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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001592 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 16, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports on the proceedings of the 15th Non-Aligned 
Movement (NAM) currently underway in Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt) 
dominated headlines in all newspapers on Thursday.  Newspapers 
reported that Pakistan and India "reiterated their stated positions 
for durable peace" at the NAM summit.  Some newspapers reported a 
"deadlock in initial talks" between Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan 
and India. Also front-paged were reports that "13 militants were 
killed by security forces" in fresh clashes in Swat. 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the on-going NAM summit.  The 
second largest Urdu daily, "Nawa-i-Waqt," criticized the NAM and 
noted that "this organization has become a dead horse with its 
leaders wasting their countries' money every three years."  Another 
Urdu daily, "Pakistan," hoped that "Pakistani rulers would not be 
apologetic about Kashmir issue and would tell the world in 
categorical terms that the Kashmir dispute is the core problem 
between India and Pakistan."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"PM Sees Forward Move In Ties With India; Suggests 8-Point Plan For 
NAM To Ensure Peace" "The News" (07/16) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, while noting some forward 
movement in ties with India, has said durable peace in South Asia is 
achievable and it will be facilitated by the resolution of all 
outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir....  He suggested 
NAM to pursue eight-point program to advance the cause of peace and 
development." 
 
"Pakistan, India Reiterate Their Stated Positions" "Dawn" (07/16) 
 
"Indian and Pakistani leaders spelt out on Wednesday their ideas for 
'durable peace' at the 15th Non-Aligned Movement summit with Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh calling for the dismantling of terror 
networks and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani demanding resolution 
of outstanding disputes.  Their remarks at the summit in this 
Egyptian Red Sea resort indicate that they would stick to their 
stated positions in their meeting on Thursday designed to explore 
ways for normalization of their relations that have remained 
strained since the 26/11 Mumbai attack." 
 
"Deadlock In Initial Pak-India Talks" "Dawn" (07/16) 
 
"Talks between Foreign Secretaries of Pakistan and India held in the 
Egyptian resort town on Tuesday night failed to make any progress on 
the issue of resumption of composite dialogue.  Now observers here 
are pinning hopes on the Prime Ministers of the two countries to 
achieve a breakthrough in their meeting on Thursday." 
 
"India Wants Kashmir, Sir Creek Out Of Talks" "The News" (07/16) 
 
"India has asked Pakistan to scrap the composite dialogue initiated 
about 15 years ago, urging a change in the format of talks between 
the two countries.  With the new proposal, New Delhi has hinted at 
removing the Sir Creek dispute from the agenda of talks and bringing 
about a change in the status of the Kashmir dispute that has been 
listed as one of the two major items namely Jammu and Kashmir and 
Peace and Security." 
 
"U.S. Welcomes Indo-Pak Talks" "The News," "The Nation" website 
(07/16) 
 
"The United States on Wednesday welcomed the imminent meeting 
between Pakistani and Indian Prime Ministers in Sharm El-Sheikh and 
expressed the hope that the high-level contacts between the two 
nuclear South Asian nations would lead to better understanding 
towards improved relations.  Assistant Secretary of State for South 
Asia Robert Blake also welcomed the reports that Pakistan will 
proceed with prosecution of militants accused of involvement in 
Mumbai attacks." 
 
"No U.S. Role In Gilani, Singh Meeting: Blake" "Daily Times" 
(07/16) 
 
"U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Robert Blake has 
said the U.S. had no role in the meeting between Prime Minister 
Yousuf Raza Gilani and his Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh, in 
Sharm El-Sheikh." 
 
"Top Commander, 13 Others Killed In Swat" "The News" (07/16) 
 
"Security forces on Wednesday claimed to have killed the most wanted 
terrorist leader Abu Laith and 13 other Taliban militants, including 
two foreigners during the ongoing military operation 'Rah-e-Rast' in 
Swat valley amid the arrival of the displaced people." 
 
"Taliban Commander Relatives Held" "Pakistan Observer" (07/16) 
 
"The security forces have arrested four close relatives of Taliban 
commander Shah Doran on Nowshera-Mardan border on Wednesday." 
 
"Air Strike, Rocket Attacks In Waziristan" "Dawn" (07/16) 
 
"Five militants and two civilians were killed and seven others 
injured in air strikes and rocket attacks in South Waziristan and 
the adjacent Jandola region on Wednesday.  According to security 
officials, planes shelled two compounds occupied by militants in 
Sararogha and Laddha areas of South Waziristan." 
 
"Six Suspected Militants Arrested" "The News" (07/16) 
 
"Security forces arrested six suspected militants and demolished a 
house during a search operation in Bara tehsil in Khyber Agency on 
Wednesday." 
 
"2 Killed In North Waziristan Agency (NWA) For Curfew Violation" 
"The News" (07/16) 
 
"The security forces killed two tribesmen for allegedly violating 
curfew in the troubled North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Wednesday." 
 
"Zawahiri Asks Pakistanis To Join Jihad" "Dawn" (07/16) 
 
"Ayman Al Zawahiri, the Al Qaeda number two, has urged Pakistanis to 
support militants in their battle against a U.S.-led 'crusade' which 
he said threatened the country's existence.  In an eight-minute, 
49-second English-language video called 'My Muslim Brothers and 
Sisters in Pakistan,' Zawahiri said that U.S. intervention in 
Pakistan's military and politics could break up the country." 
 
"More IDP Families Back Home" "Dawn" (07/16) 
 
"The return of internally displaced people to their homes gained 
momentum on Wednesday when 1277 families left for Swat and Buner 
districts.  The Emergency Response Unit (ERU) announced that after 
completion of Phase-II of the voluntary return plan 'Naway Sahar' on 
July 16, Phase III for the IDPs living in camps would commence on 
July 17 and would continue till July 20." 
 
"U.S. Sets Terms For Talks With Taliban" "Dawn," "The News" (07/16) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that 
America was willing to engage those Taliban fighters, who renounced 
violence and agreed to help build a free and open society.  In a 
major foreign policy speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in 
Washington, Secretary Clinton also acknowledged Pakistan's key 
position in bringing peace to Afghanistan and announced that she 
planned to visit Islamabad in the autumn." 
 
"UN Probe Team Arrives" "Dawn" (07/16) 
 
"An advance team of the UN commission to probe into Benazir Bhutto's 
assassination arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday.  The members of the 
commission were expected to be in the country until July 19, a 
source said." 
 
"Oil For NATO Smuggled Back To Pakistan: Asim" "The News" (07/16) 
 
"The government on Wednesday conceded that oil supply to NATO forces 
in Afghanistan is dumped in Pakistan, which hurts the national kitty 
as well as the economy, Prime Minister's Advisor on Petroleum and 
Natural Resources Dr. Asim Hussain told the National Assembly 
Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Ineffective NAM," an editorial in the second-largest, center-right 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (07/16) 
 
"This organization has become a dead horse with its leaders wasting 
their countries' money every three years.  India is the founder of 
the organization and what is happening in Kashmir is an open 
violation of the Havana Declaration...." 
 
"Possibility Of Pak-India Dialogue Resumption," an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (07/16) 
 
"We expect from the Pakistani rulers that they would not be 
apologetic about Kashmir issue and would tell the world in 
categorical terms that the Kashmir dispute is the core problem. 
Moreover, only that resolution of the issue would be accepted which 
would be acceptable to the9qQ  }eE*TCMEPkld have the 
illusion that objective realities of Kashmir could be suppressed on 
the pretext of war against terrorism." 
 
"Sharm El-Sheikh: What Will Be The Outcome Of Pak-India Premiers' 
Meeting," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right 
Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (07/16) 
 
"Sharm El-Sheikh is called the city of peace and the meeting of 
Pak-India heads of governments there is a welcome development. 
Pakistan leadership should present its stand forcefully, making it 
clear that the desire for dialogue is Pakistan's decency rather than 
weakness." 
 
"Pak-India Relations: Build Bridges Not Walls," an editorial in 
Lahore-based populist Urdu daily "Waqt" (cir. 10,000) (07/16) 
 
"India should not lag behind on Pakistan's offer for talks in order 
to establish lasting peace in the region.  This will also allow 
Pakistan and India to work jointly against terrorism." 
 
"Pak-India Dialogue And NAM Summit," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (07/16) 
 
"The deadlock between India and Pakistan gave advantage to those 
forces which wanted to create justification of intervention by 
pushing them toward conflict....  If both the countries agree to 
positive steps for improving the relations then it would be 
exemplary for the progress of South Asia's economy and social 
development." 
 
"Why Talk To India?," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (07/16) 
 
"The fact is that while India has shown good economic indicators and 
has generally been courted by the West over the last few years, all 
its efforts can go awry without being at peace with Pakistan. 
Non-state actors can pull the two sides to war and while such a 
conflict would be deadly for Pakistan, any victory would be more 
than pyrrhic for India....  Corollary: both countries need peace. 
Caveat: they can't move forward without respecting each other's 
sensitivities.  The time for one-upmanship is over." 
 
"Hope For Peace," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal English 
daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (07/16) 
 
"Lasting peace demands a change of strategy rather than that of 
tactics.  Peace is not just an ideal, it is also a long-term 
realism. Peace and cooperation between the two great South Asian 
nations can guarantee prosperity and development on both sides of 
the international frontiers.  It is time that improvement of 
Indo-Pak relations be transformed into a process rather than an 
isolated and ephemeral incident." 
 
"Looming Threat Of Maoists," an op-ed by Mohammad Jamil in the 
Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (07/16) 
 
"Despite the rhetoric of having good relations with Pakistan, India 
is keeping the focus entirely spotted on Pakistan to demonize it as 
a state, denigrate its agencies and its military, to project it as a 
state sponsoring terrorism globally, to isolate it internationally 
with a view to reaping a harvest of gains.  But this path is fraught 
with dangers because the escalation of tensions and then war between 
the two nuclear states could be disastrous.  It is, therefore, in 
the best interest of both India and Pakistan to resolve all 
outstanding issues and resume composite dialogue process." 
 
"Making Of Sideshow Artists," an op-ed Javed Naqvi in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (07/16) 
 
"By carrying their laundry bags to regional and international 
summits, albeit to meet on the so-called sidelines, the two 
countries (India-Pakistan) come across as churlish, immature 
neighbors.  This is not an encouraging attribute for the 
nuclear-weapons states they both have gate-crashed their way to 
become.  One day they declare to each other - and thereby to the 
rest of the world - that their peace process is irreversible come 
what may.  The next day their envoys would be seeking the first 
available agony aunt to offload their all-too-familiar travails to, 
be it about life-threatening terrorism or life-giving water 
resources among their other unresolved bilateral topics." 
 
"Afghanistan: Pizza And Pashakal," an op-ed by I.M. Mohsin in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(07/16) 
 
"It is becoming clear that the neo-cons, either due to their 
obsessions or bad faith, misled George W, the raw, to fight against 
history.  Obama is far too sharp not to have realized what is 
hurting the U.S.  However, the known lobbies are also arraigned 
against a change.  This is being inflamed by the presidential 
election due in Kabul.  If history holds, the Pashtuns will not duck 
attacking as per their proverb, 'The heavens will remain as they 
are, but the foreign rulers will be gone.'" 
 
"The Moscow Summit," an op-ed by Tariq Fatemi in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/16) 
 
"Coming at a time when the U.S. is finding it increasingly difficult 
to supply its troops in Afghanistan by the land corridor through 
Pakistan, the Russian offer is important, both in terms of the 
political message that it sends to the region, as well as in easing 
a major U.S. concern....  First of all it sends a strong message to 
the international community that when it comes to confronting 
terror, Russia will stand by the U.S., because Moscow feels equally 
concerned about the growing threat of Islamic militancy brewing in 
its territory where Muslims are in large numbers....  For Pakistan, 
the U.S.-Russia agreement on over-flights is a stark reminder that 
while Washington will continue to use our transit facilities, it is 
already exploring other options, to ensure that it does not become 
totally dependent on us." 
 
"Resetting U.S.-Russia Ties," an op-ed by Nauman Asghar in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(07/16) 
 
"Washington seeks Russia's help in finding a solution to Iran's 
nuclear program.  Russia has close economic and strategic ties with 
Iran whereas the U.S. has been hostile to Iran for the past three 
decades....  Russian foreign policy experts are of the view that the 
non-resolution of Iran's nuclear stand-off with the West will keep 
Washington's attention distracted from working in East Europe to the 
detriment of Russian interests.  Indubitably Washington pursues a 
contradictory approach as it wants Russia to join hands with the 
West to contain Iran's nuclear ambitions but itself goes ahead with 
encroaching upon Russia's traditional sphere of influence in East 
Europe and Central Asia.  Therefore mere change of tone will not be 
enough but a paradigm change in thinking patterns is necessary in 
Washington to undo the damage done to U.S.-Russia ties." 
 
"Old Habits Die Hard," an op-ed by Kurt Jacobsen and Sayeed Hasan 
Khan in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English 
daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/16) 
 
"The ballyhooed withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq is mostly a 
mirage. Obama is continuing the Bush administration's planned 
version of Vietnamization, changing the color of the corpses of the 
soldiers, but intending to keep an ample military presence there to 
control Iraqi oil reserves.  That's surely no way to dispel distrust 
of US motives in the Middle East....  The U.S. under Obama is poised 
to replay the same pointless idiocies in Afghanistan.  Sending in 
gung-ho military forces that can't seem to tell the difference 
between a guerilla group and a wedding party is no boon to regional 
peace.  The over pour of violence into Pakistan's western regions 
hardly testifies in favor of the wisdom of U.S. policies." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson