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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001552 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 10, 2009 
 
Summary:  All newspapers highlighted on Friday Prime Minister 
Gilani's statement that "Over three million people displaced from 
militancy-hit areas of Malakand would start returning home from July 
13."  Pegged to it were reports that "39 militants were killed when 
military planes bombed Taliban hideouts in Orakzai agency." 
Newspapers also gave prominent coverage to the statement of the 
Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, Admiral Paola, that 
"Pakistan's sovereignty must be respected."  In a Washington 
datelined story, the English daily, "Dawn," reported that "U.S. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is likely to visit Pakistan as 
well when she travels to South Asia next week."  Most major dailies 
gave prominent coverage to Ambassador Patterson's visit to the 
Jalozai IDPs camp near Peshawar. 
 
Local political developments dominated editorial themes in most 
newspapers.  However, some newspapers continued to comment on the 
ongoing military operation against militants.  The Urdu daily, 
"Express," wrote: "Military operation, eradication of terrorism and 
the return of IDPs are the steps that are appropriate, but American 
drone attacks are impacting the public opinion negatively....  There 
is no justification for American attacks, for our military is 
already uprooting the terrorists."  Another Urdu daily, "Khabrain," 
observed that "it is good news for the IDPs and the people of the 
country that the military operation that started on May 8 is about 
to end and the return of the IDPs is to start....  The question of 
the Taliban leadership whereabouts is yet to be answered and also 
about the whereabouts of the weapons and bodies of the Taliban who 
have been killed."  End summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"IDPs To Start Going Home From 13th" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani announced on Thursday that over 
three million people displaced from militancy-hit areas of Malakand 
would start returning home from July 13, while addressing a news 
conference in Islamabad." 
 
"39 Militants Killed In Orakzai" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"Thirty-nine militants were killed and eight injured when military 
planes bombed Taliban hideouts in Orakzai agency on Thursday. 
According to unconfirmed reports, about 14 camps of militants were 
destroyed in Starsam, Drogai and Behram Garh areas of Chappri Feroze 
Khel in the lower and Ghiljo in upper Orakzai agency." 
 
"Top NATO Official Stresses Respect For Sovereignty" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, 
said on Thursday that Pakistan's sovereignty must be respected and 
military operations in its territory should be carried out by its 
own forces, while addressing a news conference in Islamabad.  During 
meetings with Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, 
Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, Chief of the 
Naval Staff Admiral Noman Bashir and Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff 
Committee Gen. Tariq Majid, Admiral Paola discussed the military 
operation in parts of FATA and the NWFP and situation in Afghanistan 
and along the Pakistan-Afghan border." 
 
"NATO Not To Conquer Afghanistan: Giampaolo" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"Chairman of the Military Committee of North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola on Thursday said the 
NATO forces were not there in Afghanistan to conquer the country 
like Alexander the Great, while addressing a news conference in 
Islamabad." 
 
"Hillary Likely To Visit Pakistan" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is likely to visit Pakistan 
as well when she travels to South Asia next week for strategic talks 
with Indian leaders in New Delhi, diplomatic sources told 'Dawn.'" 
 
"U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson Visits Jalozai IDP Camp Complex" 
"Daily Times," "The Statesman," "The News," "Pakistan Observer," 
"Jang," "Aaj Kal," "Jinnah," "Al Akhbar" (07/10) 
 
"U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson on Thursday visited the Jalozai 
camp complex in Nowshera District where 120,000 internally displaced 
persons (IDPs) are currently receiving humanitarian relief from the 
United States channeled through both the Government of Pakistan and 
international non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  During her 
visit, Ambassador Patterson handed over the first of 22,000 plastic 
jerry cans and 5,000 school kits for the camp's internally displaced 
families." 
 
"U.S., EU Market Access To Help Lessen Poverty: Asif; U.K. Seeks 
World Support For Pakistan" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday said that Pakistan's economy 
had been bruised by the war against militancy and there was need for 
access of Pakistani products to the United States and the European 
Union market to help Pakistan meet the challenges of poverty and 
unemployment.  The President made these remarks during a meeting 
with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who called on him in 
Islamabad on Thursday." 
 
"Al-Qaeda Leaders In FATA, Claims Mullen" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen has 
said the Al Qaeda leadership resides in the FATA of Pakistan and the 
United States is determined to defeat them, Mullen said in his 
remarks at the National Press Club in Washington on Thursday." 
 
"Islamabad Urged To Concede Its 'Tacit Approval' Of Drone Attacks" 
"Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"The drone attacks are creating new tensions between Pakistan and 
the United States as U.S. lawmakers urge Islamabad to accept the 
responsibility for approving the strikes.  Senator Carl Levin, 
Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told a recent 
congressional hearing that the attacks would not take place if it 
were not for the tacit approval of Pakistan's leadership." 
 
"12 Militants Killed In Waziristan Air Attacks" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"Warplanes pounded suspected Taliban hideouts in four villages in 
Laddha and Kani Guram areas of South Waziristan, killed 12 suspected 
militants on Thursday." 
 
"Three Militants Killed In Bajaur" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"Security forces on Thursday claimed to have killed three militants 
and injured five others in the ongoing offensive in various areas of 
Bajaur Agency.  Sources said the paramilitary forces targeted 
suspected locations of the militants in Charmang area of Nawagai 
Tehsil with artillery and mortars." 
 
"110 Suspects Held, 25 Houses Razed" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"As many as 110 suspects were arrested and 25 houses of suspected 
militants were destroyed during a search operation by security 
forces in the Safi tehsil of the Mohmand Agency on Thursday." 
 
"Taliban Eye New Allies" "Daily Times" (07/10) 
 
"In the wake of renewed attacks by the Pakistan military and the 
United States, the Taliban and Al Qaeda might join Jandullah, a 
group that has staged attacks on Iran and strained Iranian-Pakistani 
relations, military specialists told Washington Times on Thursday." 
 
 
"Forces Kill Several Militants In Swat" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"Security forces on Thursday killed several militants and destroyed 
a number of their hideouts during an operation in Tiligram area of 
the restive Swat Valley.  Also, the Inter-Services Public Relations 
(ISPR) said the body of a Taliban commander for Sakhra, Omar Zada, 
who was killed on Wednesday, was recovered on Thursday." 
 
"Taliban Insist Fazlullah Is Alive And Well" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"Claiming that the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Swat chapter 
chief Maulana Fazlullah was alive and well, the Swat Taliban on 
Thursday played an audio-tape of his voice to reporters in support 
of their claim." 
 
"3 Foreign Airlines Stop Flying To Peshawar" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"At least three Gulf-based foreign airlines flying to the city 
diverted their flights to Islamabad during the last two days 
following the rocket attack on the Peshawar International Airport. 
Officials at the Peshawar airport confirmed the report and said 
these airlines had cited security reasons as the basis for their 
decision." 
 
"Pakistan's Nuclear Arsenal Has Adequate Protection: U.S. official" 
"Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"The U.S. administration is confident that Pakistan's nuclear 
arsenal is adequately protected from the Taliban and other extremist 
groups, said Paul Jones, U.S. deputy special envoy to Afghanistan 
and Pakistan.  Transcript released on Thursday, quoted Mr. Jones as 
telling a U.S. Senate Homeland Security subcommittee that the 
administration had no reason to believe that the militants were 
about to seize Pakistan's nuclear weapons." 
 
"Gilani to Meet Singh In Egypt: FO" "The News" (07/10) 
 
"The Foreign Office on Thursday confirmed the planned meeting 
between Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian 
counterpart Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of Non-Aligned Movement 
(NAM) Summit in Sharm El Sheikh next week with a hope to resume 
composite dialogue process between the two countries" 
 
"Diplomats Hopeful Of Summit 'Surprise'" "Dawn" (07/10) 
 
"Pakistan will hold talks with India on the sidelines of the 
Non-Aligned Movement summit in Egypt next week with an open mind, 
but without much hope of a major breakthrough.  'The situation is 
quite dicey ... signals from India are not particularly positive, 
diplomatic sources told 'Dawn' on Thursday.  Foreign secretaries of 
the two countries will meet on Tuesday (July 14), and their Prime 
Ministers the following day." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Completion Of Swat Operation And Rehabilitation Of IDPs," an 
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (07/10) 
 
"Military operation, eradication of terrorism and the return of IDPs 
are the steps that are appropriate, but American drone attacks are 
impacting the public opinion negatively.  As many as 50 people were 
killed in the drone attacks on Pak tribal areas the other day.  It 
is said that most of the targeted persons were extremists.  Even if 
all of them were extremists, there is no justification for American 
attacks, for our military is already uprooting the terrorists. 
America is creating problems for Pakistan and for itself by taking 
action on its own." 
 
"Rehabilitation Of IDPs: Government Should Take Necessary Steps," an 
editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (07/10) 
 
"It is good news for the IDPs and the people of the country that the 
military operation that started on May 8 is about to end and the 
return of the IDPs is to start....  The question of the Taliban 
leadership whereabouts is yet to be answered and also of the 
whereabouts of the weapons and bodies of the Taliban who have been 
killed.  There are some areas that were declared cleared, but 
security forces and the people were attacked in these very areas 
after the declaration.  What is the guarantee that more attacks 
would not take place in the cleared areas?  Are police and civil 
administration strong enough to combat terrorists and people would 
not have to leave their homes once again?  Is it not possible for 
the Frontier Governor, Chief Minister and MPs to start living in 
these areas in order to restore people's confidence and to 
personally welcome the IDPs." 
 
"Russia Becomes Party To Afghan Conflict," an editorial in the 
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (07/10) 
 
"From the Pakistani perspective the U.S.-Russia agreement lends a 
new dimension to the war in Afghanistan in that Washington 
'discovers' an alternate supply route.  As it would reduce 
Americans' dependence on Pakistani government's co-operation in 
ensuring uninterrupted supply of war material and food for the 
coalition forces, as a corollary they would not feel beholden to 
their Pakistani counterparts' for 'advice and consent' in the 
conduct of war.  Naturally, over time, the two may tend to move away 
from each other instead of coming together.  That is not a happy 
development given that already Pakistan and the United States remain 
poles apart on the issue of drone attacks.  Also, no less crucial to 
Pakistan is the message emitting from the U.S.-Russia agreement - 
that by agreeing to give transit route facility to the Americans, 
Russia is back into the 'great game.'" 
 
"A Summit To Watch," an op-ed by M.A. Niazi in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (07/10) 
 
"While Pakistan remained preoccupied with the latest battles in the 
War on Terror taking place on its soil, Russia and the U.S., at the 
level of their Presidents, no less, made agreements which made 
Pakistan not so crucial in the War, while the U.S. continued its 
attempt to do (through combat) what NATO had been unable to, and 
which Pakistan had not managed in its equivalent tribal areas to 
root out militancy....  The U.S. had initially been stridently 
condemnatory of the invasion, but now it seems it is willing to shut 
up in exchange for a place in the Great Game.  Russia has long 
played this Game, for about a century before it became Soviet in 
1917, so its anxiety to get back in will be understandable, if not 
appreciable.  So far, the Game was beyond Pakistan, but the 
introduction of the Russian factor needs study....  While Pakistani 
diplomacy at present does not seem up to the task, it should not be 
impossible to put across the position that while Pakistan may well 
lose its centrality to the War on Terror (which the government 
values not only for its geopolitical reasons, but because of the 
money it brings in from the U.S.)." 
 
"Allowing The Drone Attacks," an op-ed by Dr. Masooda Bano in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (07/10) 
 
"The U.S. is continuing to launch drone attacks in the tribal belt 
of Pakistan.  The increased frequency of these attacks confirms that 
they have all along taken place with the consent of the Pakistani 
government, as well as the army.  In the last five days alone two 
drone attacks have resulted in more than thirty casualties....  The 
U.S. drones attacks now create little resistance within the 
Pakistani public because in some way everyone is becoming used to 
them.  It is no longer an exceptional event; it is in fact a matter 
of daily routine.  Why Pakistan should stand at a point where 
violation of its sovereignty by another nation should be so easily 
accepted by its civilian and military elite is however a question 
that requires serious thinking....  The quite acceptance of these 
drone attacks, above all, leads to the uncomfortable realization 
that the grand plan for fighting the militant resistance in Pakistan 
is actually still scripted by the U.S." 
 
"Government Should Help Dr. Aafia," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 150,000) (07/10) 
 
"American lawyer of Dr. Aafia, Dawn M. Cady, has said that he is 
still waiting for Government of Pakistan help for the release of his 
client....  Dr. Aafia was handed over to Americans during the 
dictatorship of Musharraf....  So much so that Dr. Aafia is being 
interrogated naked on the orders of American court....  The Chief 
Justice of Pakistan should take suo moto notice of Dr. Aafia matter 
in the missing persons' case." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson