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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001574 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 14, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports and photographs of the return of 195 families 
"displaced by fighting in Swat" dominated front pages in all 
newspapers on Tuesday.  Pegged to it were President Zardari's 
remarks declaring the rehabilitation process "a huge challenge." 
Reports on the arrest of "13 suspected Al Qaeda militants" near Dera 
Murad Jamali (Balochistan) also received prominent coverage.  Also 
highlighted were reports that "seven children among 12 were killed 
in a seminary blast in the Punjab area of Mian Channu."  Newspapers 
gave prominent coverage to Interior Minister Rehman Malik's claim 
that "militants in Swat have been defeated."  Most dailies reported 
the "visit of a UN expert prior to the arrival of a fact-finding 
mission to start investigation into the assassination of former 
Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto." 
 
Most major dailies ran critical editorials on the government's 
latest decision to make "ill-motivated and concocted stories against 
the civilian leadership and the security force" via cell phone text 
messaging and emails punishable offence carrying up to 14 years of 
imprisonment.  The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "this borders 
on officially sanctioned censorship of the free flow of ideas and 
the people's right to engage in debate over the actions of the 
government and its institutions."  Another English daily, "The 
Nation," observed that "the campaign launched by (the government) 
against the emails and SMSs considered anti-government is in 
violation of the freedom of expression.  It runs counter to the 
spirit of the Constitution."    The second largest Urdu daily, 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" wrote: "Instead of scaring the people on 
anti-government messaging and emails, the government should improve 
its working and give relief to the people....  Even otherwise, 
computer technology cannot be blocked."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Journey Back Home Begins" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"People displaced by fighting in Swat began returning to their homes 
on Monday under a government repatriation program.  About 195 
families left the Jalozai camp by buses escorted by police.  The 
Emergency Response Unit (REU) had made arrangements for over 2,000 
families to leave the camp on Monday, but a large number of them did 
not leave.  The (REU) spokesman Adnan Khan said that the government 
would not force anyone to leave camps." 
 
"Rehabilitation A Huge Challenge: Zardari" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"The government would now focus on rehabilitating the displaced 
people and rebuilding the damaged infrastructure in Malakand 
Division, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday.  He was 
addressing representatives of international donors, NGOs and members 
of the civil society who have been helping the displaced people. 
President said that rehabilitation of the displaced people was a 
huge challenge which required collective national efforts and help 
of the international community." 
 
"12 Foreigners, One Local Al Qaeda Suspects Held; Arms Seized" 
"Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"Security agencies arrested on Monday at least 13 suspected Al Qaeda 
militants from a place near Dera Murad Jamali.  Security personnel 
intercepted a bus going to Multan from Quetta after receiving 
information about the movement of militants and found three Turks, 
two Saudis, two Kuwaitis and five Afghan nationals and a Pakistani 
in the vehicle.  The suspects were carrying five suicide vests and 
an 11-kilogramme bomb in their baggage." 
 
"Seven Children Among 12 Killed In Seminary Blast" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"At least 12 people, seven children among them, were killed and over 
50 injured when a large quantity of explosives stored in a house 
which also had a seminary exploded in a village near Mian Channu, 
about 45km from Khanewal, on Monday morning, Khanewal DPO Mohammad 
Kamran Khan told 'Dawn.'" 
 
"Six Suicide Attacks Foiled By Islamabad Police: Taliban Defeated In 
Swat, Claims Interior Minister" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that militants in Swat have 
been defeated and security forces were in control of the region. 
Several militant commanders had been killed and Swat Taliban chief 
Maulana Fazlullah injured, he said while talking to reporters in 
Islamabad." 
 
"Benazir Probe: UN Official Visits Liaquat Bagh" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"A UN expert visited Liaquat Bagh on Monday - prior to the arrival 
of a fact-finding mission to start an investigation into the 
assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.  The 
three-member UN commission is expected in Islamabad on July 16." 
 
"S. Waziristan Peace Deal Ineffective: Militant" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"A militant leader in South Waziristan, who is said to be in the 
good books of the government, said on Monday that the peace 
agreement in the agency had been 'ineffective'.  Abdul Haq, a 
spokesman for 'Maulvi' Nazir said that security forces were 
attacking the Taliban despite the fact that they had 'maintained 
peace in the agency during the past two years.'" 
 
"8 Militants Killed" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"Eight militants were killed and three others injured in a clash 
with a lashkar in the Mohmand tribal region on Monday.  Two 
militants were captured, Assistant political agent Rasool Khan 
said." 
 
"Taliban Behead Tribal Elder In Orkazai" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"Taliban militants beheaded a prominent pro-government tribal elder 
in Dabori area of Upper Orakzai Agency on Monday.  Sources told 
'Dawn' that Taliban had been warning the elder, Habibullah, against 
supporting government for some time." 
 
"Two 'Militants' Found Hanging" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"Two suspected militants were found hanged at two main squares of 
the Malakand division as a convoy of about 200 vehicles carrying 
back displaced persons from Swat crossed Batkhela on Monday.  A 
banner found with the body read: 'Those found to have links with 
militants will meet the same fate.'" 
 
"Taliban Commander Mullah Ubaid Arrested With 20 Aides" "The News" 
(07/14) 
 
"Taliban commander Mullah Ubaidully alias Baidoo has been captured 
along his 20 aides by the Quetta police and a large number of 
weapons were recovered from their possession, DIG operations Shahid 
Nizam Durrani said." 
 
"Mysterious Fire Destroys NATO Tanker" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"An oil tanker supplying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan caught 
fire in the Hayatabad township in Peshawar on Monday morning.  The 
tanker (TKV-763) was going from Rawalpindi to Kabul, police said. 
The fire also damaged a house and a power transformer in the area." 
 
"Obama Orders Inquiry Into Taliban Massacre" "Dawn" (07/14) 
 
"President Obama has ordered U.S. security officials to look into 
allegations that the Bush administration resisted efforts to 
investigate a CIA-backed Afghan warlord over the killings of 
hundreds of pro-Taliban prisoners in 2001.  The victims included 
hundreds of Pakistani citizens whose killings contributed to the 
emergence of Maulana Fazlullah as a militant leader in Swat.  'The 
indication that this had not been properly investigated just 
recently was brought to my attention,' President Obama told CNN's 
Anderson Cooper in an exclusive interview during the president's 
visit to Ghana." 
 
"Taliban Reject U.S. Probe Into 2001 Mass-Killing As Ploy" "The 
News" (07/14) 
 
"Talking to the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), Qari Muhammad Yousaf 
Ahmad, spokesman for Taliban, on Monday, rejected the U.S. President 
Barack Obama directives to probe mass killing of the Taliban 
prisoners in 2001 as U.S. ploy to absolve it of any involvement." 
 
"Hillary Clinton To Land With New Approach" "The News" (07/14) 
"The U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is expected to visit 
Pakistan also as she descends in the region on her official visit to 
India later this month, it was learned reliably.  According to 
sources, 'U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan and Afghan 
Richard Holbrooke is paying a very important visit to Afghanistan 
this week before coming to Pakistan to finalize agenda of the 
expected visit of Hillary Clinton and for the purpose he will hold 
meetings with members of diplomatic corps in Islamabad.'" 
 
"World Must Do More To Assist Pak Reconstruction Efforts: U.S." "The 
news" (07/14) 
 
"Pakistan has successfully rolled back the Taliban gains in Swat and 
the international community needs to do more to assist Islamabad in 
rebuilding lives and damaged areas in Malakand, a senior US diplomat 
Paul Jones, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and 
Pakistan, at the State Department told a Congressional hearing." 
 
"Pakistan Being Blamed For U.S. Failures: Mushahid" "The News" 
(07/14) 
 
"The distrust in Pakistan-U.S. relations stem from the self-serving 
U.S. foreign policy objectives as well as the failure of most 
Pakistani leaders to secure good bargains for the state beyond 
pleasing Washington.  Both countries need to move from their 
disagreement over the definition of 'good and bad Taliban' into a 
long-term strategic and purposeful relationship.  This advice 
resonated several times during a seminar 'Pakistan-American 
Relations - the Element of Mistrust' arranged by the Centre for 
Research and Security Studies (CRSS), says a press release." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Bordering On Censorship," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/14) 
 
"According to the interior ministry, the government is initiating a 
campaign against 'ill-motivated and concocted stories against the 
civilian leadership and the security forces.'  This borders on 
officially sanctioned censorship of the free flow of ideas and the 
people's right to engage in debate over the actions of the 
government and its institutions.  Indeed, the decision carries 
disturbing echoes of past attempts at censorship, for email and SMS 
messages are now an important means through which the voice of the 
people makes itself heard....  By criminalizing what is essentially 
the people's freedom to debate and comment, the government exposes 
itself to the charge of stifling political opposition rather than 
changing or reconsidering policy." 
 
"Shameful Act," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (07/14) 
 
"The campaign launched by Interior Minister Rehman Malik against the 
emails and SMSs considered anti-government is in violation of the 
freedom of expression.  It runs counter to the spirit of the 
Constitution, which entitles the people to express their opinions in 
a peaceful way....  This amounts to invading people's privacy.  It 
would provoke popular resentment against the PPP-led set-up." 
 
"Decision To Enforce Strict Penalties On Anti-Government Messaging," 
an editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu 
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (07/14) 
 
"Instead of scaring the people on anti-government messaging and 
emails, the government should improve its working and give relief to 
the people....  Even otherwise, computer technology cannot be 
blocked." 
 
"No Need To Be Afraid Of Emails And SMS," an editorial in the 
leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily 
"Jang" (cir. 300,000) (07/15) 
 
"... In these circumstances if the government diverts the energies 
of one of its law enforcement agencies towards checking obnoxious 
e-mails and SMS, it will not only open another front but would also 
shaken people's confidence over the government.  If the government 
could respond to the public criticism over its policies on 
electronic and print media then it should not face any difficulty in 
responding to it on internet as well.  If the government policy is 
good, it is in line with public interest and also conforms to the 
electoral pledges of the rulers then definitely this SMS messaging 
would also highlight that aspect.  The government is well advised to 
pay attention to the actual reasons of terrorism and try to 
eliminate it instead of such type of unjustified reservations." 
 
"We're Watching!," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/14) 
 
"Ours is an increasingly 'watched' society, and the means of 
watching is changing and advancing all the time.  Some have the 
misfortune to be watched by drones, with disaggregation a 
consequence....  There are undoubtedly illegal and 
dangerous-to-the-state activities involving the mobile phone network 
and the internet.  They need to be stopped, fast, and the 
perpetrators brought to book; but we do wonder precisely what level 
of threat is perceived in a cheeky SMS or email - so remember; 
they're watching." 
 
"Make Text Messaging Investigation Transparent," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (07/14) 
 
"Those emails and messages should be punishable which come under the 
purview of Anti-Pakistan propaganda....  FIA and the Interior 
Minister should take action against obscene and anti-Pakistan 
communication." 
 
"Interior Ministry's Appreciable Step," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (07/14) 
 
"This is appreciable that the government has taken note of 
anti-Pakistan propaganda....  This propaganda with global outreach 
was activated against Pakistan after May, 1998 nuclear tests.... 
The government should take stricter measures in this respect." 
 
"Mian Channu Blast: A Moment Of Reflection," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 150,000) (07/14) 
 
"The real picture will emerge after completion of investigation, but 
according to some eye-witnesses something coming from the sky fell 
on Madarassa owner Riaz's house....  Jamaat-i-Islami Ameer Syed 
Munnawar Hassan, addressing a public meeting in Karachi, alleged 
that under the 'do more policy' America is trying to bring so-called 
war on terror to Punjab province.  Mian Channu blast gives credence 
to the allegation....  If it really was a missile then it could be 
the doing of a drone." 
 
"Mian Channu Blast," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (07/14) 
 
"The neglect of the law and order agencies towards these banned 
organizations, throws up a big challenge to the government and it 
has so far unsuccessfully tried to extinguish the fire of sectarian 
hatred.  Operating under the religious garb, those behind these 
organizations are self-seeking persons who want to achieve their 
objectives.  The government must take step to stop their activities 
of having stored explosive material for achieving their activities 
and launch a crackdown against these organizations." 
 
"The Pakhtun Conundrum," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/14) 
 
"The Pakhtun conundrum that need to be addressed in order to bring 
peace to this area.  The first is to recognize that there are many 
genuine grievances felt by this community concerning the way power 
has been apportioned by the Karzai regime among different segments 
of the Afghan society.  Second, Pakistan has to show resolve that it 
will not allow those now generally referred to as stateless actors 
to pursue their own agendas against the country's neighbors.  Third, 
it also needs to make sure that the law of the land is respected by 
all segments of society.  Finally, there must be a clear 
understanding with India on what are its legitimate interests in 
Afghanistan.  Pakistan has to recognize that India is a regional 
power with regional interests.  At the same time India has to pay 
heed to Pakistan's security interests." 
 
"Turning Of Tables On American Forces In Afghanistan?," an editorial 
in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (07/15) 
 
"After the signing of an agreement between the U.S. and Russia for 
the provision of supply route to NATO forces in Afghanistan through 
Russian territory, Taliban and Hizb-e-Islami and other Afghan 
resistance forces have started strengthening their networks in 
Baghlan, Qandooz, and Parwan besides Helmand.  Not only that they 
are also preparing to drag the war with the U.S. from South Eastern 
and Eastern Afghanistan to North because the suggested supply route 
from Russia passes from Tajikistan to Hizbe Islami's Gulbadeen 
Hikmatyar's ancestral province of Qandooz.  The Afghan Mujahideen 
are not only very well aware of this supply route but they have a 
25-year experience of destroying and stopping arms and supplies 
coming through this route." 
 
"Claiming 'Victory' Too Early," an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in 
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (07/14) 
 
"In fact, greater media access to the conflict zones would provide a 
credible portrayal of the situation and help remove the cloud of 
doubts regarding the military operations and the claims about the 
army's battleground achievements.  Instead of declaring premature 
victory, the ANP leadership should admit that the war is not over 
yet and that it is going to be long and bitter.  There is no harm in 
conceding that the situation is still precarious, that the Taliban 
leadership in Swat and the rest of Malakand region has largely 
survived the military action....  Those pronouncing the start of the 
repatriation process of the IDPs as a signal of victory would be 
well-advised to keep their celebrations on hold, as it isn't over 
yet." 
 
"Af-Pak Strategy And Pakistan," an op-ed by Gen. (R) Mirza Aslam Beg 
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (07/14) 
 
"After the declaration of the Af-Pak strategy, very different trends 
have emerged and Pakistan now finds itself facing serious challenges 
to its security....  The Pakistani government, despite being a 
'Compliant State' is under pressure to concede more and allow the 
Americans to establish a 'spy-network within the premises of 
Islamabad diplomatic enclave.'...  The facilities and the personnel 
belonging to CIA, FBI, the Marines as well as the Blackwater 
Security Consultants (BSC) will be housed there....  Their target is 
not only Pakistan, but all the neighbors, particularly Iran and 
China....  And the new partnership, now developing between U.S. and 
Russia, will cause greater instability in South Asia in particular." 
 
 
"New Road To Kabul," an op-ed by Dr. Rashid Ahmad Khan in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(07/14) 
 
"In the view of many an observer, the decision to send troops and 
military supplies through the route passing through the Russian 
territory is fraught with dangerous implications for the long-term 
strategic interests of the U.S. not only in Afghanistan but also in 
Central Asia.  It may lead to an increased U.S. dependence on Russia 
for fighting the war in Afghanistan, and ultimately, may enable the 
Russians to stage a comeback in the region from where they were 
forcibly ousted two decades ago." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson