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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002196 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 
 
Summary:  President Zardari's wide-ranging interview with daily 
Financial Times, rejecting the "Obama administration's strategy of 
linking policy of Pakistan and Afghanistan" made front-page 
headlines in most major dailies on Friday.  Newspapers highlighted 
reports that the Pentagon has "proposed transferring U.S. military 
equipment from Iraq to Pakistani security forces."  Reports of the 
"killing of at least 21 Taliban including six foreigners in Swat" 
received extensive coverage.  Several major newspapers highlighted 
USAID Mission Director Wilson's remarks, made while talking to a 
select group of journalists, that the "U.S. to help cut power 
shortfall by 1500 MW in 3 years,"  and that the "aid to be spent on 
education, health and economic growth."  Also, in a front page 
story, the English daily, "Dawn," reported that "President Obama 
unveils plan to overhaul healthcare." 
 
Most major newspapers ran editorials on the National Education 
Policy recently announced by the Federal government. However, some 
dailies editorialized other topics such as Swat after the war, 
recent statement of Admiral Mullen and the Dr. Aafia case etc.  The 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News," 
observed that the "evil rule of the Taliban was symbolized by their 
grotesque mistreatment of women.  The future will be marked by the 
degree of ability shown in rehabilitating these women, who make up 
half of the people of Swat."  Criticizing Admiral Mullen's statement 
about "unilateral strikes inside Pakistan," the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation," called it "an attempt to mount 
pressure on Pakistan to expand its military operation from Malakand 
to Waziristan, (and) it also shows erratic swings in the U.S. policy 
towards Pakistan."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Zardari Rejects Obama's Af-Pak Strategy" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari has rejected the Obama administration's 
strategy of linking the policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan in an 
effort to end a Taliban insurgency and bring stability to the 
region....  'Afghanistan and Pakistan are distinctly different 
countries and cannot be lumped together for any reason,' Mr. Zardari 
said in an interview with the 'Financial Times' on the anniversary 
of his first year in office." 
 
"U.S. Looking To Transfer Military Equipment From Iraq To Pakistan" 
"Daily Times" (09/11) 
 
"The Pentagon has proposed transferring U.S. military equipment from 
Iraq to Pakistani security forces to help Islamabad step up its 
offensive against the Taliban, according to officials and government 
documents." 
 
"Pakistan Keen To Collect Humvees From Iraq" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"Pakistan would be interested in reinforced armored vehicles if the 
United States asked Islamabad to collect surplus American weapons 
from Iraq, diplomatic sources told 'Dawn' on Thursday.  The proposal 
to transfer U.S. military equipment from Iraq to Pakistan, although 
reported in the media, has not yet been officially conveyed to 
Islamabad.  Pentagon officials, when contacted, said they were still 
working on a formal proposal." 
 
"6 Foreigners Among 21 Taliban Killed In Swat" "Daily Times" 
(09/11) 
 
"At least 21 Taliban - including six foreigners - were killed and 14 
arrested in Swat on Thursday, said officials and locals.  Security 
sources said the Taliban were killed during a search operation in 
Banjot.  According to the sources, six of those killed are said to 
be Uzbeks holed up in a house." 
 
"U.S. to Help Cut Shortfall By 1,500MW In 3 Years" "Business 
Recorder" (09/11) 
 
"The United States, under its Energy Efficiency and Capacity 
Building program, will significantly reduce the Pakistan's energy 
shortfall of 1500 MW over the next three years through efficient use 
and conservation of energy. USAID-Mission Director in Pakistan 
Robert J. Wilson briefed the media on Thursday about the USAID 
program to be launched in Pakistan." 
 
"USAID Assistance Likely To Swell To $1.5 Billion" "Daily Times" 
(09/11) 
 
"United States Agency for International Aid is likely to increase 
annual economic assistance of $450 million to Pakistan for 
education, health, economic growth, democracy and governance to $1.5 
billion in the next few years, said USAID Mission Director Robert J. 
Wilson on Thursday." 
 
"Obama Unveils Plan To Overhaul Healthcare" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"President Barack Obama told Congress on Wednesday to end its 
political bickering and move quickly on a broad healthcare overhaul 
that would dramatically transform the U.S. health system and 
insurance market." 
 
"Quitting Region Now Will Be Disaster: Pentagon" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"The Pentagon has warned that it would be a disaster if the U.S. 
abandoned Pakistan and Afghanistan now.  'If indeed we were to turn 
our backs on Afghanistan again, and in the process essentially turn 
our backs on Pakistan again, that it would be a road to disaster,' 
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell told a briefing in 
Washington." 
 
"FM Radio Launched" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"The Frontier Government on Thursday launched the test transmission 
of first-ever FM Radio Station to counter the propaganda of 
religious extremists and provide its listeners healthy entertainment 
and information." 
 
"6 Militants Killed In Orakzai, Kurram" "The News" (09/11) 
 
"Six militants were killed and three others sustained injuries when 
gunship helicopters pounded the hideouts of the militants in Orakzai 
and central Kurram agencies on Thursday." 
 
"Swat Taliban Say 5 Shoora Members In Government Custody" "The News" 
(09/11) 
 
"The Swat Taliban on Thursday alleged that five leading members of 
their organisation holding secret peace talks with the military 
authorities for the past eight days had been taken into custody as 
they were no longer traceable." 
 
"Concern Voiced At Khyber Agency Operation" "The News" (09/11) 
 
"Fearing a humanitarian crisis, the IDPs Network, an alliance of the 
civil society organizations, has expressed concern over the ongoing 
operation in Bara and demanded halt to indiscriminate shelling on 
the villages." 
 
"33 Suspects Arrested From Mohmand Agency" "Daily Times" (09/11) 
 
"Security forces on Thursday arrested 33 suspects and demolished the 
houses of three wanted militants at Lakaro tehsil of Mohmand Agency, 
official sources said." 
 
"$20 Million Needed To Get Pak Children Back To School In NWFP, Says 
UN" "The Nation" (09/11) 
 
"A shortfall of about $20 million in educational funding is 
hampering efforts to get Pakistani children back to school in the 
aftermath of the recent anti-Taliban military drive in the NWFP, The 
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) 
announced on Thursday." 
 
"Only 3pc of Required $58 Million Received: UN" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"Many Pakistanis who have returned home after fleeing fighting 
between the army and the Taliban say they cannot survive for more 
than two weeks without aid, the United Nations said on Thursday.... 
UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan Martin Mogwanja said the UN 
had only received three per cent of around $58 million it needed for 
what it calls 'early recovery' projects." 
 
"Coordination Must For Check On Aliens" "The News" (09/11) 
"Diplomatic and security circles want Pakistani government to 
monitor the members of a U.S. firm, engaged in the capacity-building 
and training of the law-enforcement agencies of Pakistan.  The U.S. 
firm, DynCorp, under a contractual arrangement between Pakistan and 
the U.S., had been assigned the task of law-enforcement agencies' 
training, security matters and aviation cooperation.  However, 
Richard Snelsire, the U.S. Embassy spokesman, when approached 
declined to confirm or deny the presence of DynCorp explaining, we 
don't discuss security issues." 
 
"Taliban Active In 97 pc Of Afghanistan" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"The Taliban had a significant presence in almost every corner of 
Afghanistan, data from a think tank showed on Thursday.  A security 
map by policy research group the International Council on Security 
and Development (ICOS) showed a deepening security crisis with 
substantial Taliban activity in at least 97 per cent of the 
country." 
 
"U.S. Urges India, Pakistan to Improve Ties" "The News" (09/11) 
 
"The United States on Wednesday called for improvement in 
Pakistan-India relationship through reciprocal steps as a senior 
American diplomat described cooperative relations between the two 
South Asia countries an 'important part of a successful strategy' 
for Pak-Afghan region, Robert Blake, Assistant Secretary of State 
for South Asia said." 
 
"Meeting But No Peace Talks: India" "Dawn" (09/11) 
 
"Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said on Thursday he would meet 
his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the UN General 
Assembly session in New York later this month but this should not be 
seen as part of their official peace talks which would begin only 
after Islamabad showed progress in the Mumbai terror probe." 
 
"U.S. Acquires Two Houses In Vicinity Of Dr. Khan's Residence" 
"Express" (09/11) 
 
"United States in Islamabad has acquired two houses on rent in 
sector E-7 in the vicinity of the residence of founder of Pakistani 
nuclear bomb Dr. AQ Khan. Some very credible sources in the U.S. 
Embassy have disclosed that the United States has hired two hundred 
houses in the sectors of F-6, F-7, G-6, E-7, F-8, F-10, F-11 and 
I-8.  Dr. Khan lives in house no. 206 at the Hillside Road in sector 
E-7.  According to sources, United States has acquired two houses in 
E-7, 37 in F-6, 40 in G-6, 41 in F-7, 26 in F-8, 20 in F-10, 25 in 
F-11 and nine houses in I-8 sector.  And the houses in F-6 and G-6 
are under complete U.S. surveillance, and the other houses are being 
used as offices of various NGOs and attached offices and residences. 
" 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Swat After The War," an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/11) 
 
"It is a fact too that in Swat the public space for women has been 
reduced....  Fear lingers on even after the Taliban defeat. Some 
report that remnants of the Taliban are still present in towns or 
villages. Pro-active measures are needed to alter the situation. 
These women must be restored to their rightful place as equal 
citizens.  Indeed urgent schemes are needed to offer vocational 
training and other help to these women - and especially to those who 
must support families.  The evil rule of the Taliban was symbolized 
by their grotesque mistreatment of women.  The future will be marked 
by the degree of ability shown in rehabilitating these women, who 
make up half of the people of Swat." 
 
"U.S. Sabre Rattling," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/11) 
 
"While the warning by U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen 
that the U.S. would conduct unilateral strikes inside Pakistan to 
pursue those who had attacked U.S. citizens is an attempt to mount 
pressure on Pakistan to expand its military operation from Malakand 
to Waziristan, it also shows erratic swings in the U.S. policy 
towards Pakistan....  Under the circumstances, the U.S. must realize 
that this sort of sabre rattling by the Chief of U.S. armed forces 
further vitiates relations between the two countries.  A sensible 
way of reining in troublemakers inside Pakistan, so that they could 
do no harm to the U.S., is by adding steel to its spine, providing 
it with anti-terror weaponry like drones, sophisticated helicopter 
gunships, night vision goggles and so on.  Only then the alliance 
can move in the right direction." 
 
"Extra Security Needed For NATO Embassies," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (09/11) 
 
"The militants have been targeting the NATO supply convoys, burning 
oil tankers and other items in the NWFP and Balochistan.  In this 
scenario, the U.S. has already asked its citizens in Pakistan to 
restrict their movement.  It is the moral and diplomatic 
responsibility of Pakistan to ensure security of diplomats.  We 
would therefore again urge the Government to direct the agencies to 
be extra vigilant and ensure complete security of Embassies of 
Germany and other NATO countries." 
 
"Dr. Aafia Case And The ICJ," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (09/11) 
 
"The honorable Lahore High Court observed Wednesday that the case of 
Dr. Aafia Siddiqi's repatriation and detention in America 'could be 
referred' to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the 
Pakistan Friendship and Commerce Treaty 'without the consent of the 
U.S. administration'....  The U.S. is averse to yielding sovereignty 
to the ICJ or any other international tribunal.  When in one case 
the ICJ decided against it 'ex parte,' as it were, it refused to 
comply because the ICJ has no mechanism of enforcement except the UN 
Security Council." 
 
"Looking For A Direction," an op-ed by Khurshid Akhtar Khan in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(09/11) 
 
"Sixty-seven percent of our public is fiercely against the 
Americans, who have been our allies since the fifties.  Our economic 
survival has been dependent upon the American financial support, 
access to its export markets, defence purchases, advanced education 
and training that they have been providing to us.  Our extremist 
elements want to defeat America that is the world's largest military 
power that spends $700 billion each year on its defence and is 
practically inaccessible for conventional attacks.  None of 
Afghanistan governments have ever been friendly with Pakistan.  Yet 
our religious zealots misguide and motivate simple young men to join 
the Afghan militants in fighting against the U.S. and NATO forces 
and allow our territory to become sanctuaries for the wanted 
criminals.  It is time we revisit and rationalize our values.  It is 
time our leaders join to give an unambiguous direction and lead us 
to where we truly belong." 
 
"These Our Leaders," an op-ed by Haroon al-Rasheed in the leading 
mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (09/11) 
 
"Prime Minister Gilani has said that the infamous American security 
company, Blackwater, is not operating in Pakistan and that its 
activities were stopped in February 2009.  Mr. Gilani can verify the 
presence of this dreaded agency in Pakistan provided he enjoys 
access to some files at the Presidency.  It will be dawned on him 
that in 2008 Ministry of Interior and the provincial governments had 
been directed to monitor the activities of Blackwater, operating 
under the new name 'XE.'  Moreover, a few days back four persons 
were detained near the FIA Headquarters in Islamabad who later 
turned out to be the operatives of this firm. Dozens of former 
officers of our armed forces and intelligence agencies have joined 
the Blackwater on very lucrative salaries. Agents of the 'XE' 
distribute money among poor people in our tribal areas, while the 
Taliban chase them. Resultantly, innocent people are killed in 
clashes between the two. The prime minister can also contact Army 
Chief General Kayani and the ISI chief General Pasha to confirm that 
Blackwater is trying to carve out a state within the state of 
Pakistan.  The masses are enduring Mr. Gilani despite his poor 
performance as the prime minister, but his statement regarding the 
Blackwater are completely unintelligible. Had he jumped into the 
bandwagon of Ambassador Holbrooke?  Regrettably, our elected 
government has surpassed its predecessor military regime to please 
the U.S.  Almost 2,500 American trawlers enter Afghanistan from 
Karachi via Chamman or the Torkham border but nobody knows what 
stuff these mammoth vehicles bring back to Pakistan.  Apart from 
stoking insurgency in Balochistan and sectarianism in our society, 
the United States is also propping up India as its possible 
successor in Afghanistan.  On the other hand, all indicators show 
that the U.S. economy is plunging into total collapse, and time has 
come to detach Pakistan from America rather than bolstering this 
unnatural alliance." 
 
"U.S. Embassy Surge," an op-ed by Wajahat Latif in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/11) 
 
"Islamabad is considered one of the most dangerous capitals in the 
world.  In spite of such dangers, the U.S. Embassy is expanding its 
staff and operations in Pakistan. We do not know the nature of staff 
and sections being reinforced, but according to the current rumors 
they are also military and security related.  This is in addition to 
the private contractors to whom several security tasks are 
outsourced.  Blackwater, with a reputation from the killing fields 
of Iraq, is one such firm operating from Peshawar, Karachi and 
Islamabad albeit under different names.  The ostensible reason for 
the expansion is the transparent monitoring and management of $7.5 
billion U.S. aid inflow over five years.  The GOP is not trusted 
anymore and the Americans will watch closely how their money is 
spent....  Embarrassed, the government officials seem unable to 
speak the truth, conveying an impression as if they have something 
to hide....  It could be unprecedented, but Pakistan is considered a 
fair game." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson