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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002263 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 17, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports of the capture of the "chief of Taliban beheading 
squad along with 16 other militants in Swat" received front paged 
coverage in all major newspapers on Thursday.  Secretary Clinton's 
remarks, made at an Iftar-dinner hosted by her in Washington, that 
the "Obama administration is determined to improve ties between the 
U.S. and Muslims" received prominent display.  U.S. Ambassador 
Patterson's statement clarifying that "the U.S. government will 
continue to deliver assistance to Pakistan" received extensive 
coverage.  Her assertion that the U.S. "is not depriving the 
Pakistani government any degree of direct funding" was also 
highlighted.  Some newspapers highlighted that Finance Minister 
"Tarin differed with U.S. on claim regarding aid."  The English 
daily, "Dawn," front-paged Admiral Mullen's statement that "Pakistan 
faces a two-front threat - both from Indian and Afghan."  Almost all 
major dailies reported that the "suicide" in jail of a Christian 
accused of blasphemy "sparked riots in Sialkot." 
 
Several major English language dailies ran editorials on the death 
of the Christian young man in police custody.  The populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News," noted that the 
"blasphemy pretext, even though it was entirely unproven, has been 
used to take away another life."  The Lahore-based liberal English 
newspaper, "Daily Times," maintained that the "latest death has 
burdened the conscience of Pakistan with one more collective crime." 
 Whereas, the Karachi-based center-left independent national English 
daily "Dawn" advised that the "majority Muslim community must also 
learn to adhere to the law and demonstrate self-restraint."  End 
Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Chief Of Taliban Beheading Squad Captured" "Dawn" (09/17) 
 
"Sher Mohammad Qasab, one of 15 Taliban 'commanders' carrying a head 
money of Rs10 million, was captured in Swat on Wednesday, along with 
16 other militants.  Thirty-seven terrorists laid down their arms in 
different areas of the valley. Qasab's is the third high-profile 
arrest announced in five days." 
 
"Hillary Hosts Iftar-Dinner: U.S. To Boost Ties With Muslim World" 
"Dawn" (09/17) 
 
"In the past, relationship between the United States and Muslims 
suffered from misunderstanding and misperception but the Obama 
administration is determined to improve it, says Secretary of State 
Hillary Rodham Clinton.  At an Iftar-dinner she hosted at the State 
Department on Tuesday evening, Secretary Clinton also told American 
Muslims and diplomats from the Muslim world that the Obama 
administration 'will defend the freedom of religion.'" 
 
"U.S. Refutes 'No Direct Money' Allegation" "Dawn," "The News," 
"Daily Times," (09/17) 
 
"'The U.S. government will continue to deliver assistance to 
Pakistan through a variety of long-standing vectors as required by 
American law to ensure transparency and accountability, and is not 
depriving the Pakistani government any degree of direct funding as a 
result of a lack of confidence or trust,' U.S. Ambassador to 
Pakistan Anne W. Patterson said on Wednesday....  'We have provided 
more than $3 billion in combined security, economic, and development 
assistance since President Zardari was elected.'" 
 
"Tarin Differs With U.S. On claim Regarding Aid" "The Nation" 
(09/17) 
 
"Minister Shaukat Tarin has said that he is unaware about $3 billion 
U.S. Aid to Pakistan during last one year as he just knows about 
$971 million which Washington has given in different sectors.  I 
don't know where from the (U.S.) have added up this amount." 
 
"How Patterson Came Up With The $3 Billion Count, Nobody Knows; 
Pakistan Received $970 Million Not $3 Billion From U.S.: Official" 
"The News" (09/17) 
 
"The statement of U.S. Ambassador Anne Patterson about giving $3 
billion assistance to Zardari regime surprised the top economic 
managers of Pakistan and they were completely clueless about the 
figure of $3 billion floated by the U.S. Embassy.  Talking to 'The 
News,' a senior functionary of the Finance Ministry said requesting 
anonymity as he was not formally authorized to give Ministry's 
version: 'The U.S. Ambassador should provide details of $3 billion 
assistance given to Pakistan during the last one and a half years 
period,' the official said." 
 
"Pakistan Faces Threat From Two Sides, Says Top U.S. General" "Dawn" 
(09/17) 
 
"Pakistan faces a two-front threat - both from the Indian and Afghan 
sides - and its strategy for combating militants would always 
reflect this threat perception, says the U.S. Military Chief. 
Admiral Michael Mullen made the remarks at a hearing of the Senate 
Committee on Armed Services where he agreed with some lawmakers that 
showing weakness in Afghanistan would also destabilize Pakistan." 
 
"Team Visited Islamabad To Review Aid Spending" "Dawn" (09/17) 
 
"In a written reply to Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman of 
the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen said the team was sent 
to review the Coalition Support Funds, which reimburses expense 
incurred during the anti-extremists operations.  The decision to 
send the team followed a congressional demand to increase U.S. 
oversight of the reimbursements to Pakistan." 
 
"Qaeda Trying To Seek N-Secrets From Pakistan: Holbrooke" "Daily 
Times," "The Nation" (09/17) 
 
"Al Qaeda is trying to get its hands on Pakistan's nuclear secrets 
and remains dangerous as ever, a private TV channel quoted U.S. 
Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke as saying on Wednesday.  He said Al 
Qaeda was still operating in the region, adding that it was publicly 
asking nuclear engineers to give them nuclear secrets from 
Pakistan." 
 
"U.S. To Boost Pakistan's Counter-Terror Capabilities" "Dawn" 
(09/17) 
 
"The Obama administration has set objectives for countering Al Qaeda 
in Pakistan and Afghanistan, from boosting Islamabad's 
counter-insurgency capabilities to building up Afghan security 
forces so U.S. assistance can be reduced, according to an internal 
document obtained by Reuters on Wednesday." 
 
"Usama's Close Aide Killed In Drone Attack" "The News" (09/17) 
 
"Intelligence sources are confirming that Nazimuddin alias Yahyo - 
an important Uzbek comrade of Al Qaeda Chief Usama bin Laden - was 
killed in Monday's drone attack in North Waziristan.... 
Intelligence sources are also confirming that another important 
leader of al-Qaeda Ilyas Kashmiri was killed in another drone attack 
about a week earlier.  Ilyas Kashmiri was stated to be the 
al-Qaeda's commander for Pakistan." 
 
"Taliban Kill 2 Baitullah In-Laws On Spying Charges" "The News" 
(09/17) 
 
"Two members of the family of the in-laws of the slain 
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) head Baitullah Mahsud have 
reportedly been killed by the Taliban in South Waziristan on charges 
of spying." 
 
"11 Militants Killed In Dera Ismail Khan Gunship Copter Attack" "The 
News" (09/17) 
 
"Eleven militants were killed when gunship helicopters pounded their 
hideouts in Nadir Wanda area on the Dera Ismail Khan-Lakki Marwat 
border on Wednesday, sources said." 
 
"Owais Says Govt. Was Forced To Launch Khyber Operation" "The News" 
(09/17) 
 
"NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said on Wednesday the government 
was forced to launch an operation in Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency 
after the militants of banned Lashkar-e-Islami (LI) challenged the 
writ of government in the area." 
 
"Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) Chief Charged With Rocket Attacks" "The News" 
(09/17) 
"The banned Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) Chief, Mangal Bagh, was charged 
with rocketing Peshawar city on Wednesday after the provincial 
capital witnessed five successive attacks in only four days to 
terrorize the entire population." 
 
"Retired Captain Held For 'Links' With Anti-State Network" "Dawn" 
(09/17) 
 
"A retired army captain was picked up by a joint team of police and 
an intelligence agency from Islamabad on Wednesday for his alleged 
links with an anti-state network, sources said." 
 
"Christian's Death In Jail Sparks Riots In Sialkot" "The News" 
(09/17) 
 
"Pakistani Christians clashed with security forces on Wednesday at 
the funeral of a Christian man who police said hanged himself in 
jail while being held on accusations he defiled the Holy Quran. 
Some Christian leaders alleged he was murdered.  The clashes - just 
weeks after eight Christians were burnt to death by a Muslim mob - a 
reminder of the tensions, simmering in religious minority 
communities in Muslim-majority Pakistan, where a spreading Taliban 
movement has fuelled Islamist extremism." 
 
"President's Spokesman Denies Deal Remarks" "Dawn" (09/17) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari backtracked on Wednesday on his reported 
remarks that he and 'international guarantors' had negotiated an 
'indemnity' for former President Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf that 
paved the way for his 'safe exit.'...   Political analysts believed 
that President Zardari had changed his statement because of 
political and international pressure." 
 
"President Never Talked Of A Deal, Babar Denies Three Days Later" 
(09/17) 
 
"Spokesperson for the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar on 
Wednesday contradicted reports in a section of the media that 
president Asif Ali Zardari had confirmed negotiations with the 
so-called international guarantors to give indemnity to former 
dictator Gen. (R) Pervez Musharraf." 
 
"Friend Or Foe?" "The Nation" (09/17) 
 
"The U.S., far from the public perception and official claims of 
supplying Pakistan with substantive military hardware, is actually 
impeding Pakistan's efforts to upgrade its capabilities especially 
in non-offensive systems.  According to inside sources, only 
recently, the PAF, which has an agreement with Ukraine for the 
purchase of air to air refuellers, asked Ukraine to send a trainee 
plane so that the PAF personnel could familiarize themselves with 
the systems that were expected later.  The Ukraine agreed to send 
the required aircraft which happened to be in the U.S.  However, 
before it could fly to Pakistan, the U.S. authorities on learning of 
its destination, impounded the plane.  Earlier, the U.S. had tried 
unsuccessfully to block the deal itself." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Beyond Belief," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/17) 
 
"The blasphemy pretext, even though it was entirely unproven, has 
been used to take away another life.  It is becoming hard to keep 
track of how many needless deaths have been caused by those bandying 
about the blasphemy charge and then acting as judge, jury and 
executioner.  It has to be said, for the umpteenth time, that the 
simple fact that we are all humans demands that the blasphemy laws 
be reviewed to discourage such barbarity....  Will this new outrage 
prompt the government to take more proactive measures to prevent the 
abuse of minorities and to tackle the bigotry that underpins it?" 
 
"Death Of Blasphemy Accused," an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (09/17) 
 
"Christians killed in the name of Islam never get justice.  The only 
way an accused can be saved is to bundle him out of the country 
after releasing him on bail.  The Muslims of Pakistan are killed 
like flies by the Taliban warlords and Al Qaeda.  Instead of uniting 
against the curse of Muslim-kills-Muslim they turn around and target 
the most impoverished community among the minorities of Pakistan. 
The latest death has burdened the conscience of Pakistan with one 
more collective crime.  The state, forewarned, has instead relied on 
its old reflex of looking away and letting an innocent man die." 
 
"Communal Tensions," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (09/17) 
 
"Outbreaks of communal tension - especially that stoked by 
allegations of blasphemy - can have a snowball effect....  The 
country cannot risk these attacks turning into a pogrom against 
minorities, particularly given suspicions that certain banned 
sectarian outfits had a hand in the Gojra violence....  Effective 
prosecution would serve as a deterrent to future attacks of this 
nature.  The majority Muslim community must also learn to adhere to 
the law and demonstrate self-restraint." 
 
"Dealing With Terrorists," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (09/17) 
 
"According to a news report, the government is set to introduce 
major changes to the anti-terrorism law to give more powers to 
law-enforcement agencies and courts to deal with terrorism.... 
While only time will tell whether the proposed laws are applied in 
true letter and spirit, the law makers should ensure that the set of 
proposed laws is debated at length in the Parliament before it comes 
into force.  The apprehensions raised here are not without reason. 
Anti-terrorism laws have been blatantly misused in the past.  A poor 
track record in this context has brought a bad name for the country 
as human rights organizations in the country and abroad have pointed 
to the human rights violations in the name of nabbing the 
terrorists. The government should take every step to make the 
process participatory and transparent." 
 
"Militancy And The Law," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(09/17) 
 
"According to a report in this paper, the government is preparing to 
amend anti-terrorism laws to eliminate loopholes that may allow 
terrorists and militants to walk free on technicalities and/or lack 
of evidence.  Operation Rah-i-Rast in Swat may have been the 
catalyst for the impending changes, but there is a general problem 
with the law and its implementation is found wanting when it comes 
to punishing militants.  Undoubtedly there is a social and political 
element in this debate, for it is demoralizing and frightening for 
the people when the state seems unable to prosecute and punish those 
involved in terrorism.  Yet laws must not be tinkered with in haste 
and every effort should be made to ensure that changes are 
thoroughly thought out and well designed." 
 
"A Failed Cover Up," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/17) 
 
"Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar has tried to gloss over 
President Zardari's confession regarding the deal underwritten by 
foreign guarantors for the safe exit of Gen. (R) Musharraf; but it 
does not wash....  Media persons are even more tuned in to nuances 
and implications of what is said and what is left unsaid.  But 
clearly there is a brazenness with which the Presidency is now 
trying to erase the President's confessional in an unguarded moment. 
 And it makes no sense for Babar to hide behind the now rather worn 
out refrain of a conspiracy of vilification against the Party 
leaders." 
 
"Did Pak Envoy Deliberately Leak Official Classified 
Communication?," a news commentary by Ahmed Quraishi in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(09/17) 
 
"In his 'classified' letter that is no longer classified, Ambassador 
Haqqani fails to recognize the prerogative of any government, 
including the government of Pakistan, to decide whom to grant entry 
permits....  No U.S. Ambassador to Islamabad has written back to the 
U.S. government warning of dire consequences for following such a 
policy, as Ambassador Haqqani has done in his case.  Exercising 
discretion in granting entry visas to U.S. journalists falls within 
the prerogative of the government of Pakistan.  The ISI, whom 
Haqqani tried to vilify to please a certain lobby in Washington, 
D.C., follows this policy as part of its prescribed duty according 
to the law to protect Pakistan's national interest....  As the 
custodian of Pakistan's interests in Washington, why does Ambassador 
Haqqani insist that Islamabad should not have the right to choose 
who should enjoy the hospitality of the Pakistani people, especially 
when the number of visas denied to U.S. applicants is insignificant 
compared to the number granted?  And should Ambassador Haqqani not 
defend this legitimate Pakistani position instead of putting his own 
government under pressure on behalf of Washington's interest where 
it is undue?" 
 
"Breaking The Deadlock," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/17) 
 
"Iran's willingness to hold talks on the nuclear issue with six 
countries - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S. - 
is a pragmatic way of settling a thorny issue with the world 
community. Washington has welcomed the move as an important first 
step....  One hopes that in the upcoming negotiations the world 
community would hear Tehran's side of the story with consideration 
and patience." 
 
"Israeli Violation Of Geneva Convention," an editorial note in the 
second largest nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (09/17) 
 
"UN enquiry commission has strongly criticized Israel for Geneva 
Convention violation during attack on Gaza....  Israeli military 
savagely killed Palestinian civilians, used white phosphorous 
against them and their bullets and phosphorous did not even spare UN 
camps.  Geneva Convention violation was proved by UN itself and now 
it should move against it.  UN should suspend Israel's membership 
and should impose sanctions against it.  If UN does not do it then 
the impression of its being an American puppet will be 
strengthened." 
 
"Israeli Crimes In Gaza," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(09/17) 
 
"Israel, which did not cooperate with the UN's fact-finding 
commission headed by a man who is himself a Jew from South Africa, 
rejected the report. Such censure by the UN is not going to make 
Israel think and behave responsibly.  The Jewish state is immune to 
criticism, because it knows it is the region's most powerful state 
militarily and can get away with all manner of crime because it 
enjoys America's support.  Washington's Middle East policy is 
hostage to its domestic politics, for Tel Aviv knows the powerful 
Jewish lobby in the U.S. will always bail it out of trouble, no 
matter what crime Israel commits." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson