VZCZCXYZ0003
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #2278/01 2610945
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 180945Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4940
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0066
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 5753
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1326
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 7806
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 1803
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002278 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 18, 2009 
 
Summary:  President Obama's decision to "shelve U.S. missile defense 
shield plan in Eastern Europe" received extensive coverage in all 
newspapers on Friday.  Several Urdu language newspapers highlighted 
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman's remarks that the "U.S. would not 
be allowed to expand its military operations into Pakistani 
territory" and that the infamous security agency, "Blackwater did 
not operate in Pakistan."  Foreign Minister Qureshi's statement that 
"if India thought that it could suppress Pakistan with aggressive 
statements, it was living in a fool's paradise" received prominent 
display.  The prevailing sugar crisis in the country continued to 
garner media attention today. 
 
Editorializing U.S. Admiral Mullen's recent statement, made at the 
hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, the 
prestigious English language daily, "Dawn," observed that "setting 
aside the issue of apportioning blame for the mess of militancy for 
a minute and taking a hard look at the overall security environment 
of this region, Admiral Mullen's frank call for 'realism' is the 
right one. Pakistan has serious and legitimate interests to defend 
vis-`-vis India."  Commenting on the recent statement attributed to 
Usama Bin Laden, the populist, often sensational national English 
daily "The News," noted that the "message from both sides remains 
essentially unchanged and Obama is doing little different to that 
which his predecessor did in terms of foreign policy; and Usama bin 
Laden continues to fantasize about a worldwide caliphate and return 
to the golden age of Islam."  In its editorial, the pro-Taliban 
Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam," asserted that "President Obama's support 
for the plan of additional troops for Afghanistan demonstrates that 
he has come under pressure of the Republicans."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"Obama Scraps Bush's Missile Defense Plan" "Dawn" (09/18) 
 
"In a major shift based on a reassessment of the threat from Iran, 
U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday shelved plans for a missile 
shield in Eastern Europe, the cause of a Cold War-style row with 
Russia.  Mr. Obama decided to replace the shield, the brainchild of 
former U.S. President George W. Bush, with a more mobile system 
targeting Iranian short-range and medium-range missiles, initially 
using sea-based interceptors.  'Our new missile defence architecture 
in Europe will provide stronger, smarter, and swifter defenses of 
American forces and America's allies,' Mr. Obama said at the White 
House." 
 
"FO Denies Presence Of Blackwater" "The News" (09/18) 
 
"Pakistan on Thursday said there is no presence of Blackwater in 
Pakistan.  Addressing a weekly briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Office 
spokesman Abdul Basit said Pakistan would not allow any foreign 
troops to launch any operation against terrorists inside Pakistan." 
 
 
"India Can't Cower Pakistan Down: Qureshi" "The News" (09/18) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Thursday again made it 
clear if India thought that it could suppress Pakistan with 
aggressive statements, it was living in a fools' paradise.  Foreign 
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expressed these views while talking to 
the journalists on Thursday." 
 
"Pakistan Rejects Precondition For India Talks" "Dawn" (09/18) 
 
"Pakistan renewed on Thursday its call for unconditional resumption 
of composite dialogue with India to resolve all outstanding issues, 
including Kashmir.  'If they (Indians) refuse to engage in composite 
dialogue they should understand that it will have consequences. Are 
they aware of those consequences? If not, I would like to explain 
those consequences to them,' Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi 
said at a press conference before leaving for the United States." 
 
"Obama To Co-Host Friends Of Pakistan Summit" "Dawn" (09/18) 
 
"The first summit-level meeting of the Friends of Democratic 
Pakistan (FoDP) will be held on Sept 24 in New York, says an 
official document released here on Thursday.  The summit will be 
co-hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister 
Gordon Brown and President Asif Ali Zardari." 
 
"10 Militants Killed In Swat" "The news" (09/18) 
 
"Security forces on Thursday claimed to have killed 10 militants on 
the bank of River Swat near Nawan Killay after an exchange of fire 
while scores of others were arrested in search operations in various 
parts of Swat Valley, official sources said." 
 
"Two Killed In Bajaur" "The news" (09/18) 
 
"Two militants were killed and three others, including two soldiers, 
sustained injuries during a clash with the security forces in 
Charmang Valley of Nawagai sub-division in Bajaur Agency on 
Thursday," 
 
"Unexploded Mines Serious threat To Civilians: ICRC" "The news" 
(09/18) 
 
"the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has expressed 
concern over the unexploded weapons and mines in the war-affected 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and NWFP." 
 
"Forces' Firing Kills Two Women In North Waziristan Agency" "The 
News" (09/18) 
 
"Two women were killed and five others, including three minors, 
sustained injuries when a vehicle came under fire by the security 
forces for violating curfew on Thursday." 
 
"Militants' Attempt To Enter Mingora Foiled" "Dawn" (09/18) 
 
"Security forces foiled an attempt by militants to enter Mingora and 
carry out terrorist acts, according to the Swat Media Centre." 
 
"Afghanistan Should Not Destabilize Pakistan: Kerry" "The news" 
(09/18) 
 
"Describing Pakistan's stability as a vital U.S. national interest, 
top American Senator John Kerry has advocated that Afghanistan 
should not be allowed to destabilize its neighbor and the region. 
Chairing a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on strategy 
for Afghanistan, Kerry called for setting realistic goals in the 
insurgency-hit country." 
 
"Haqqani Urges U.S. Not To Walk Away From Region Again" "The News" 
website (09/18) 
 
"Sounding a note of caution, Islamabad's envoy to Washington has 
said the United States suffered serious consequences as a result of 
walking away from Afghanistan and Pakistan after the Soviet pullout 
in 1989 and urged that the mistake should not be repeated. 
Ambassador Husain Haqqani was a speaker at the U.S. Senate on a 
discussion on 'Fighting Insurgencies with Laptops' organized on 
Wednesday by the OLPC (One Laptop per Child, a non-profit 
organization)." 
 
"Pakistan Firm On Nuclear Non-Proliferation" "The news" (09/18) 
 
"Pakistan is committed to nuclear non-proliferation, has an 
immaculate safe-guards record and believes that the global 
non-proliferation regime must be strengthened on the basis of moral, 
political and international commitments.  This was stated by Dr. 
Ansar Parvez, Chairman, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission while 
addressing the 53rd International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
General Conference in Vienna on Thursday." 
 
"Pakistan Ordered Arms Worth $4.5 Billion From U.S." "Dawn," "The 
Nation" (09/18) 
 
"Pakistan placed its largest ever arms purchase orders worth $4.5 
billion with America between 2005 and 2008 and its weapons shopping 
list included more F-16 fighters and over hundred 155 MM artillery 
guns, a latest Congressional report has said." 
 
"Americans Take Over Parts Of Peshawar PC" "The news" (09/18) 
 
"In connection with the U.S. Embassy and consulates expansion plan, 
Americans have taken over parts of Peshawar PC after sealing a 
purchase deal with the previous administration of the hotel and the 
government of Pakistan, according to sources.  The U.s. authorities 
say with an increase in aid to Pakistan, they will have to hire more 
staff here in this country.  The U.S. consulate in Karachi is being 
expanded on a fast pace, while the Peshawar PC purchase deal has 
also been finalized." 
 
"Firm Guarding U.S. Diplomats Gets 80 Arms Licenses" "Dawn" (09/18) 
 
"A private Pakistani security agency being operated by a retired 
army captain, and providing security and protection to American 
embassy officials in the country, has imported over 80 sophisticated 
automatic prohibited bore weapons, following special permission 
granted by the prime minister.  The retired captain, who was picked 
up by a Pakistani intelligence agency a day earlier but soon 
released on the production of valid documents, acquired these 
licenses for prohibited bore guns for Inter Risk, a company which 
has the contract to provide trained security guards for the 
Americans, highly informed sources told 'Dawn.'" 
 
"SC To Be Moved On Sugar Price" "Dawn" (09/18) 
 
"The federal government and the four provinces decided on Thursday 
to jointly approach the Supreme Court to explain the 'ground 
realities' about determination of the sugar price." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"Pakistan's Perspective," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(09/18) 
 
"Admiral Mullen has accurately summarized Pakistan's approach by 
stating that our strategy for dealing with militancy is affected by 
the 'principal' and 'existential' threat from India, though the army 
is seriously concerned about the threat of militancy and is 
addressing the problem to an extent.  Setting aside the issue of 
apportioning blame for the mess of militancy for a minute and taking 
a hard look at the overall security environment of this region, 
Admiral Mullen's frank call for 'realism' is the right one. 
Pakistan has serious and legitimate interests to defend vis-`-vis 
India....  Second, Admiral Mullen has correctly pointed out that 
there is real uncertainty in Afghanistan and Pakistan over whether 
the Americans remain committed to the region.  Part of that 
uncertainty, which breeds fear and perhaps causes the Pakistani and 
Afghan governments to baulk at full cooperation with the U.S., is 
created by the way the U.S. has defined its goal in the region i.e. 
eliminating safe havens for Al Qaeda.  Suppose the Americans do 
achieve that goal, will that mean cutting and running like they did 
two decades ago?  Notwithstanding long-term aid commitments, the 
U.S. needs to do more to reassure Pakistan and Afghanistan of its 
commitment to the region." 
 
"Also The Third Threat!," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/18) 
 
"The top U.S. military commander, Admiral Michael Mullen, fails to 
read Pakistan's present predicament fully when he tells the Senate 
Committee on Armed Services that it faces threat from two fronts, 
one from the Indian side and the other from the militants.... 
Clearly, the idea is to avoid ruffling its feathers.  And it seems 
that he grudgingly accepts that the U.S. strategy would have to 
accommodate these perceptions, including the pace at which Pakistan 
is tackling the militant phenomenon....  One would expect that that 
should serve as a lesson to the huge U.S. and NATO force that has 
been operating in Afghanistan for nearly eight years against an 
enemy that shows no signs of wilting.  No doubt, the use of 
firepower has its merits and demerits, as it almost inevitably 
entails the loss of innocent lives, but excessive concern, to the 
point of cowardliness, about the safety of the life of soldiers 
cannot win wars." 
 
"Pakistan: Threats On The Eastern And Western Borders," an editorial 
in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (circ. 10,000) (09/18) 
 
"It is encouraging that U.S. defense and political circles are 
acknowledging Pakistan army's superb performance in the war on 
terror.  American political circles should also pay attention to 
Admiral Mullen's statement that Pakistan army faces threats from 
India on the eastern border and Afghanistan on the western border. 
American and NATO forces are facing a threat from Afghanistan as 
well and are combating it, but Pakistan alone has to face the threat 
[from India] on its eastern border....  It now remains to be seen 
what measures the U.S. government takes to meet Pakistan's military 
needs, especially what steps it takes to stop Indian interference in 
Balochistan.  American government must also note the change in 
Indian attitude so that the Foreign Minister-level talks at UNGA are 
productive and pave the way for composite dialogue." 
 
"On Message," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/18) 
 
"The message from both sides remains essentially unchanged and Obama 
is doing little different to that which hQ predecessor did in terms 
of foreign policy; and Usama bin-Laden continues to fantasize about 
a world-wide caliphate and a return to the Golden Age of Islam. 
Moderation has yet to enter the equation, despite Obama 'reaching 
out' to the Muslim world, and about the only thing the messages from 
either side have in common is that they are written in blood. 
Neither side has the killer punch that would decide the contest and 
both are content to spend lives in an unwinnable war." 
 
"U.S. Moving Towards End Of Soviet Union," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) 
(09/18) 
 
"President Obama's support for the plan of additional troops for 
Afghanistan demonstrates that he has come under pressure of the 
Republican Congressmen.  And now he is making a decision that may 
not be very popular in his own country either, as a recent survey 
conducted by the CNN established that the support for Afghan war is 
declining even in the United States." 
 
"U.S. Aid Controversy," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/18) 
 
"The U.S. aid package to Pakistan has spawned a heated debate.  It 
all started when U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson remarked 
that the U.S. has given a sum of $3 billion in economic, security 
and development assistance since President Zardari came to power. 
The statement however met with a firm rebuttal by Minister for 
Finance Shaukat Tarin who maintained that the U.S. has provided only 
$970 million since the PPP-led government took office....  It 
becomes hard to tell who is telling the truth....   People after all 
must be wondering whether $3 billion did come, and if so, where did 
it go?  Therefore it is of utmost importance that the public should 
be shown the true picture....  Keeping public in the dark in matters 
of foreign aid flowing into Pakistan should be made a thing of the 
past." 
 
'Contradictory Claims By U.S. Ambassador And Finance Minister On 
U.S. Aid To Pakistan," an editorial note in the second largest, 
nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (09/18) 
 
"Ambassador Anne W. Paterson is one of the responsible U.S. 
officials and her coming out with an unconfirmed statement on U.S. 
assistance to Pakistan seems implausible. In this connection, 
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin's statement is also meaningful, who 
did not clearly contradict the U.S. Ambassador's statement.  What he 
said was that he is aware of U.S. assistance of only $970 
million....  If American Ambassador's statement on $3 billion aid to 
Pakistan is based on facts then this entire matter should be 
investigated.  Where did the aid go, who received and utilized it, 
did it go to the personal account of any individual?  This is a 
serious matter." 
 
"U.S. Assistance To People Or To Government?," an editorial in the 
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (09/18) 
 
"The United States Ambassador to Pakistan Anne Patterson, in a 
written statement issued by the Embassy, claimed that 'the U.S. 
government has already provided 3 billion dollars since President 
Zardari was elected and will continue to deliver assistance to 
Pakistan through a variety of longstanding vectors as required by 
American law to ensure transparency and accountability, and is not 
depriving Pakistani government of any degree of direct funding as a 
result of a lack of confidence or trust.'...  Patterson's target 
audience, it appears, was the government and not the people of this 
country.  Her assertion that accountability and transparency will be 
ensured as per the American law would, without doubt, be supported 
by the people of this country as the perception of weak governance 
is pervasive at present....  If winning the hearts and minds of the 
people of Pakistan is indeed the U.S. administration's priority as 
stated by Paul Jones, Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan 
and Pakistan, then the focus must remain on transparency and 
accountability in assistance." 
 
"Another Head," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/18) 
 
"The Chief of the Taliban's beheading squad (Sher Muhammad Qasab) 
becomes the latest key militant to be held....  His capture, along 
with 17 other militants further weakens the Swat Taliban....  The 
time has come too to assess the impact of the terror.  The regular 
beheadings in the central square at Mingora, the gory display of 
heads atop stakes, the floggings and beatings which were a norm of 
life under the Taliban and the fear which stalked every street have 
left behind many effects....  The time has come to reclaim Swat and 
our society as a whole.  Counseling is required for those who have 
lived through the nightmare....  We also need laws to be put in 
place against the distribution of material that promotes violence." 
 
 
"What Next For Taliban Leaders?," an op-ed by Dr. Masooda Bano in 
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (09/18) 
 
"Now that the government has had some success in capturing alive 
some senior leaders of the Taliban resistance in Swat, the question 
is, what will the government do with them?  Are they going to be put 
on trial?  If yes, how accessible will the proceedings be to the 
public?  There is no denying that bringing these elements to court 
is the most acceptable way to proceed....  The fact remains that 
these Taliban, whoever they are, could not have reached the scale 
they did in Swat without some systematic support from influential 
actors within or outside the country.  It is logically very 
difficult to see how people who have very rudimentary levels of 
education, have very limited exposure to modern technologies, and 
belong to the economically less privileged groups can arm and 
organize themselves to a level where they could virtually take over 
the entire administration of Swat." 
 
"Blasphemy Law Guarantees Protection To Minorities," an editorial 
note in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
(09/18) 
 
"Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer should dissociate himself from his 
statement on the repeal of blasphemy law.  If contempt of court law 
is necessary then why can't we have blasphemy law?  Not defending 
the blasphemy law is manifestation of weak faith." 
 
"Pakistan's Turn," and op-ed by Dr. Inayatullah Faizi in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (09/18) 
 
"Chief of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI), Syed Munawwar Hasan, has claimed 
that the U.S.is planning to invade Pakistan after occupying 
Afghanistan....  But I think the JI leader is deliberately ignoring 
the history. The U.S. had started its full interference in 
Afghanistan in 1978 after already subduing Pakistan in connivance 
with its local allies, including religious parties and the then 
military junta of our ill-fated country.  The present multiple 
crises Pakistan is passing through are the fruits of that unholy 
alliance between the U.S. and our ruling political and religious 
elites." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson