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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001613 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 17, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports and photographs of the meeting of Prime Minister 
Gilani with his India counterpart on the sidelines of the NAM summit 
in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) dominated front pages on Friday. 
Newspapers reported that "India agreed to delink talks from terror 
fight" and termed it as a "major (Indian) retreat from its hard-line 
position on resumption of peace talks."  Pegged to it were reports 
that "Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took U-turn on talks" by 
declaring that "peace talks would remain on hold until Islamabad 
took action against the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks."  Newspapers 
also highlighted reports on a "likely meeting" between President 
Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday "after 
months of an acrimonious relationship."  Reports on the Chairman 
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen's, meeting with 
the Pakistani military leadership and his visit to an IDPs camp in 
the NWFP, also garnered prominent coverage.  All dailies front-paged 
reports that "an official of the UNHCR along with his guard were 
gunned down "after a failed kidnapping bid" in Peshawar. 
 
Most major dailies ran editorials on the meeting of Pakistani and 
Indian prime ministers in Egypt and the joint communiqu issued 
after their parleys. The English daily, "Dawn," noted that "instead 
of describing this development as some kind of victory for Pakistan, 
we would do well to hail India's timely recognition that terrorism 
and militancy should not be allowed to come in the way of improved 
relations."  Another English newspaper, "Daily Times," observed that 
"it is no use talking to India if the two countries retain their 
hostile stances and keep on regurgitating their old positions."  The 
Urdu daily, "Pakistan," wrote: "This is a reality that resumption of 
Pak-India composite dialogue is not easy, but America and some other 
countries are pressing India to hold talks with Pakistan."  End 
Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"India Agrees To Delink Talks From Terror Fight" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"In a major retreat from its hard-line position on resumption of 
peace talks, India on Thursday agreed to de-link 'Composite 
Dialogue' from action against terrorism and hold talks with Pakistan 
on all outstanding issues.  The breakthrough at this Egyptian resort 
was achieved during a meeting between Prime Minister Yousuf Raza 
Gilani and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of NAM 
summit." 
 
"Singh Takes U-Turn On Talks" "The News" (07/17) 
 
"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Thursday that peace 
talks with Pakistan would remain on hold until Islamabad took action 
against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.  He was speaking to 
reporters after talks with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on the 
sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement's summit in Egypt..." 
 
"Singh Moves To Pacify Indian Opposition" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"In what appeared to be a move to neutralize criticism by some 
opposition circles in his country to the agreement with Pakistan to 
resume talks and rebuild ties damaged after the Mumbai attacks, 
Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh appeared to contradict what 
he had committed in the joint statement he had signed in Sharm 
El-Sheikh earlier on Thursday with his counterpart Yousuf Raza 
Gilani." 
 
"Talks Resumption To Promote Peace, Says Experts" "Daily Times" 
(07/17) 
 
"Foreign affairs experts have welcomed Indo-Pak agreement on 
restoring the stalled peace process for conflict resolution.  They 
say it's important that Islamabad and New Delhi continue talking to 
each other until the resolution of all outstanding issues including 
Kashmir conflict." 
 
"Zardari Likely To Visit Raiwind Today" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"A new and crucial phase of political reconciliation between the PPP 
and PML-N is on the cards as President Asif Ali Zardari plans to 
visit former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's palatial farm outside 
Lahore for a meeting on Friday.  After months of acrimonious 
relationship following Mr. Sharif's decision to pull out his party 
from the federal cabinet over the issue of restoration of the 
judiciary, President Zardari earlier this week extended the olive 
branch by calling the PML-N leader on phone to discuss the prospects 
of a rapprochement." 
 
"Mullen Meets Kayani" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen held 
meetings with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Tariq 
Majid and Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here on 
Thursday and exchanged views with them on the situation in areas 
along the Pakistan-Afghan border, war on terror and the military 
operation in the NWFP." 
 
"Mullen Praises Handling Of IDP Crisis" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen 
visited the internally displaced persons at Jalozai camp as IDPs 
continued to return to their hometowns on Thursday.  Mr. Mullen 
praised the Pakistan government for its handling of the IDPs issue 
to avert a humanitarian crisis." 
 
"Mullen All Praise For Pak Army Operation" "The Nation" (07/17) 
 
"Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen has 
expressed his satisfaction over the way the security forces of 
Pakistan were trying to dismantle terror networks of the outlawed 
TTP Chief Baitullah Mehsud and mounting pressure on him soon.  The 
United States' top military officer made these remarks during his 
meetings with Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani on 
Thursday." 
 
"U.S. Should Not Add To Our Difficulties: Gen. Kiyani Tells To 
Mullen" "Ummat" (07/17) 
 
"Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani in a meeting with 
visiting American military chief Mike Mullen has urged on U.S. not 
to add to the difficulties of Pakistan.  Sources said Gen. Kiyani 
registered protest with American military chief over the continued 
U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan." 
 
"UNHCR Official, Guard Shot Dead" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"UNHCR official and a security guard of the Commissionerate of 
Afghan Refugees were shot dead at the Kacha Ghari camp for 
internally displaced persons in Peshawar on Thursday.  According to 
a UNHCR spokesperson, senior national staffer Zill-e-Usman was on a 
routine visit to the camp when some people in an apparent kidnapping 
attempt opened fire on him.  He died on the spot." 
 
"UN Urges Sustained Help For Pakistan" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes has asked 
the international community to bolster aid to the more than two 
million people who had fled the conflict between the armed forces 
and insurgents in Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province.  However, 
he pointed out that money would only cover food and other basic 
emergency needs for a few weeks. Much more would be needed to 
sustain relief efforts through year's end." 
 
"Hillary Phones Zardari" "The Nation," "Daily Times" (07/17) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Thursday night called 
President Asif Ali Zardari and reiterated U.S. support for the 
rehabilitation of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). 
According to presidential spokesman, American Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton also welcomed the launch of UN probe into Benazir 
Bhutto's assassination." 
 
"UN Probe Team Calls On Zardari" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"A three-member UN commission assigned to probe the assassination of 
Benazir Bhutto called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday. 
The President expressed fears that some PPP men and outsiders could 
obstruct the UN investigation...." 
 
"Qureshi-Clinton Meeting Likely on ARF Sidelines" "The Nation" 
(07/17) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is likely to meet the U.S. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the sidelines of ASEAN 
Regional Forum (ARF) meeting in Thailand scheduled for 17-23 July, 
said a diplomatic source in Islamabad on Thursday desiring not to be 
named." 
 
"Operation Only against Terrorists, Wazirs Assured" "Daily Times" 
(07/17) 
 
"NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani visited Wana on Thursday to seek 
the support of Ahmedzai Wazir tribes against Baitullah Mehsud, the 
chief of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.  'No action is being taken 
against Mehsud tribes.  Instead certain steps are underway against 
those elements who have not only been openly challenging the writ of 
the government but also have accepted the responsibility of 
terrorist activities in various parts of the country,' the governor 
told a Jirga of Ahmedzai Wazirs." 
 
"Eight Militants Killed In Swat: ISPR" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"The army claimed that eight terrorists, including local commander 
Bilal, had been killed during an operation in Loe Namal and Pansarat 
areas of Swat on Wednesday and Thursday.  According to the ISPR, 20 
hideouts of militants were destroyed, 15 terrorists captured and a 
large quantity of arms and ammunition seized." 
 
"Three Tribesmen Die In Waziristan Mine Blast" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"Three tribesmen were killed and three others injured when their 
vehicle hit a landmine on Miramshah-Ghulam Khan road in North 
Waziristan on Thursday.  According to sources, the landmine was 
planted by militants on the road near Darga Mandi to target military 
vehicles." 
 
"Tribesmen Storm Militant Hideout In Kala Dhaka" "The News" (07/17) 
 
"An alleged militant and his accomplices on Thursday took positions 
on a hilltop after his own tribe stormed his hideout in Kala Dhaka, 
official sources said." 
 
"Militants Kill abducted Lashkar Man" "The News" (07/17) 
 
"One of the three Lashkar men, who were kidnapped by militants after 
a fierce clash, was found dead in Ambar tehsil of Mohmand Agency on 
Thursday, while the two others are still in the captivity of 
insurgents." 
 
"Six Held In Bara Raid" "The News" (07/17) 
 
"Security forces arrested six suspected militants in Sepa area in 
Bara tehsil on Thursday, sources said." 
 
"Explosive-Laden Car Seized In Peshawar" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"Police claimed to have foiled a sabotage attempt by seizing an 
explosive-laden car on the Shahabkhel Road in the suburbs of 
Peshawar on Thursday, an official of the Badbher Police Station told 
'Dawn.'" 
 
"Child Killed In Buner Shelling" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"A child was killed and 14 persons sustained injuries when security 
forces and militants exchanged fire after the latter attacked a 
security post at Tangoo Pul near Bajkatta village in Buner in the 
small hours of Thursday." 
 
"ISI Inspector shot Dead In Timergara" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"Inspector Rahim Gul, an official of the Inter Services Intelligence 
was shot dead by unidentified people in a busy market area of this 
main town of Lower Dir on Thursday morning, eyewitnesses told 
'Dawn.'" 
 
"Pakistan Madarassa Reforms In Tatters" "Daily Times" (07/17) 
 
"The government has virtually shelved a US-aided, multi-million 
dollar plan to reform Madarassas considered nurseries of terrorism, 
as it has failed to garner the support of clerics....  'The Interior 
Ministry held talks with various Madarassas ... but many of them 
refused to accept the government's intervention,' said Mufti Gulzar 
Ahmed Naeemi, a senior official of the mainstream Sunni clerics 
alliance, Jamaat Ahl-e-Sunnat." 
 
"U.S. To Sign $20 Billion Accords With India" "Dawn" (07/17) 
 
"India may award more than $20 billion in contracts to American 
companies building nuclear power plants and selling defence 
technology, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hopes to unveil the two 
agreements when she visits India next week." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"A Step Forward," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/17) 
 
"Whether the latest round of talks between PMs Yousuf Raza Gilani 
and Manmohan Singh will alter ground realities is immaterial at this 
stage.  Equally irrelevant at this point is the role, if any, played 
by the U.S. in convincing India to take a more flexible stand. 
Major powers almost invariably find a say in issues of major 
geopolitical import, and a continued stand-off between Pakistan and 
India is to no one's benefit.  What matters most is that the two 
neighbors appear to have found the middle ground and acknowledged 
that dialogue is the only way forward on the road to peace.... 
Instead of describing this development as some kind of victory for 
Pakistan, we would do well to hail India's timely recognition that 
terrorism and militancy should not be allowed to come in the way of 
improved relations....  Considerable give and take will be required 
in the days to come." 
 
"Indo-Pak Dialogue: Not Yet In Sight?," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (07/17) 
 
"The world wants both sides to talk.  But while it favors India, it 
has also shown some weariness regarding India's position that 
terrorism must first come to an end before anything meaningful can 
be done.  The problem is that terrorism in today's world is not a 
phenomenon that can be toggle-switched by any state.  Neither can it 
be seen sans any context in which inter-state conflicts in this 
region have unfolded.  What Pakistan is doing now is quite correct: 
it is fighting the non state actors and trying quite honestly to get 
its internal sovereignty back.  What India wants from it will be 
possible only if New Delhi begins to understand that contexts cannot 
be set aside, not least because nothing takes place in a vacuum.... 
For instance, the U.S. can talk to it (India) effectively to soften 
its approach in return for what Pakistan can 'realistically' 
deliver....  Finally it is no use talking to India if the two 
countries retain their hostile stances and keep on regurgitating 
their old positions." 
 
"Meeting Of Pak-India Premiers," an editorial in the center-right 
Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (07/17) 
 
"This is a reality that resumption of Paki-India composite dialogue 
is not easy, but America and some other countries are pressing India 
to hold talks with Pakistan....  It is hoped that the Foreign 
Ministers of both the countries will meet in New York on the 
occasion of UN General Assembly meeting in September, 2009." 
 
"Resumption Of Pak-India Talks: Hopes Of Easing Tensions," an 
editorial in Hyderabad based liberal and independent Sindhi Daily 
"Kawish" (Cir. 105,000) (07/17) 
 
"Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Egypt has paved way for 
easing the tensions between India and Pakistan whose history of 
rivalry spreads over six decades.  Meeting between Indian and 
Pakistan's Prime Ministers does give a hope that both have pledged 
not to allow terrorists to hijack peace talks.  The fact is that 
people of both the countries want peaceful relations but then whose 
agenda is to bring both countries on verge of war?  We believe talks 
could lead to peace and stability in the region." 
 
"Once Again Pledge To Continue Talks," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based center-right sensationalist Urdu daily "Ummat" (cir. 
33,000) (07/17) 
 
"Surprisingly joint declaration, issued after meeting of Pakistan 
and Indian Prime Ministers, does not even mention Kashmir and water 
issues, which from Pakistan's point of view are very important 
issues.  It is a worrying factor to notice that an elected 
government holds so called "composite dialogue" without talking on 
Kashmir and water." 
 
"Use Force To Take Kashmir, There Is No Other Resolution," an 
editorial in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (07/17) 
 
"Prime Minister said in Sharm El-Sheikh that durable peace in South 
Asia is possible only after Kashmir issue resolution....  America 
has one again made it clear the other day that neither it is playing 
a role to resolve Kashmir dispute nor it intended to appoint a 
special envoy for the resolution of the dispute.  So, we will have 
to rely on our military strength and backing of the people.  India 
has provided the opportunity on the water issue.  We should tell 
India in categorical terms that now we will speak in the language of 
missiles, for India understands this language very well." 
 
"Move Ahead Of Joint Communiqus," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (07/17) 
 
"Pak-India Premiers meeting is a welcome development.  We hope that 
the process of dialogue will continue and both the countries will 
implement their resolve to solve problems." 
 
"Positive Step Forward," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (07/17) 
 
"Talks between Pakistan and India have ended on a positive note as 
the two countries have agreed to resume the process of composite 
dialogue....  Now the only option left with the two major countries 
of South Asia is to build on the resolve to take this process 
forward in the face of the challenge that is terrorism.  Once 
terrorism is rooted out from the region, issues resolved through 
mutual consultations, and trade carried out between the two 
countries, the benefits will be obvious for the poverty-stricken 
people of the region." 
 
"The Peace Puzzle," an op-ed by Ayesha Siddiqa in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/17) 
 
"At this point in time, Indo-Pakistan ties can hope to make little 
movement.  Given the highs and lows of our bilateral engagement, 
there is little that the two establishments expect from each other. 
They can only try and convince the international community of their 
eagerness to have a debate and ensure the absence of military 
conflict....  However, what appears more likely at this stage is 
that India and Pakistan will muddle through the present times and 
continue with relations that are not normal until a point of greater 
destruction is reached.  This would then teach us a lesson in 
peace." 
 
"Ties With U.S. Prove Injurious," an op-ed by Asif Haroon Raja in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (07/17) 
 
"The army is fully engaged in defeating the militants on multiple 
fronts at the cost of losses in men and material. Our strategic 
reserves are depleting and wear and tear of our weapons and 
equipment is also taking place.  India and the U.S. want Pak army to 
get overstretched and over committed in north-western regions, get 
fatigued and demoralized.  It wants its weapons to get eroded and 
reserve stocks of spare parts and ammunition to get depleted.  It 
wants that army and air force war stamina should dwindle so that 
when the crunch time comes the two services are incapable of 
defending international borders and the sky.  In conclusion one can 
say that friendship with U.S. instead of proving beneficial has 
always been injurious and costly." 
 
"U.S. Thirst For Blood," an op-ed by Dr. Muzaffar Iqbal in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (07/17) 
 
"The insatiable American thirst for blood is now in full bloom in 
this killing season as its drones continue to take the lives of men, 
women, and children in various parts of Pakistani FATA and its 
soldiers continue to dig deeper and deeper into Afghanistan.  This 
continuous lust for blood is something that now defines America. 
Its war machine has become so bloodthirsty that there is no end in 
sight of American occupation of Afghanistan, even though there is 
absolutely no moral or legal justification for its continuous 
operations in that war-ravaged land....  If history can be any 
guide, one can say with certainty that sooner or later the foreign 
troops will have to leave Afghanistan.  Yet, this will not happen 
until the Americans find another place to send their soldiers so 
that their insatiable thirst for blood has new killing fields." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson