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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001567 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: July 13, 2009 
 
SUMMARY:  Reports on the initial return of "two million IDPs" to 
their homes dominated front pages in all newspapers on Monday.  Also 
highlighted were stories that "military planes continued bombing and 
shelling suspected Taliban position in the Mehsud area of South 
Waziristan."  All newspapers reported that "eleven suspected 
militants were captured for their involvement in attacks on (NATO) 
container terminals."  Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik's 
statement that "Osama and other Al Qaeda leaders are on other side 
of the border in Afghanistan" also received prominent coverage.  The 
English daily, "Dawn," reported that U.S. Secretary of State Clinton 
"will focus exclusively on India during her forthcoming visit to 
South Asia and will visit Pakistan in October."   Also front-paged 
were reports of the government announcement that "sending indecent, 
provocative and ill-motivated stories and text messages through 
emails and mobile telephone Short Messaging Service (SMS) was an 
offence punishable up to 14 years of imprisonment." 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the state of the Pakistan-India 
relations in the backdrop of the impending meeting between the prime 
ministers of both the countries on the sidelines of the forthcoming 
NAM conference in Egypt.  The English daily, "Dawn," noted that 
"sincere cooperation in the battle against militancy and dialogue on 
outstanding issues can point us to a new and healthier direction. 
The need to talk has never been greater."  Another English 
newspaper, "Daily Times," observed that "while discussion on Kashmir 
can go on, hopefully leading both sides to stand down a little from 
their maximalist positions, they can move on to more trade and 
investment deals, the only way to defeat the terrorists who want 
Pakistan and India fighting rather working as partners in South 
Asia."  The second-largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt" wrote:  "The 
Government of Pakistan does not express itself due to its weakness 
or American pressure and President, Prime Minister and Interior 
Minister are scared of alluding to Indian involvement in terrorism 
in Pakistan areas.  However, it does not mean that no one is aware 
of the terrorism perpetrated by Manmohan Singh and his associates in 
Punjab, Balochistan and tribal areas."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Home Return Of Over 2m IDPs' Begin Today" "The News" (07/13) 
 
"Spending more than two months in camps after the commencement of 
the military operation in Malakand Division, over two million 
internally displaced persons (IDPs) are set to return home from 
today (Monday). The convoys of the IDPs would be streaming in the 
beautiful valley amid tight security arrangements, backed by 
military gunship helicopters." 
 
"IDPs Living Outside Camps Allowed To Return Home" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"With the return of the internally displaced persons living in camps 
officially beginning on Monday, the NWFP government has also allowed 
the IDPs living outside the camps to go back to some areas in the 
district of Swat.  It is learnt that the Emergency Response Unit 
took the decision after a large number of 'off-camp IDPs' met its 
officials and said they also wanted to return to their homes." 
 
"Bhittani's Men Leave Tank After Troops' Entry Training Centres In 
Mehsud's Areas Bombed" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"Military planes continued bombing and shelling suspected Taliban 
positions in the Mehsud area of South Waziristan on Sunday, killing 
a number of militants.  Witnesses said planes bombed training 
centres and other structures in areas considered to be strongholds 
of Baitullah Mehsud. Officials and local people said eight militants 
were killed in an attack on a training centre in Maulvi Khan Serai." 
 
 
"11 Held For Attacks On Terminals, Airport" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"Eleven suspected militants were captured after two helicopter 
gunships attacked their positions in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency on 
Sunday morning." 
 
"Osama, Other Al Qaeda Leaders In Kunar: Malik" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has described US drone attacks in 
tribal areas as futile and said that the Al Qaeda leadership is on 
the other side of the border in Afghanistan. In an interview with 
the British newspaper The Sunday Times, he brushed aside CIA's 
claims that drone attacks had been effective in disrupting Al 
Qaeda's ability to carry out attacks." 
 
"Clinton To Visit In October" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will focus exclusively on 
India during her forthcoming visit to South Asia and will visit 
Pakistan in October, diplomatic sources told Dawn. Pakistan Embassy 
officials in Washington had hinted earlier that Secretary Clinton 
might also go to Islamabad after completing her visit to India next 
week." 
 
"U.S. Missed Chance To Stabilise Pakistan: Senator" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"The United States missed an opportunity to bring stability to 
Pakistan when it decided not to allow its troops to help those 
displaced during the Swat offensive, says a senior US lawmaker. 
Senator Mark Udall, a Democrat, who recently visited Pakistan on a 
fact-finding mission, told a Senate panel that because US troops 
were unable to help displaced Pakistani civilians, civilian loyalty 
was shifting to the radicals who have infiltrated refugee camps." 
 
"US Should Work To Build Trust Partnership With Pakistan: Experts" 
"Daily Times" (07/13) 
 
"Billing Pakistan's ability to overcome multiple challenges as 
critical to regional stability, top experts have said anti-terrorism 
success in South Asia depends on US fostering a trusting partnership 
with Islamabad in the years ahead. Lisa Curtis, a former State 
Department adviser on South Asia and a senior fellow at Washington's 
conservative Heritage Foundation, praised Islamabad's recent 
anti-militancy drive and urged Washington to support economic 
development in the country." 
 
"US Warns Banks Against Terror Finanancing In Pakistan And Iran" 
"The News" (07/13) 
 
"The united States has warned banks and other financial institutions 
in the country against shortcoming in measures against money 
laundering and terror financing in five nations including Pakistan 
and Iran." 
 
"Punishment For Indecent SMS And Emails" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"The government announced on Sunday that sending indecent, 
provocative and ill-motivated stories and text messages through 
e-mails and mobile telephone Short Messaging Service (SMS) was an 
offence under the Cyber Crime Act (CCA) and its violators could be 
sent behind bars for 14 years. . . The announcement does not 
elaborate what is meant by ill-motivated e-messages, but it is 
believed that the 'civilian leadership' meant President Asif Ali 
Zardari, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, Interior Minister Rehman 
Malik and other politicians." 
 
"Indian HC Never Met DG ISI Shuja Pasha" "The News" (07/13) 
 
"Highly placed sources here on Sunday expressed their utter surprise 
over the statement of Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, 
suggesting that the Indian high commissioner posted in Islamabad had 
a meeting with the Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (DG 
ISI), Lt-Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, in Islamabad.' No meeting has ever 
taken place between the DG ISI and the Indian high commissioner in 
Islamabad,' said the sources." 
 
"Five 'Foreign' Militants Killed In Lower Dir" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"Security forces claimed on Sunday to have killed five foreign 
militants in Maidan tehsil of Lower Dir.  Official sources told Dawn 
that troops fired mortar shells on a vehicle carrying militants, 
killing five of them. The militants were foreigners and local people 
did not know them" 
 
"12 Militants Die In South Waziristan Air Strikes" "The News" 
(07/13) 
 
"About 12 militants were reportedly killed in shelling by fighter 
planes on suspected hideouts of the Taliban militants in Sarwakai 
Tehsil of South Waziristan Agency (SWA) on Sunday. Sources said the 
fighter planes pounded the compounds and hideouts of the militants 
in Parwand and Novely Khan Serai areas in Sarwakai Tehsil." 
 
"2 Men Linked To TTP Arrested In Karachi" "Daily Times" (07/13) 
 
"Two men accused of having links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) and plotting 'chaotic terror activities' have been arrested in 
Karachi, said police on Sunday." 
 
"Deoband Ulema Declare Suicide Bombing Forbidden In Islam"  "The 
News" (07/13) 
 
"A meeting of religious scholars declared suicide attacks forbidden 
in Islam here on Sunday.  About 150 religious scholars from the 
Deoband school of thought and Mohtamims of various Deoband 
institutions of the Rawalpindi region, including Rawalpindi, Jhelum, 
Attock and Chakwal districts, attended the meeting." 
 
"Elders Oppose Merger Of Fata With NWFP" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"The tribal elders and parliamentarians have reacted sharply to the 
Awami National Party's demand of merging Federally Administered 
Tribal Areas into NWFP and sought an elected and independent 
legislative council for the tribal areas.  Talking to Dawn, Federal 
Minister for Environment Hamidullah Jan Afridi termed merger of Fata 
into NWFP as an unreasonable demand of ANP." 
 
"IMF Tranche Hangs In Balance" "Dawn" (07/13) 
 
"The fate of the $850 million third IMF tranche hangs in the balance 
following 'inconclusive' talks between a Pakistani delegation and 
Fund's officials. 'The International Monetary Fund has linked the 
release of the third tranche with the performance of the economy and 
fulfilling of the remaining conditions in the first quarter 
(July-September) of 2009-10,' a source told Dawn." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
"Need For Dialogue," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/13) 
". . . Most recently, an Indian defense ministry report openly 
accused organs of the Pakistani state, not individuals or 
organizations, of aiding and abetting terrorism in India. Pakistan, 
for its part, has admitted that non-state actors operating from its 
soil were behind the terror unleashed in Mumbai. To overcome the 
trust deficit, Islamabad also needs to demonstrate that its decision 
to take on militants is not limited to 'jihadists' operating within 
the country or on the western front - those who seek to destabilize 
our neighbor to the east must also be neutralized. Sincere 
cooperation in the battle against militancy and dialogue on 
outstanding issues can point us to a new and healthier direction. 
The need to talk has never been greater." 
"Moving To Indo-Pak Dtente," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (07/13) 
 
". . . Pakistan has gone through the trauma of dealing with the 
Taliban and has finally got rid of its ambivalence about terrorism. 
It now thinks that it has to come to some sort of understanding with 
India over terrorism that spills in from Afghanistan and queers the 
pitch for the Pakistan Army in the tribal areas. . . While 
discussions on Kashmir can go on, hopefully leading both sides to 
stand down a little from their maximalist positions, they can move 
on to more trade and investment deals, the only way to defeat the 
terrorists who want Pakistan and India fighting rather working as 
partners in South Asia." 
"Move On Please, Decisively," an op-ed By Beena Sarwar in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (07/13) 
"The forthcoming meetings of the Pakistani and Indian foreign 
secretaries and prime ministers on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned 
Movement summit in Egypt on July 14 and 15, again raise hopes for a 
revival of the composite dialogue process, suspended since the Nov 
26 2008 attacks in Mumbai.  India accuses Pakistan of not doing 
enough to contain terrorism.  Pakistan counter accuses India of not 
cooperating in terms of sharing evidence and translations. . . . 
There may be no immediate results to any of these initiatives. But 
the fact that the governments allow them to take place itself speaks 
for the realization of the need to at least maintain such contacts. 
And in the long run, they create a pressure for peace from below, 
something for the political and bureaucratic establishments to bear 
in mind when they next meet." 
 
"Indian Help To Terrorists: Government Of Pakistan Should Break 
Silence," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (07/13) 
 
"The Government of Pakistan does not express itself due to its 
weakness or American pressure and President, Prime Minister and 
Interior Minister are scared of alluding to Indian involvement in 
terrorism incidents in Pakistan. However, it does not mean that no 
one is aware of the terrorism perpetrated by Manmohan Singh and his 
associates in Punjab, Balochistan and tribal areas....  The other 
day, Asian Tribune reported that India is working with Baitullah 
Mehsud to take over Pakistan's nuclear weapons....  After the 
evidence of the terrorism has surfaced the Government of Pakistan 
should break its silence and should place all the proofs before the 
international community." 
 
"Pak-India Relations: Manmohan's Conflicting Stand," an editorial in 
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (07/13) 
 
"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the 
international community should press Pakistan for shunning terrorism 
path....  Evidences are now available that Indian secret service is 
involved in sabotage in Balochistan and according to press reports 
on Sunday the government has acquired proof of Indian sponsored 
terrorism in Swat, Malakand and tribal areas....  Now it is time for 
Manmohan Singh and the international community to tell whether 
friendship with India is possible in such a situation." 
 
"Need To Be Aware Of Indian Designs," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (07/13) 
 
"Asian Tribune reported that India is providing funding to Baitullah 
Mehsud for attack on Pakistan nuclear installations....  Pakistan is 
the only Islamic country that has nuclear weapons which is 
intolerable for the Islamic countries' enemy, Israel.  Moreover, 
Israel's patron, America is helping Israel in its endeavors.  The 
trio of India, Israel and America is expanding their network of 
conspiracies against Pakistan." 
 
"Taliban's Tactics," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/13) 
 
". . . The war being fought by our army with the Taliban is itself 
changing, and changing fast in some ways - especially in the way the 
Taliban are learning to adapt their tactics and operations to the 
'asymmetric' form of warfare . . . Their great weakness lies in 
their vulnerability to air strike and electronic 
intelligence/surveillance. . . If the Taliban ever acquired 
ground-to-air missile capability things would change again. The 
Russians retreated from Afghanistan within three years of the 
jihadis gaining the ability to shoot down their helicopters and 
other aircraft. No doubt many military fingers are currently crossed 
in the hope that this is a capacity our current foes will not 
acquire. 
"Taliban's Tactics," an op-ed by Jason Burke in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/13) 
". . . The Taliban have also learned to focus fire on their 
opponents' heavy weapons or radios. Nato officers also say the 
Taliban's command and control has also been improved to coordinate 
fighting with foot soldiers and to allow rapid engagement or 
disengagement.  According to American soldiers who served in Iraq, 
Afghan fighters compared favorably to the disorganized militants 
they had faced before.  Yet the work done by the Taliban high 
command - based mainly in Pakistan - goes way beyond tactics." 
 
"Strategic Reorientation," an op-ed by Talat Masood in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/13) 
 
"The threat from Taliban is total. Taliban are a threat to the 
economy, politics, Constitution and indeed to our way of life. More 
significantly, Taliban are a threat to the world, including that to 
China and the Muslim world.  As regards controlling the jihadi 
outfits of LeT and LJ and others are concerned these are now not 
only militant organizations but also a significant part of our 
social structure. They in guise of other names are operating in 
Kashmir earthquake relief camps, in IDPs and spread across the 
country performing social services. Needless to mention, that there 
are many supporters of theirs in media and other branches of civil 
society and government. In this environment strategic redirection 
would be a Herculean undertaking and require a minimum generational 
effort. It has to be a well thought out process having a national 
consensus." 
 
"Suicide Bombers," an op-ed by Syed Mansoor Hussain in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (07/13) 
 
". . . Concerning the fight against the Taliban in the field, the 
Pakistan Army is doing a great job. Whatever the Taliban 'fellow 
travellers' in the Pakistani media and public might have to say 
about them, they have not proven to be an effective fighting force. 
Their primary military strategy can be summed up in the old saw 'he 
who runs away lives to fight another day.'  But the suicide bombers 
are of a real and immediate concern for me. And I am convinced that 
they are not doing what they do in the name of Islam but rather for 
what they expect in the life Hereafter as promised to them by their 
handlers in the madrassas." 
 
"Innovative War Tactics," an op-ed by Zeenia Satti in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/13) 
 
". . . The military's relief brigades should be made ready both for 
the IDPs and for returning civilians. A benign, 'messianic' face of 
the military must be in public view of the Pakistanis throughout the 
counterinsurgency. The US troops' failure to achieve this is their 
biggest setback in Afghanistan." 
 
"Mingora Still Looks Like A Ghost City," an op-ed By Essa Khankhel 
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (07/13) 
 
"As the internally displaced persons (IDPs) are preparing to return 
to Swat Valley, there was a frightening silence in the main Mingora 
city of the valley, which would once bustle with different 
activities. . . The residents of this largest city of the valley 
would be returning to their homes from July 17, hopefully to resume 
their routine life. Relaxation in curfew would have sent a positive 
signal to the residents and would help restore normal life. . . Now 
there are no militants and no fighting, of course. The city has been 
wrested from the militants and security forces are in full 
control." 
 
"Politicians And Rah-e-Raast," an op-ed by Talat Farooq in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (07/13) 
 
". . . As the Pakistani nation suffers, the politicians cannot be 
absolved of their complicity in the rise of the Taliban in both the 
tribal and the urban areas of Pakistan." 
 
"Waziristan: Back To Square One," an op-ed by Ayaz Wazir in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (07/13) 
 
". . . Leaving the problem to the Army alone would not be fair. It 
would amount to prolonging the matter which we can hardly afford. 
Let us rise to the occasion. Let us give up the policy of going 
round in circles. The operation that started from Waziristan has 
come back to it after engulfing the whole of FATA and the NWFP. We 
are back to square one. Let's extinguish this fire through the 
collective wisdom of the nation before it is too late. That is the 
only recipe. Let us put it to use, the sooner the better." 
 
"Dissent In South Asia," an op-ed by Dr Syed Farooq Hasnat in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(07/13) 
 
"The FATA tribal areas, along with Malakand Division, the insurgency 
have acquired exclusive features. There, an ethnic group has not 
taken up arms for the rights of its community or area but for 
imposing its dogmatic religious views on the country, and even 
beyond. This has provided a new meaning to the theoretical concept 
of insurgency, with few comparables." 
 
Patterson