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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 001996 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 21, 2009 
 
Summary:  National political stories dominated headlines in several 
major newspapers on Friday.  Reports and photographs of the 
"surrender of 60 Taliban militants of Fazlullah group to security 
forces in Swat" received front page coverage.  Newspapers 
highlighted the Foreign Office Spokesman's remarks that the "U.S. 
help was not linked to IP (Iran-Pakistan) gas project."  His 
repudiation of the media speculations on the expected number of the 
Marines to be stationed at the expanded U.S. Embassy compound in 
Pakistan as "highly inflated" also received extensive coverage. 
Pegged to it were reports that Ambassador Patterson had "rebutted 
reports about U.S. marines (increase in numbers in Pakistan)." 
Reports that "Pakistan started manufacturing of much advanced 
tactical drone - Unmanned Ariel Vehicle indigenously" garnered media 
attention.  U.S. President Obama's remarks that "we took out 
Baitullah Mahsud" the top Taliban leader in Pakistan, received 
prominent display. 
 
Several major dailies ran editorials on Prime Minister Gilani's 
recent remarks that ruled out the possibility of a trial for former 
military President Musharraf and its repercussions.  However, some 
newspapers editorialized the recently concluded visit of the U.S. 
Special Envoy Holbrooke.  The leading mass circulation populist, 
often sensational Urdu daily "Jang," observed that "despite explicit 
concerns of the Obama Administration that the Al Qaeda leadership 
has shifted its stronghold from Afghanistan to Pakistan's North 
Western tribal areas, the recent statements emerging out of 
Washington are also a manifestation of the U.S. desire to establish 
a long-term partnership with Pakistan."  The liberal Urdu daily 
"Express," called Ambassador Holbrooke's visit to Karachi "extremely 
important."  In contrast, the pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" 
described the visit as "worthless to bring about any substantial 
change in the prevailing situation in Pakistan."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"60 Taliban Of Fazlullah Group Surrender" "Dawn" (08/21) 
 
"Sixty militants, a Taliban commander among them, surrendered 
themselves to security forces at the Kanju airport in Swat valley on 
Thursday, Colonel Akhtar, a spokesman for the Swat media centre, 
said." 
 
U.S. Energy Help Not Linked To Iran-Pakistan (IP) Gas Project: FO" 
"The News" (08/21) 
 
"While welcoming the U.S. offer to help Pakistan overcome its acute 
energy shortage, the government says that there is no linkage 
between the U.S. assistance and the Iran-Pakistan (IP) gas pipeline 
project, said the spokesman at the Foreign Office at the weekly 
media briefing....." 
 
"U.S. Keen To Help Pak In Energy Sector: Holbrooke" "The News" 
(08/21) 
 
"U.S. Special Representative to Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke has said 
that U.S. has already started talks with Pakistan government and 
energy experts to determine energy crisis.  Secretary Hillary 
Clinton will be in Islamabad in six weeks, and at that time she 
would make further announcement, he said while talking to a private 
TV channel.  He said that it is big decision that U.S. is to focus 
on energy needs of Pakistan." 
 
"Media's Speculation On U.S. Embassy's Expansion Not True" "Daily 
Times" (08/21) 
 
"The media speculation regarding an increase in the security staff 
at the U.S. Embassy is not correct, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul 
Basit said on Thursday.  Speaking at a weekly briefing, he said the 
U.S. had not yet formally asked for expanding its Embassy compound 
or deploying additional security staff." 
 
"Patterson Rebuts Reports About U.S. Marines" "Daily Times" (08/21) 
 
"Reports of thousands of U.S. Marines being deputed at the U.S. 
Embassy in Islamabad are baseless, a private TV channel quoted U.S. 
Ambassador Anne Patterson as saying on Thursday.  The envoy said 
there were only eight Marines in the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and 
seven more would join them for security duties. She said there had 
been no agreement between former President Pervez Musharraf and the 
U.S. on bringing 2,000 Marines to Pakistan." 
 
"Pakistan Starts UAV's Manufacturing" "The News" (08/21) 
 
"Pakistan has started manufacturing of much-advanced tactical drone 
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)-indigenously.  Chairman PAC Board 
Air Marshal Farhat Hussain Khan inaugurated the commencement of UAV 
Co-Production Project at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) Kamra 
on Thursday." 
 
"We Took Out Mahsud, Says Obama" "The News" (08/21) 
 
"U.S. President Barack Obama said on Thursday 'we took out' 
Baitullah Mahsud, the Pakistani Taliban Chief believed to have been 
killed this month in a missile strike by a U.S. drone.  You've got 
the Pakistan Army for the first time fighting in a very aggressive 
way and that's how we took out Mahsud, Obama told a radio talk show 
host in a live broadcast from the White House." 
 
"Talks Possible If Taliban Disarm, Accept Government's Writ: 
Qureshi" "Daily Times" (08/21) 
 
"Dialogue with the Taliban is possible only if they lay down their 
weapons and accept the writ of the state, Foreign Minister Shah 
Mehmood Qureshi said on Thursday." 
 
"Bajaur Bazaar Reopens After A Year" "Dawn" (08/21) 
 
"The Inayat Kalley Bazaar, a trading hub of Bajaur tribal region, 
was reopened on Thursday after remaining closed for more than a year 
due to unrest in the region, official sources said." 
 
"8 Injured in Rawalpindi Attack" "Dawn" (08/21) 
 
"Eight people, including four policemen, were injured when a bomb 
exploded close to a police patrol car on the Misryal road, 
Rawalpindi on Thursday, City Police Officer Rao Iqbal told 'Dawn.'" 
 
"12 Killed, Several Injured As U.S. Drone Fired Missile In North 
Waziristan" "The Nation" (08/21) 
 
"The death toll of U.S. drone strike early Friday in Danday Darpa 
Khel reached to 12 as women and children are also among the dead, 
whereas several were injured, some of them reported in a critical 
condition, eyewitnesses said.  According to reports, all victims of 
the attack belonged to Afghanistan.  Five houses were also 
demolished in the attack." 
 
"Pakistan, U.S. To Revive Strategic Dialogue" "Dawn" (08/21) 
 
"Pakistan and the United States have agreed to revive the Strategic 
Dialogue and upgrade it to ministerial level for rejuvenating their 
strategic partnership.  The fourth round of the Strategic Dialogue 
will be held in Islamabad during Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton's visit to Pakistan in October, diplomatic sources told 
'Dawn' on Wednesday." 
 
"Friends of Pakistan Group To Meet In Istanbul" "The News" (08/21) 
 
"Senior officials from the Friends of Pakistan group will convene in 
Istanbul next week to discuss development projects for the 
conflict-ridden country, Turkish diplomats said on Thursday." 
 
"U.S. Naval Official Meets COAS And Naval Chief" "Daily Times" 
(08/21) 
 
"U.S. Naval Operations Chief Admiral Gary Roughead called on Chief 
of Army Staff General Ashfaq Kayani on Thursday at the General 
Headquarters.  The visiting dignitary remained with Gen. Kayani for 
some time and discussed matters of professional interest." 
 
"U.S. Releases Pakistani Journalist" "Daily Times," "The News" 
(08/21) 
 
"U.S. immigration officials have released Rahman Bunairee, a 
Pakistani journalist working for Voice of America's 'Deewa Radio.' 
Rahman Bunairee, 33, was freed on Wednesday, more than a week after 
he arrived in the United States and was taken into custody at Dulles 
International Airport outside Washington." 
 
"Pakistan Under Pressure At Geneva N-talks" "Dawn" (08/21) 
 
"Pakistan came under severe pressure from the major nuclear powers 
on Thursday to end its defiance of 64 other countries in blocking 
international disarmament talks.  Despite warnings that the blockage 
could discredit the world's principal disarmament forum, Pakistan's 
ambassador Zamir Akram held firm against an unusual joint offensive 
by Britain, China, Russia and the United States." 
 
"United States Donates Five Ambulances For Use In Buner, Mardan And 
Charsadda" "The Statesman," "Business Recorder" (08/21) 
 
"The United States government donated five ambulances to the 
districts of Mardan, Buner and Charsadda of the NWFP province on 
Thursday." 
 
"U.S. Embassy Opens Martin Luther King Reading Room At The Islamabad 
Club" "The News" (08/21) 
 
"U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Counselor Gonzalo R. Gallegos 
officially opened the Martin Luther King (MLK) Reading Room at the 
Islamabad Club in a ceremony on Thursday, says a press release." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Pak-U.S. Relations - Create Confidence In The Masses," an editorial 
in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu 
daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (08/21) 
 
"Despite the specific concerns of the Obama Administration that the 
al-Qaeda leadership has shifted its stronghold from Afghanistan to 
Pakistan's North Western tribal areas, the recent statements 
emerging out of Washington are also a manifestation of the U.S. 
desire to establish a long-term partnership with Pakistan, in stark 
contrast to its previous attitude. Addressing a press conference in 
Karachi, the visiting U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke, said that 'the 
relations between the U.S. and Pakistan now are above politics.' It 
was his fifth visit to Pakistan during the last six months, 
therefore various circles are also expressing their reservations 
over the increased frequency of these forays.  According to one 
point of view, in the presence of an active American ambassador, the 
appointment of a special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan may be a 
part of the greater game being played in the region since the 9/11 
attacks. Another group says that the term 'Af-Pak' has reduced 
Pakistan to the status of an extremely backward and balkanized 
region being ruled by the notorious warlords while in the past, it 
considered a country at par with India.  Another school of thought 
opines that the U.S. special envoy should have been authorized to 
deal only with the top officials of the Pakistan government and he 
should avoid meetings with the leaders of main political parties of 
the country.  However, the U.S. government says that it wants to 
help its ally at the grass-root level therefore it is necessary to 
take all stakeholders, including the opposition parties, on board, 
to achieve this goal. There is a popular perception in Pakistan that 
the freedom of the future generations has been mortgaged in lieu of 
the foreign loans. The foreign powers often used their financial aid 
as a stick to blackmail the underprivileged countries.  The 
international community, particularly the U.S., will improve its 
standing in the eyes of the masses by helping Pakistan to get rid of 
its foreign debts." 
 
"Richard Holbrooke's Visit To Karachi And Important Announcements," 
an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (08/21) 
 
"Richard Holbrooke's visit to Karachi was extremely important in the 
sense that his role has been productive and significant as a peace 
broker, in the reconstruction of areas devastated by wars, and in 
rehabilitation of affectees. His visit to Karachi will have long 
term results....  Holbrooke's announcement that the Karachi 
Consulate will be fully functional from next year is also 
heartening." 
 
"Will Masses Forget The U.S. Atrocities," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) 
(08/21) 
 
"Ambassador Holbrooke's visit appears worthless to bring about any 
substantial change in the prevailing situation in Pakistan.  It was 
definitely aimed at promoting the vested U.S. interest in this 
region.  If the Obama administration indeed wants the support of the 
Pakistani masses, it must put an end to its interference in the 
internal affairs of this country and withdraw its forces from 
Afghanistan.  It must also know that the ruling elites of 
Afghanistan and Pakistan do not represent the true feelings and 
aspirations of the ordinary people of their countries." 
 
"U.S. Support: Need For Good Governance In Pakistan," an editorial 
in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" 
(cir. 25,000) (08/21) 
 
"Richard Holbrooke, Special U.S. Representative for Pakistan and 
Afghanistan, revealed that President Barack Obama would preside over 
the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FoDP) meeting to be held in New 
York next month....  There is little doubt that the presence of 
President Obama at the FoDP would raise its profile to a level that 
would not have been possible otherwise.  That this may provide the 
necessary impetus for FoDP to translate their pledges of over 5.28 
billion dollars made on March 16 this year in Tokyo....  Critics, 
however, insist that the raison d'tre behind the failure of pledges 
to transform into commitments is rooted in the perception of our 
friends that Pakistan continues to suffer from poor governance, high 
levels of corruption in which senior politicians/bureaucrats are 
complicit and their consequent lack of accountability." 
 
"The Revolving Door," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/21) 
 
"Islamabad is now more like a revolving door through which American 
officials walk in to monitor how effectively the Pakistan Army is 
combating terrorism.  Richard Holbrooke left and in comes CENTCOM 
Chief General David Petraeus....  News reports quoted diplomatic 
sources as saying that the visit was aimed at expediting the 
delivery of weapons and intelligence equipment to Pakistan so that 
it could expand its offensive against militants in the tribal areas 
bordering Pakistan." 
 
"Fragmented Force?," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/21) 
 
"The signs are there of an organization caught in a swirl of 
confusion with no clear-cut agreement on future [TTP] leadership. 
It is to be seen how many will accept Faqir Muhammad.  The fact that 
the TTP has separate organizations based in different areas makes 
the matter of uniting it under one leadership even more fraught with 
peril.  Some have already raised the possibility of a potentially 
dangerous splintering of the TTP and as such added complexities in 
fighting it.  It is clear the group is in chaos and this would then 
seem to represent the right time to go after it militarily, before 
it can regroup in any form, and deliver a blow to further cripple 
it." 
 
"TTP Crumbles Down," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/21) 
 
"Reportedly, several members belonging to the TTP have been killed 
because of this intra-outfit conflict.  While this state of affairs 
is a far cry from the cohesiveness that the organization had under 
the command of Baitullah Mehsud who has now been confirmed dead, it 
is an ideal moment for the army to strike and eliminate the existing 
part of the network.  A lot is at stake in the fight against 
militancy.  The important thing is that the writ of the state must 
be restored.  The TTP forces stand badly demoralized.  The 
authorities must have a close look at the ground realities and act 
fast, keeping in mind the best interests of the country rather than 
launch an operation at the instance of an outside power that 
ultimately militates against them." 
 
"Musharraf's Trial?," an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/21) 
 
"Certainly, we all know there have been efforts from the U.K. to 
campaign for Musharraf to be let off.  The stance of Washington 
under Obama is more ambiguous, but it is possible the new 
administration there may too wish to stand by a former ally.  Though 
the PM has said on record the army is not involved, we do not know 
what wheels move behind the scenes or what discreet efforts may be 
on to save a former chief." 
 
"Jungle Law in U.S. And Affliction Of Aafia Siddiqui," an editorial 
in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) 
(08/21) 
 
"A U.S. court, on the orders of its government, has refused to 
approve a panel of three Pakistani lawyers constituted by the 
government of Pakistan.  America poses itself the champion of human 
rights but the inhuman treatment of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui exposes the 
hollowness of such tall claims of the U.S. government.  It also 
established the fact that the jungle law still rules the roost in 
the U.S." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson