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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001717 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS, 
DETENTION OF SHAH RUKH KHAN, INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS; NEW 
DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
------------------------ 
INDIA-PAKISTAN RELATIONS 
------------------------ 
 
¶1. "USED TO BEING CHEATED," commentary in August 14 
right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "The 
Pakistanis must be laughing at Prime Minister Manmohan 
Singh's borrowed formulation that we must adopt a 
"trust but verify" approach to our relations with their 
country. Our politicians only trust and our armed 
forces pay for it by sacrificing their lives." 
 
--------------------------- 
DETENTION OF SHAH RUKH KHAN 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. "DEATAINED BECAUSE OF NAME?" editorial in August 17 
centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "There is 
hullaballoo in India even as America has clarified that 
actor Shah Rukh Khan was not detained because of his 
'Khan' last name. After 9/11, America is paranoid about 
Muslim names; hence, such episodes recur there. But 
there is a need to change the mentality of Indians who 
blow up at the slightest provocation in matters 
pertaining to celebrities and other VIPs. We need to 
learn from the fact that even American presidents and 
British prime ministers do not get any special 
treatment once they exit office." 
 
¶3. "AMERICA'S ILL-WILL," editorial in August 17 left- 
of-center Marathi daily, AAPLA MAHANAGAR: "Bollywood 
icon Shah Rukh Khan's ill-treatment at the Newark 
airport speaks of typical American arrogance that one 
has seen in earlier instances. It is the same 
characteristic American conceit that was observed in 
the insult flung at India's former president by an 
American airline. The American consulate in Mumbai is 
also notorious for a similar conceited attitude. Their 
recent visa denials to renowned folk singer Vithal Umap 
are quite abrupt. America has lost its sense of 
perspective post 9/11. It views the world with 
suspicion." 
 
¶4. "STERN STAND ON SHAH RUKH ISSUE NEEDED," editorial 
in August 17 right-of-center Urdu daily, RASHTRIYA 
SAHARA: "The U.S. administration has always adopted a 
bigoted attitude against Asian people. Prejudice 
against Muslims has accelerated in America and Western 
countries after 9/11. The detention of Shah Rukh Khan 
and other similar incidents show the ground realities 
have not changed despite the remarks of President Obama 
who wishes to forge a better relationship with the 
Islamic world. Why do we give special privilege to 
American actors, artists and sportspersons at Indian 
airports?" 
 
NEW DELHI 00001717  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶5. "PAIN OF BEING A KHAN," editorial in August 17 
right-of-center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "America 
is the world's super power but that doesn't mean it can 
humiliate our politicians and stars. The detention of 
Shah Rukh Khan at a U.S. airport is the humiliation of 
India. Be it Bush or Obama, America's mentality is 
generally against Indians and particularly against 
Muslims. India is a noble and honorable country and it 
won't do the same to American personalities. But we let 
our displeasure be known so that such humiliation may 
not occur again." 
 
--------------------- 
INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. "DEALING WITH CHINA'S CHALLENGE," op-ed in August 16 
right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Indian 
strategists should accept the bitter truth underlined 
by Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta that India cannot 
match China's military force. India should enhance its 
military power and reduce China's growing interference 
in the Indian Ocean. It should strengthen bilateral 
diplomatic, economic and cultural relations and 
establish more and more individual contacts. It should 
also reinforce relations with the U.S., Russia, Japan 
and other East Asian countries." 
 
¶7. "CHINESE THINK-TANK'S PLAN TO SPLINTER INDIA," 
editorial in August 15 nationalist Hindi daily, VIR 
ARJUN: "The 13th round of India-China boundary talks 
ended without a significant progress because of China's 
tenacious attitude. India should have raised important 
issues, like China's blind support to Pakistan, 
especially in defense and nuclear sectors. Another 
worrisome thing is a Chinese strategist writing that 
China, jointly with Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan, should 
split India into 20-30 pieces. He writes if China tries 
just a little the great India federation can be 
dismembered and suggests China to, especially, support 
ULFA in attaining Assam's Independence." 
ROEMER