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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: AUGUST 24, 2009 
 
Summary: Reports on national political developments dominated 
headlines in all major dailies on Monday.  Interior Minister Rehman 
Malik's statement claiming the "killing of Baitullah Mehsud's 
in-laws by Taliban militants on suspicion of spying for the U.S." 
received front page coverage in all newspapers.  Newspapers also 
highlighted U.S. Admiral Mullen's statement that he made in a TV 
talk show that the "situation in Afghanistan was serious and 
deteriorating but that trend could be reversed."  Reports of a 
suicide blast in Peshawar that killed three persons including two 
women received prominent display.  The weekend editions of several 
newspapers ran President Obama's message to the Muslim world to mark 
the Islamic month of Ramadan. 
 
Commenting on the recent remarks of Secretary of State Clinton, the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
in its editorial, noted that "it appears that the U.S. is looking to 
invest in the future of the people here and perhaps put behind it 
the 'transactional relationship' of years past."  The populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News," observed that 
"Clinton's statement is as close as the U.S. is going to come to 
admitting that it made a mistake in the way it funded its 
relationship with us historically."  However, the second-largest, 
Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" underlined the need to "resist the U.S. 
effort to change its Embassy in Islamabad into a military base." 
End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Taliban Killed Baitullah Mehsud's In-Laws For Spying: Malik" "Daily 
Times" (08/24) 
 
"The Taliban have killed Baitullah Mehsud's father-in-law and other 
relatives on suspicion of spying on the former Tehreek-e-Taliban 
Pakistan chief, Interior Minister Rahman Malik said on Sunday, APP 
reported. Malik told a foreign TV channel in an interview that he 
had credible information to this effect." 
 
"U.S. Sees Afghan War Situation Getting Worse" "Dawn" (08/24) 
 
"America's top military commander and a leading Republican 
politician acknowledged on Sunday that the situation in Afghanistan 
was serious and was deteriorating but hoped that the trend could be 
reversed. In interviews to CNN, NBC and ABC television channels, 
Admiral Mike Mullen and Senator John McCain also conceded that the 
American public was getting wary of the war but hoped that this too 
could be reversed." 
 
"Holbrooke 'Expects' Disputes Over Afghan Election" "Daily Times" 
(08/24) 
 
"Allegations of rigging and fraud are expected in the Afghan 
presidential election, US Special Envoy to Afghanistan Richard 
Holbrooke said on Sunday. Holbrooke told AP Television News in the 
western city of Herat that observers should wait for the official 
complaints process to run its course before judging the vote's 
legitimacy." 
 
"Three Die As Militants Attack Rival's Family" "Dawn" (08/24) 
 
"Two women and a man were killed and 15 people were injured when a 
suicide bomber blew himself up after a botched attempt to attack 
families of a member of a rival organization in Momin Town on 
Sunday. Police found the head and the legs of the bomber. The 
powerful blast damaged about 10 houses." 
 
"Obama's Message on Start of Ramazan" "The News" and "Jang" (08/23) 
 
"President Barrack Obama is continuing his outreach to the world's 
Muslims in a video message to mark the start of Islamic holy month 
of Ramadan. In the message posted on the White House website, Obama 
says that rituals of Ramazan are a reminder of the principals 
Muslims and Christians have in common. He says those principals 
include advancing justice, progress, tolerance and dignity of all 
human beings." 
 
"New TTP Chief Yet To Be Appointed, Says Wali" "Dawn" (08/24) 
 
"Taliban fighters in Pakistan are committed to helping the fight in 
Afghanistan and consider Barack Obama their "number one enemy," a 
top commander said amid uncertainty about whether a new leader had 
been appointed to head the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.  Waliur Rehman 
made the remarks in an interview with the Associated Press at a time 
of intense speculation over the next leader of the Al Qaeda-allied 
group. A CIA missile strike on Aug 5 is believed to have killed 
former TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud. Rehman, a cousin of Baitullah, is 
seen as a strong candidate for the post." 
 
"Omar Not In Quetta" "The News" (08/24) 
 
"Inspector General Frontier Corps Baluchistan Maj.Gen. Saleem Nawaz 
has refuted claims that the Taliban leader Mulla Omar is in 
Quetta." 
 
"40 Held, 12 Surrender In Swat" "The News" (08/24) 
 
"Forty suspected persons were arrested in a search operation while 
12 militants surrendered to the authorities in various parts of the 
Swat valley on Sunday. Official sources said the security forces 
launched search operation in Manglore area, arresting 40 suspects." 
 
"Seven LJ Activists Arrested" "Dawn" (08/24) 
 
"Police claimed on Sunday to have arrested seven members of 
Lashkar-i-Jhangvi, a proscribed organization involved in attacks on 
former president Gen Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister 
Shaukat Aziz." 
 
"Pak Issues Global Alert For 26/11 Fugitive" "Daily Times" (08/24) 
 
"Pakistan has asked Interpol member countries to help find 13 
fugitives wanted by authorities in connection with the Mumbai terror 
attacks." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Helping Pakistan," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (08/24) 
 
"Asked in an interview for the New York Times Magazine whether 
American military aid could "have been better spent on education and 
healthcare for girls and women", US Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton replied: "Yes. The answer is yes." And referring to the 
Kerry-Lugar/Berman non-military aid in the pipeline, Ms Clinton 
added: 'we hope to try to make up for lost time.' The secretary's 
comments have come on the same weekend that a team of American 
experts arrived here to assess the country's ailing power sector and 
begin work on a long-term solution to the recurring crisis. Taken 
together, it appears that the US is looking to invest in the future 
of the people here and perhaps put behind it the 'transactional 
relationship' of years past...Pakistan must wait and see what the 
Obama administration comes up with finally in terms of non military 
aid to Pakistan. There are some obvious hurdles, not least the fact 
that the security environment in the country is not conducive to the 
large-scale presence of non-military American experts. So even if 
the American will is genuine - and Washington will have to a lot 
more to convince Pakistanis that it is - that will not easily 
translate into meaningful, long-term commitments on the ground." 
 
"Convergences," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (08/24) 
 
"President Zardari has talked of extremists in NWFP as being 
'defeated and scattered' and...spoke of nobody being allowed to take 
the law into their own hands....  Our president may have failed to 
notice that people take the law into their own hands in Pakistan 
with complete impunity every day, and it is widely tolerated and 
even condoned....  Clintons' statement [in almost uncanny harmony] 
is as close as the U.S. is going to come to admitting that it made a 
mistake in the way it funded its relationship with us historically. 
The failure to recognize that education was as much a key to 
advancement as were guns and bombs played no small part in the 
creation of the difficulties we face today.  We can defeat extremism 
if we educate our people - but it will be the work of a generation, 
not a single government." 
 
"Madrassas Are An Integral Part Of Islamic Culture," an editorial in 
the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (08/23) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that Pakistan 
would be provided funds for education as well so that the children 
do not turn towards Madrassahs. Hillary held Madrassahs responsible 
for suicide attacks.  Religious schools are not a product of the 
present circumstances or present times. They have been around for 
centuries. Alumni from these Madrassahs are playing an important 
role in promoting and preaching Islam... It is the U.S. drone 
attacks in Pakistan that created suicide bombers - this was the only 
effective weapon these hapless people had... Pakistan should reject 
[any assistance] the U.S. gives in the name of getting Madrassahs 
closed down." 
 
"Public Concern Over U.S. Activities In Pakistan," an editorial in 
the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (08/24) 
 
"There are American, Pakistani and international media reports that 
American CIA has acquired services of notorious Black water 
organization to kill opponents of America in Pakistan's mountainous 
areas.  Pakistan's political, social, religious and media circles 
have expressed concern over the reports....  The mass murders 
committed by Black water in Iraq and Afghanistan have already been 
exposed prominently by American media.  Black water became known at 
the time of Marriot explosion and some newspapers and magazines 
claimed that Black water personnel were also killed in the blast.... 
 The government is duty bound to talk candidly with America in the 
light of reservations expressed by the people, political and 
religious circles and Pakistan army's leadership.  Black water 
organization operatives should be expelled from the country.  The 
government should resist the effort to change American Embassy 
Islamabad into a military base." 
 
"America: The biggest Enemy or Benefactor of Pakistan," an op-ed by 
Malik Sohail Hussain in daily "Islamabad Times" (cir. 5,000) 
(08/21) 
 
"U.S.-bashing in Pakistan has become a very effective tool for all 
and sundry to gain overnight popularity. The U.S. is held solely 
responsible for all the ills Pakistan is suffering from. Apart from 
the policies of the Western countries, Pakistani intelligentsia and 
leaders of religious and political parties have also played a key 
role in creating this thinking. According to this section of the 
Pakistani society, the U.S. always gives priority to its interests 
and 'deceives us' to achieve this goal. These leaders ignore the 
fact that every country in the world gives priority to its national 
interests and the U.S. cannot be vilified if it does so. If the 
United States is an 'evil,' then why do we rush towards it to ease 
out our dire needs?  Pakistan is the third biggest recipient of the 
U.S. financial assistance. The United States is the largest importer 
of Pakistan's textile products, the backbone of our industrial 
sector. We always look towards Washington to resolve all of our 
political and financial issues. We beg for the U.S. help to overcome 
our food and energy crises. It also provides training facilities to 
our technical experts, police and the armed forces. We request our 
leaders and politicians to avoid living in ivory towers and face the 
hard realities. They also bear the responsibility to promote 
rational ideas among the masses. They should renounce the 
unwarranted policy of the U.S.-bashing aimed at misguiding the 
ordinary and naove masses." 
 
"Hakimullah As Taliban Leader," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (08/24) 
 
"Hakimullah Mehsud has been proclaimed as the next chief of 
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)....  However, there are rumors 
abroad that Hakimullah may not yet be the truly chosen leader and 
that uncertainty will reign as long as the new leader is not able to 
show that he has the loyalty of everyone across the FATA and 
Malakand....  Hakimullah represents the typical breed of long-haired 
and bearded killers that one sees everywhere in the video coverage 
of their tribal hideouts.  He comes across as a rash swashbuckling 
fighter who would rather kill than sit down and talk; and not give 
ground when invited to talks.  Above all, he is violently sectarian 
and, together with Commander Qari Hussain, the most savage of 
warriors with expertise in producing suicide-bombers, has been the 
scourge of the Shias of Kurram, cutting them off from the rest of 
Pakistan.  Hakimullah is also known for his slack allegiance to any 
Islamic ethic.  His leadership will give encouragement to the 
criminal aspects of the TTP from Peshawar to Karachi.  Incidents of 
kidnapping for ransom and bank robberies are expected to increase 
under him....  Fortunately, however, Hakimullah's outreach is 
expected to be seriously limited, encouraging the regional 
commanders to cut loose and be on their own.  At the same time, the 
Pakistan army and the security agencies, now beefed up in numbers 
and expertise, will have a better chance of taking Hakimullah out or 
at least prevent his mischief from escalating the way it did under 
Baitullah." 
 
"Post-Baitullah TTP," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (08/24) 
 
"It cannot be denied that the successful military operation in 
Malakand Division, the removal of a ruthless leader like Baitullah 
from the scene and the arrest of some of his leading lieutenants, 
have left the militant organization in disarray and certainly put it 
on the back foot, at least for the time being.  But it would be 
sheer self-deception to believe that decisive victory is round the 
corner; only a battle has been won and the war, with its 
multidimensional implications, needs much greater grit and 
determination to win. The victory needs to be scored not only on the 
battlefield but also in the minds of men, which unfortunately the 
scourge of militancy and extremism has taken hold of. . . Some 
analysts have expressed the view that while Baitullah was focusing 
only on Pakistan and with a vengeance, Hakimullah might devote an 
equal amount of energy to Afghanistan to help the resistance put an 
end to the foreign occupation. This prospect, according to these 
observers, is causing understandable apprehensions and unease among 
the Americans. Nevertheless, it would be idle to suggest that the 
danger of terrorist acts in Pakistan has vanished. Therefore, it 
must keep its powder dry." 
 
"Mediation On Kashmir: Holbrooke Should Not Worry," an editorial in 
the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (08/24) 
 
"American envoy on Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke said 
that his appointment has nothing to with the Kashmir dispute and 
that Pakistan and India should resolve bilateral issues though 
dialogue....  This is a fact that the Kashmir dispute will not be 
resolved by any third party mediation, but rather through plebiscite 
in Kashmir in keeping with the UN resolutions....  Holbrooke should 
not worry too much about Kashmir as it is destined to be freed and 
become a part of Pakistan." 
 
"Truth or reconciliation," an op-ed by Huma Yusuf in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (08/24) 
 
". . . In Mardan, lashkars have openly declared that they will 
counter kidnappings for ransom by kidnapping residents of villages 
with militant connections. If the government does not articulate a 
coherent plan for dealing with known or suspected militants in a 
post-conflict context, locals will begin to dole out justice on 
their own terms. Such practices will ensure that the Malakand 
division remains a lawless region - beyond government writ, but in a 
different incarnation. The government must first choose between a 
policy of truth or reconciliation. If militants are to be brought to 
justice for their actions, the government should stop dangling the 
carrot of leniency.' 
 
Patterson