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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001585 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 15, 2009 
 
Summary:  Most major dailies on Wednesday focused on the impending 
meeting of the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and India in Sharm el 
Sheikh (Egypt) and reported as their lead story the meeting between 
the foreign secretaries of both the countries.  Newspapers quoted 
Prime Minister Gilani as saying that "he would meet Indian Prime 
Minister Singh with open heart and positive mind."  Reports on the 
repatriation (This word alludes to someone coming back to their 
country, I suggest simply use the word "return") of the displaced 
families and the "fierce clashes" between the militants and the 
security forces also garnered front-page coverage.  All newspapers 
also highlighted reports that the "Punjab government withdrew its 
appeal against the release of Jamaatud Dawa chief on 'failure of the 
federal government' to provide solid evidence for putting him under 
house arrest." 
 
Although local political developments dominated editorial themes, 
some major dailies ran editorials on the return of the IDPs to their 
homes.  The right-wing Urdu daily, "Jasarat," declared the 
rehabilitation process as "a real test of the present government." 
The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "lasting peace in these areas 
requires not only that civic life he restored to what it was before 
the militants launched their attacks, but that the earlier position 
of the citizenry be improved upon."  Another English daily, "The 
News," observed that "the Taliban are pushed back, not defeated, and 
ground taken has to be held."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Gilani To Meet Singh With 'Positive Mind'" "The News" (07/15) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday said he will meet 
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with an open heart and positive 
mind.  Efforts should be made to build bridges between the two 
countries instead of erecting walls, he said in response to 
questions by Indian media persons on his arrival at the Egyptian Red 
Sea resort regarding the much-anticipated Gilani-Manmohan meeting on 
July 16 on the sidelines of the NAM summit." 
 
"Foreign Secretaries Meet In Egypt: Pakistan Hopeful Of Dialogue 
Resumption" "Dawn" (07/15) 
 
"Pakistan and India appeared to be heading towards re-engagement as 
a crucial meeting between their Foreign Secretaries got under way in 
Egyptian Red Sea resort on Tuesday night.  However, it was unclear 
if the meeting would lead to full resumption of the Composite 
Dialogue.  'The leadership of Pakistan is prepared to extend the 
hand of friendship to India for opening a new chapter in our 
relations,' Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir told his Indian 
counterpart Shiv Shankar Menon at the start of the talks on 
sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit." 
 
"Return Of IDPs To Swat, Buner Gathers Pace" "Dawn" (07/15) 
 
"Another 589 displaced families went back to their hometowns in Swat 
and Buner districts on Tuesday under the government's repatriation 
plan.  Families living with host families in Mardan had also started 
returning to their villages, Mardan Commissioner Khalid Khan Umarzai 
said." 
 
"23 Militants Killed In Clash With Lashkar" "Dawn" (07/15) 
 
"Twenty-three militants were killed and several others wounded in 
fierce clashes with a tribal Lashkar in Ambar tehsil of Mohmand 
tribal region on Tuesday.  Official sources reported heavy exchanges 
of fire in Shati Maina, Kaymore, Zardalu, and Kharay Dara.  They 
said the Lashkar had pushed militants out of mountain hideouts and 
destroyed their several bunkers." 
 
"Punjab Withdraws Appeal Against JuD Chief Release" "The News" 
(07/15) 
 
"The Punjab government on Tuesday withdrew its appeal against the 
release of Hafiz Saeed on the grounds that the federal government 
had failed to provide solid evidences for putting the Jamaatud Dawa 
(JuD) chief under house arrest." 
 
"Fresh Offensive Launched In Buner" "Dawn" (07/15) 
"Security forces launched a fresh offensive in the first 
headquarters of militants in the scenic valley of Gokand in Buner 
district on Tuesday.  The district administration and police 
officials said the objective of the military operation was to 
eliminate the beleaguered militants." 
 
"Operation In South Punjab Soon: Qureshi" "The Nation" (07/15) 
 
"State Minister for Interior Tasnim Ahmed Qureshi has said the 
government will soon start search operation against the suspected 
militants and terrorists in Southern Punjab.  He was talking to 
media-men in Lahore on Tuesday." 
 
"Tank Administration Accused Of Helping Baitullah" "Dawn" (07/15) 
 
"Turkistan Bhittani, projected by the government as leader of 
so-called 'good Taliban,' and the main rival of Tehrik-i-Taliban 
Pakistan chief Baitullah Mehsud, has accused the local 
administration of helping the TTP chief get a foothold in Tank 
district.  The administration is helping the Baitullah group to hold 
public meetings in the Mulazai area, Bhittani said at a conference 
in Dera Ismail Khan on Tuesday." 
 
"Militant Hideouts Destroyed In Bajaur" "The News" (07/15) 
 
"Security forces on Tuesday destroyed several militant hideouts in 
Charmang area in Bajaur Agency.  No casualty was, however, reported 
in the military action, sources said." 
 
"Taliban Destroy NATO Fuel Tanker" "Daily Times" (07/15) 
 
"Suspected Taliban destroyed a NATO oil tanker in the Khyber Agency 
on Tuesday, triggering retaliatory mortar shelling that killed 
fifteen-year-old Shahan Khan Afridi and tanker cleaner Nasir Khan 
Shelmani.  The driver of the tanker and another resident of the 
area, were injured." 
 
"CIA Planned Sending Agents To Kill Al Qaeda Leaders" "Dawn" 
(07/15) 
 
"Democrats demanded a full investigation on Tuesday into a CIA 
program, which included sending specially trained assassins to 
Pakistan and other locations to capture or kill top Al Qaeda 
leaders. 'We need to investigate.  We need to establish the facts, 
follow them, know exactly what happens, who gave the order, why, 
where did it go, where did the money come from. And I think that 
that's the way to go,' Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, a member of the 
House Intelligence Committee, told CNN." 
 
"Effective Exit Strategy Sought: Obama Hints At New Phase After 
Polls In Afghanistan" "Dawn" (07/15) 
 
"President Barack Obama said on Tuesday 'all of us' wanted an 
effective exit strategy from Afghanistan in which Afghan authorities 
were able to take more responsibilities.  Mr. Obama made the comment 
after talks with Netherlands Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende 
that centered on the current situation in Afghanistan as well as the 
global economy and climate change." 
 
"Clinton To Visit India From 17th" "Dawn" (07/15) 
 
"US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will travel to Asia from July 
17 to 23, visiting India to try to deepen U.S.-Indian ties, the 
State Department said on Tuesday.  State Department spokesman Ian 
Kelly ruled out the possibility of Clinton making any side trips to 
Afghanistan or Pakistan." 
 
"U.S. Developing Strategy To Reduce Tensions Over Drone Attacks" 
"Daily Times" (07/15) 
 
"U.S. officials are developing a new communications strategy in 
order to reduce tensions in the aftermath of its drone attacks in 
Pakistan.  Aiming to bolster Islamabad's understanding of U.S. 
tactics, officials are planning to expand public relations 
initiatives in the country, according to Paul Jones, the Deputy 
Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia." 
 
"Zardari, Karzai And Medvedev To Meet In Dushanbe" "Dawn" 
(07/15) 
 
"The leaders of Russia, Afghanistan and Pakistan are scheduled to 
meet on July 29 and 30 in the Tajik capital Dushanbe in an effort to 
boost regional cooperation, Tajik Foreign Ministry spokesman said on 
Tuesday." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"The Real Test: Rehabilitation Of IDPs," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu daily "Jasarat" 
(cir. 3,000) (07/15) 
 
"After two months of displacement, the rehabilitation of people of 
Malakand division has finally started. During the operation, media 
was kept away from Swat but television footage now clearly shows 
that basic infrastructure has completely been destroyed during this 
fight. It now is a big challenge to rebuild this civilian 
infrastructure which is a real test of the present government as to 
how it handles this huge rehabilitation process." 
 
"Return Of IDPs," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/15) 
 
"Now that the IDPs have started returning to their hometowns with 
the government's help, it must be recognized that major challenges 
continue to confront both the government and the IDPs.... 
Meanwhile, chances of a lasting normalcy will hinge on the security 
situation. The army's claim that the militants have been routed in 
the affected areas has held so far.  However, militant activity by 
even a handful of the remaining Taliban would be enough to spread 
terror and severely disrupt civic life....  Lasting peace in these 
areas requires not only that civic life be restored to what it was 
before the militants launched their attacks, but that the earlier 
position of the citizenry be improved upon." 
 
"A Slow Start," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/15) 
 
"Despite the failure to hit any of the targets on day one, a slow 
start is better than no start.  A lot will depend on what the family 
forward-parties report back, and if they are positive then the 
trickle could well become a flood....  The Taliban are pushed back, 
not defeated, and ground taken has to be held.  We hope for the sake 
of the displaced that this is a journey they only have to make 
once." 
 
"A Huge Challenge," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (07/15) 
 
"This is surely good news for the entire nation and IDPs themselves 
who had to stay in uncomfortable makeshift camps, suffering great 
mental agony....  Most of the IDPs refuse to leave the camps because 
they say they have not been given the ATM cards.  Others still are 
worried about security.  Likewise, a great deal of infrastructure 
including schools, hospitals and roads, destroyed in the fight 
against militancy needs to be rebuilt....  Not only that.  Efforts 
on a war footing would be required to revive the economy of the 
region." 
 
"Campaign Against Madarassas?," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (07/15) 
 
"After the Mian Channu blast Government has taken a decision to 
monitor religious seminaries....  The Government should certainly 
take action against anti-Pakistan elements, but should not defame 
Madaris on the pretext of terrorism." 
 
"Madarassas As A Cover," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/15) 
 
"It was not a suicide bomber who left 12 people, including seven 
children, dead in a village near Mian Channu on Monday....  The man 
who ran the seminary, Riaz Kamboh, was known to have militant links, 
had gone to Afghanistan for training and was arrested twice but then 
released.  Seemingly, the Madressah he ran was teaching the Holy 
Quran to village boys and girls.  However, the recovery of 
propaganda literature and suicide jackets from the debris makes it 
abundantly clear that he was using the Madressah as a cover for 
organizing a terrorist cell which brainwashed and trained young 
people to become terrorists and suicide bombers." 
 
"Terror's Free Run In South Punjab," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (07/15) 
 
"Mian Channu in Khanewal offered on Monday another glimpse into the 
outreach of terrorism in South Punjab....  Massive quantities of 
weapons discovered from the house of the teacher Riaz Kamboh - 
explosives, suicide jackets, rockets, etc. - clearly indicate that 
the man was involved in terrorism and was probably a part of the 
plan for future terrorist activities targeting Punjab." 
 
"South Punjab Comes Into Limelight Again," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (07/15) 
 
"Monday's deadliest blast that rocked Mian Channu resulting in loss 
of 13 precious lives including seven children has once again drawn 
attention to the South Punjab.  It appears that the militants too 
wanted the Government to open more fronts as this would dilute 
pressure on the nerve centers of terrorism.  According to reports, 
the blast occurred in a store of explosives and ammunition, dumped 
inside a house of a local teacher, raising many questions as to how 
a large cache including mortars and rocket launchers were smuggled 
into the area and for what purpose they were stored." 
 
"Mian Channu: Tragedy That Was Waiting To Happen," an editorial in 
the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (07/15) 
 
"What would be the follow-up, we cannot predict with any degree of 
certitude, but if the past is any guide, we dare say let a week or 
so pass and the Mian Channu massacre would be mere statistics.... 
The Mian Channu tragedy also brings under focus the fact that some 
of the religious schools are being used as a camouflage for 
terrorism or, the other way round, terrorists have opened schools in 
the name of teaching religion.  Another truth that emerges from this 
incident is that what we often see as the 'foreign hand' can quite 
possibly be our own hand." 
 
"U.S. Aid: Some Legal Aspects," an op-ed by Ahmer Bilal Soofi in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (07/15) 
 
"The Kerry-Lugar bill and the Berman bill are now in the process of 
being merged....  Both need to operate independently of each other. 
Otherwise, the non-fulfillment of conditions on the civilian side 
may inadvertently end up obstructing military supplies to Pakistan. 
Politically, it can become a tool to put pressure on Pakistan any 
time in the future....  Both the Kerry-Lugar and Berman bills when 
merged should result in a brief, clear and legalistic instrument 
that radiates optimism and goodwill and that stays focused on aid 
for the welfare of the people of Pakistan." 
 
"Hard Decisions," an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (07/15) 
 
"We cannot afford to continue to live in a world of our own 
make-believe.  As the war against the Taliban intensifies hard 
decisions will have to be taken which the government cannot shirk 
merely to pander to public opinion.  What is required to win, rather 
than what is politically acceptable, must determine our strategy and 
tactics. For example, it may become necessary for our forces to 
cross the Durand Line and for U.S.-Afghan forces to do the same. It 
is after all one battlefield.  A 'no safe havens' policy cannot 
succeed if only drones are allowed across borders....  Yet another 
hard decision that will have to be taken soon is the ranking of 
India and the Taliban on our roster of enemies.  Which of the two 
poses a greater challenge; which poses the greater danger; and from 
which direction, the east or the west, is the threat more imminent? 
We have to decide; and it is alarming that we have not as yet." 
 
"A Genocidal Escalation," an op-ed by Ghulam Asghar Khan in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(07/15) 
 
"In the latest drone attacks in the tribal areas this week alone, 
more than 100 men, women and children were killed. Islamabad, 
primarily because of financial and political coercion by Washington, 
silently watches the violation of its sovereignty and the massacre 
of its citizens....  So the Af-Pak war is not a war against 
terrorism, or for democracy, or to help the long-suffering Afghans 
or the tribesmen on both sides of the Durand Line.  It is an 
indefinite colonial war with the central aim to turn Afghanistan 
into a U.S. client state and ensure that Pakistan remains firmly 
under Washington's geopolitical strategy in the region." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson