VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #1680/01 2041039
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231039Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3943
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 9833
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 5540
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0969
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 7616
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1611
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001680 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JULY 23, 2009 
 
Summary:  All newspapers on Thursday ran as their lead story reports 
that the Supreme Court "took an unprecedented step in the country's 
judicial history by inviting former military ruler (Musharraf) to 
defend his extra constitutional actions in the court."  Reports and 
photographs on Ambassador Holbrooke's engagements in Islamabad and 
his meeting with Pakistan government officials flashed on the front 
page.   Newspapers highlighted his comments that "(former) President 
Musharraf is history and the U.S. would not rescue him."  Also 
front-paged were reports that "Prime Minister Gilani demanded the 
U.S. to stop the drone attacks and share real time, credible and 
actionable intelligence with Pakistan."  Reports that "28 militants 
were killed in the ongoing military operation in Swat, Buner and Dir 
Lower" also figured prominently.  Also highlighted was the provision 
of "$65 million on immediate basis" by the U.S. for the IDPs. 
 
Local political developments and issues dominated editorial themes 
in most major dailies.  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"SC Calls Musharraf To Defend November 3 Actions" "Dawn" (07/23) 
 
"The Supreme Court took an unprecedented step in the country's 
judicial history on Wednesday by inviting a former military ruler 
(Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf) to defend his extra-constitutional 
actions in the court." 
 
"U.S. Won't Rescue Musharraf, Says Holbrooke" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"U.S. special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke 
said on Wednesday Pervez Musharraf was now history and that the U.S. 
would not defend him.  Talking to the media in Islamabad, he termed 
Musharraf's case Pakistan's internal issue, adding the U.S. respects 
the country's judiciary." 
 
"PM Seeks Technology, Intelligence From U.S." "Dawn" (07/23) 
 
"'Drone attacks in FATA have proved counter-productive and seriously 
impeded Pakistan's efforts towards rooting out militancy and 
terrorism,' Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told Richard 
Holbrooke, the U.S. Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, on 
Wednesday.  He asked the United States to share real-time, credible 
and actionable intelligence with Pakistan and provide it technology 
to counter militants. 
 
"28 Militants Killed in Operation Rah-e-Rast" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"Twenty-eight militants were killed and several houses were razed 
during the ongoing military operation Rah-e-Rast in Swat Valley, 
Buner and Dir Lower on Wednesday." 
 
"U.S. Advances $65 Million For IDPs" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"The Obama Administration on Wednesday informed Pakistan that out of 
total U.S. pledged assistance of $165 million for Internally 
Displaced Persons (IDPs) of Swat and Buner, Washington would provide 
$65 million on immediate basis while remaining $100 million would be 
released within the next few weeks, U.S. Assistance Secretary for 
International Refugees, Eric Schwartz told the 'The News, in 
Islamabad." 
 
"U.S. To Help But Basically Pakistan Is On Its Own" "The News" 
(07/23) 
 
"The U.S. point man on Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke, 
has said while the U.S. is trying its best to financially help out 
Pakistan but Pakistan needs to overcome its economic miseries 
compounded by the war on terror and the IDP crisis, while addressing 
a press conference in Islamabad on Wednesday along with Minister of 
State for Economic Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar." 
 
"U.S. Asks Pakistan: Stop Begging, Rely On Own Resources: F.P. 
Report" (07/23) 
 
"U.S. Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke 
has asked Pakistan to rely on its own resources to overcome its 
financial difficulties faced by the South-Asian nation.  Addressing 
a joint press conference with Minister for State on Finance Hina 
Rabbani Khar in Islamabad on Wednesday, visiting U.S. envoy 
regretted that the international community did not offered 
'satisfactory cooperation' to Pakistan for overcoming its financial 
hardships.  However, Holbrooke assured that the U.S. would continue 
its support for the country." 
 
"Gilani Seeks Help From U.S. And Friendly States" "Business 
Recorder" (07/23) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has called upon the U.S. and 
other friendly countries to come forward in a big way to help 
Pakistan in the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase as the 
dislocated persons have started moving back to their homes in the 
cleared areas of Malakand division.  Talking to Richard Holbrooke in 
Islamabad on Wednesday, Gilani urged the U.S. administration to 
expedite the process of early passage of Kerry Lugar and ROZ bills 
from the U.S. Congress." 
 
"World Owes To Pakistan, Says Zardari" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday said Pakistan needed a 
Marshal Plan to overcome its economic problems compounded by the 
fight against militancy and urged the international community to 
come forward to help Pakistan.  The President made these remarks 
during the meeting with U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and 
Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, who called on him, in Islamabad on 
Wednesday evening at the Presidency." 
 
"Holbrooke Calls On Kayani, Pasha" "Daily Times" (07/23) 
 
"U.S. Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke on 
Wednesday called on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani at the 
General Headquarters and discussed various defence matters with him. 
Sources said General Kayani briefed the U.S. official about the 
recent success against the Taliban in Swat and the neighboring 
districts during the two-month-long operation." 
 
"Pakistan Raises Concern Over U.S. Afghan Offensive" "The News" 
(07/23) 
 
"Pakistan raised concern on Wednesday with the visiting U.S. Envoy 
Richard Holbrooke over a U.S.-led offensive in neighboring southern 
Afghanistan that Islamabad fears could send Taliban fighters across 
the border could destabilize Balochistan, Foreign Office spokesman 
Abdul Basit said." 
 
"Former IB Chief Says U.S. Created Taliban" "The Post" (07/23) 
 
"Former Chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) Brig. (Retd) Imtiaz Ahmad 
has said that the United States created Taliban in order to occupy 
the Asian region.  'Hamid Karzai was the trogon horse of the Unites 
States and he would not have worked long if had he been brought in 
the beginning,' he told BBC during an interview in Islamabad on 
Wednesday after remaining silent for 19 years since his retirement." 
 
 
"Qureshi, Clinton Take Up Op Today" "The Post" (07/23) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi would hold an important 
meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today 
(Thursday) in Thailand on the sidelines of ASEAN Regional Forum 
(ARF).  Talking to a private TV channel, Foreign Minister Shah 
Mehmood Qureshi said that the meeting would discuss bilateral 
relations between the two countries, especially in context with 
operation against militants." 
 
"Terrorist Training Centre Bombed In S. Waziristan" "Dawn" (07/23) 
 
"Ten militants were killed when military planes bombed suspected 
positions of militants in South Waziristan on Wednesday.  AFP quoted 
an official as saying that the planes bombed two places in the 
Sarwakai area of South Waziristan.  Both places were destroyed and a 
The militants killed in the strikes belonged to Mehsud's group, he 
said." 
 
"Jirga For Door-To-Door Search In Buner To Fret Out Militants" 
"Dawn" (07/23) 
 
"A Jirga has unanimously resolved that the ongoing military 
operation in the region must be made effective and sustainable by 
launching door-to-door search in every village to clear the area of 
militants." 
 
"Soldier Killed, 5 Injured In Miramshah" "Dawn" (07/23) 
 
"One soldier was killed and five other sustained injuries when a 
mortar shell hit their base camp in Miramshah town of North 
Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday, official said." 
 
"Two Militants Held, Several Hideouts Destroyed In Bajaur" "The 
News" (07/23) 
 
"Security forces arrested two militants and dismantled several 
hideouts during search operation in Charmang area of the troubled 
Bajaur Agency on Wednesday." 
 
"New Taliban Group Formed In Waziristan" "The Nation" (07/23) 
 
"Three groups of Taliban in South Waziristan Agency on Wednesday 
selected Ikhlas Khan alias Waziristan Baba as the new Ameer of 
Abdullah Mehsud group.  Talking to a private TV channel, Ikhlas Khan 
said that Baitullah Mehsud and other groups would not be allowed to 
indulge in cruel activities against innocent people." 
 
"16 Arrested In Mohmand Agency" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"The political administration arrested 16 tribesmen and seized their 
seven vehicles for their failure to hand over wanted persons to the 
government in Halimzai tehsil.  Separately, the Jirga of Safi 
subdivision handed over 31 suspected persons to administration." 
 
"Four Bodies Recovered In Tank" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"Four bullet-riddled bodies, reported to be of Mehsud tribesmen, 
were recovered from Pather area, five kilometers away from Tank on 
Wednesday." 
 
"Militant's Body Recovered, 8 Houses Razed" "The News" (07/23) 
 
"A bullet-riddled body of a militant commander Haider Ali was 
recovered while the security forces demolished eight houses of the 
militants and a Madarassa during search operations in different 
areas of Mingora district on Wednesday." 
 
"Malakand Educational Institutes To Open On August 1, "The Post" 
(07/23) 
 
"Provincial Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Barrister Arshad 
Abdullah have said all the educational institutions of the Malakand 
division would reopen on August 1.  Talking to television network, 
he said normalcy is fast returning to Buner and 85 percent of the 
displaced people have returned back to their homes." 
 
"80 Government Officials Held For Alleged Taliban Links" "The News" 
(07/23) 
 
"Eighty government officials of lower and higher ranks have been 
taken into custody on the suspicion of supporting extremists 
financially and in many other ways, a private TV channel reported on 
Wednesday." 
 
"India-U.S. Ties Not To Affect Pakistan, Says Qureshi" "Dawn" 
(07/23) 
 
"The Minister told The Associated Press on the sidelines of the 
annual ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand (Phuket) that Pakistan was 
not concerned about closer ties between Washington and Delhi. 'We 
have a very independent relationship with the United States and if 
India gets closer to the United States it will not affect us because 
we have been allies for 60 years." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Rehman Malik And Drone Attacks," an editorial in the 
second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(cir. 150,000) (07/23) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that America, the champion 
of democracy should heed the voices raised in our assemblies and 
stop attacks on Pakistan....  These drone attacks would not stop by 
mere statement and requests....  The government should gun down any 
plane or helicopter violating Pakistan airspace.  This is the way to 
stop drone attacks." 
 
"The Awam And Donkeys," an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/23) 
 
"When it comes to our Awam, that repository of Pakistani wisdom, 
America can do no right.  If America is generous with her assistance 
it is because our support is indispensible; if America is 
forthcoming with equipment and weaponry it is only to better enable 
Pakistan to fight America's war; if America engages with Pakistan 
intensively it is merely to pressurize Pakistan to bow to 
Washington's demands; if America extends assurances of friendship it 
is because Americans are shameless liars; if Washington offers 
intelligence sharing it is a mere ruse to enable the CIA to 
penetrate Pakistan's intelligence agencies; if the Americans install 
a command and control system for the safety of our nuclear assets it 
is a tactic to undermine Pakistan's nuclear program and eventually 
seize our nuclear weapons....  To shun the help of the most powerful 
nation in the world today; and one that is able, willing and eager 
to help (albeit for her own reasons) merely because the Awam prefer 
to live in a fantasy world of illusion and cannot bear reality would 
be unwise.  Actually, Pakistan has no choice." 
 
"The RAW Dossier," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (07/23) 
 
"If there are rogue elements within RAW who are acting 
independently, they must be taken to task forthwith.  Pakistan also 
needs to put its own intelligence agencies under the microscope and 
determine whether a similar cull is needed here.  U.S. Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton urged India the other day to help Pakistan in 
the fight against terrorism, for the common good of both countries. 
This is advice worth heeding because the two neighbors are now at a 
crossroads and need to choose a course that will relegate past 
follies to the realm of history.  It is not the intelligence 
agencies that have paid the price for our mutual antagonism.  It is 
the poor people of the subcontinent who have suffered at the hands 
of a money-guzzling war machine." 
 
"Naove Remarks," an editorial in the center-right national English 
daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (07/23) 
 
"Indo-Pakistan joint statement issued at Sharm El-Shaikh in which 
New Delhi had agreed to de-link the issue of terrorism from the 
composite dialogue process....  It is a pity that it has now backed 
down on the pledge to resume the dialogue.  Rather than assuming a 
threatening posture in asserting itself as a regional hegemon, India 
must come to the negotiating table to meet the demands of good sense 
and peace in the Subcontinent." 
 
"India's Half-Step To Talks," an op-ed by Asif Ezdi in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(07/23) 
 
"Despite the formal de-linking of terrorism from the dialogue, it is 
clear that India will maintain an effective connection between the 
two....  Manmohan Singh is keen to resume the dialogue because, 
whatever the importance of curbing terrorism following the trauma of 
Mumbai, India's broader objectives towards Pakistan and in the 
region cannot be realized without holding talks....  Second, India 
would like that Pakistan acknowledge the role assigned to it in 
Afghanistan under Obama's Af-Pak policy.  Obama has proposed a 
contact group on Afghanistan and Pakistan, with India as an 
important member.  This arrangement, which would amount to 
recognition of India's hegemonic role in the region, has not yet 
been formalized because of Pakistan-India differences.  India hopes 
that with a resumption of the bilateral dialogue with Pakistan, 
Pakistan would be more accommodating." 
 
"Israeli Activities And Arab League's Resolve," an editorial in 
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (07/23) 
 
"The Arab League should strive to counter Israel's attempts to 
change the identity of occupied Jerusalem.  The Muslim brotherhood 
must help the Arab League in these efforts." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson