrate on the agonies of the 
people.  When people hear their voices and see their faces on the 
media they own it, which gives journalists and their organizations 
acceptability in society.  It is this acceptability that the mass 
media draws its strength from.  The role of the media is to give 
hope to the people, not to make them despair." 
 
"Suppressing Dissent," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (06/30) 
 
"As if suppressing public dissent against the disputed presidential 
election was not enough, the Iranian authorities further hurt the 
electorate by declaring the June 12 vote as the 'cleanest' the 
country has ever had....  It bears repeating that the Establishment 
should not remain oblivious to the people's democratic aspirations 
that became obvious from the countrywide protests coming on the 
heels of the official announcement of the election results.... 
Public is outraged.  It is an implicit rejection of the system where 
Parliament is subservient to the un-elected body of jurists and 
clerics." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson