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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002340 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SEPTEMBER 28, 2009 
 
Summary:  Almost all major Pakistani newspapers re-ran British daily 
'The Sunday Times' report that the "U.S. is threatening to launch 
airstrikes on Mullah Omar and the Taliban leadership in Quetta." 
Pegged to this news piece was Interior Minister Malik's statement 
that the "Americans have never told us any location and we need 
real-time intelligence to take action."  Reports and photographs of 
the much-awaited meeting between Pakistani and Indian foreign 
ministers on the sidelines of the UNGA summit in New York that 
"concluded without a major breakthrough on composite dialogue" 
received extensive media coverage.  All newspapers also highlighted 
reports that "people started leaving South Waziristan Agency fearing 
military operation."  The English language daily, "Dawn," reported 
that U.S. Defense Secretary Gates "denied" any rift between the U.S. 
military and the White House over the Afghanistan war.  Some 
newspapers in their Sunday editions reported that the "U.S. 
condemned the terrorist suicide attacks in Bannu and Peshawar," and 
reiterated its "support to the Government of Pakistan in its 
struggle against those who commit heinous acts of violence against 
the civilian population of the country." 
 
Several newspapers continued to run critical editorials on the pros 
and cons of the Kerry-Lugar bill and the strings attached to the 
U.S. aid for Pakistan.  Commenting on a "new kind of relationship 
with Washington" the populist, often sensational national English 
daily "The News," maintained that the "money they pour in must not 
allow them to assume the role of masters.  The equation must be a 
more equitable one."  The Second largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" termed the Kerry-Luger bill's conditions as "shameful 
and contrary to Pakistan's independence, sovereignty and security." 
Likewise, the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain," also urged the government to "reject the conditions 
linked to the proposed U.S. aid."  End Summary. 
 
----------------- 
News Stories 
----------------- 
 
"U.S. Has Good Mind To Bomb Quetta: U.K. Paper" "The News" (09/28) 
 
"The United States is threatening to launch air strikes on Mullah 
Omar and the Taliban leadership in Quetta as frustration mounts 
about the ease with which they (allegedly) find sanctuary across the 
border from Afghanistan, reports 'The Sunday Times.'...  The 
Pakistani government is reluctant to take its own action, however. 
'We need real-time intelligence,' said Interior MiniQer Rehman 
Malik.  'TQericans have never told us any location.'" 
 
"India Declines To Fix Date For Resumption Of Dialogue" "Dawn" 
(09/28) 
 
"After extensive, two-hour talks at New York's Palace Hotel, Foreign 
Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and his Indian counterpart S.M. 
Krishna admitted that the two sides failed to fix a date for the 
resumption of dialogue suspended after the Mumbai attacks." 
 
"Resume Dialogue, Qureshi Tells India" "The News" (09/28) 
 
"Emphasizing that 'dialogue is the most sensible and the only way 
forward' for improvement in Pakistan-India relations, Foreign 
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Sunday asked India to resume the 
dialogue process.  He described talks with his Indian counterpart 
S.M. Krishna as 'frank, positive and honest.'" 
 
"People Start Leaving SWA Fearing Military Action" "The News" 
(09/28) 
 
"Following an announcement by the Fata Radio Razmak on Saturday 
night in which the political administration of South Waziristan 
asked the tribal people to vacate four towns, including Makeen, Push 
Ziarat, Spin Kamar and Tabay, the population started migrating to 
safer places." 
 
"Gates Says No Rift Among Leaders Over Afghan war" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Defence Secretary Robert Gates denied on Sunday any rift between 
the U.S. military and the White House over the war in Afghanistan 
and suggested a possible radical shift in strategy was unlikely, Mr. 
Gates told ABC television." 
 
"U.S. Condemns Terrorist Attacks In Bannu And Peshawar" "Daily 
times," "The Post" (09/27) 
 
"Today's terrorist attacks in Peshawar and Bannu serve as a reminder 
that extremism still poses a threat to the people of Pakistan.  We 
will continue to support the Government of Pakistan in its strQle 
against those who commit heinous acts of violence against the 
civilian population of Pakistan and the officials whose job it is to 
protect them, the U.S. Embassy statement said." 
 
"Desperate Taliban Deliver Death 18 Killed In Peshawar, Bannu Car 
Blasts" "The News" (09/27) 
 
"Barbaric terrorists struck twice within hours in separate car 
bombings which claimed at least 18 lives and hurt over 160 in 
Peshawar and Bannu on Saturday." 
 
"NWFP Blasts Show Taliban's Ability To Strike" "Daily Times" 
(09/28) 
 
"The suicide blasts that rocked NWFP and FATA over the weekend 
signal the Taliban remain a threat despite intensified military 
operations and unmanned drone attacks targeting the group's leaders, 
said analysts on Sunday." 
 
"Death Toll Rises To 27 In Peshawar, Bannu Attacks" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"The death from two suicide bomb attacks in Pakistan rose to 27 on 
Sunday.  A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden truck into a 
police station in the town of Bannu, the gateway to the North 
Waziristan militant region on the Afghan border, early on Saturday. 
Pakistani Taliban militants claimed responsibility for both blasts 
and vowed more." 
 
"16 Terrorists Arrested, Four Surrender" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Security forces have detained 16 terrorists, including two 
'commanders' in various areas of Swat and Malakand.  Four other 
terrorists had surrendered voluntarily, an ISPR press release said 
on Sunday." 
 
"Houses Of Four Militants Blown Up In Malakand" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Security forces dynamited four houses of suspected militants in 
Alladhand village during a search operation in different areas of 
Malakand on Sunday." 
 
"Orders Issued To Stop Demolition Of Militants' Houses" "The News" 
(09/28) 
 
"The military authorities have issued orders to the Pakistan Army 
commanders operating in Swat and the rest of Malakand Division to 
stop demolishing houses of people suspected of having links with the 
Taliban militants.  Requesting anonymity, a senior Army officer told 
'The News' that the decision was taken due to complaints that the 
houses in many cases were jointly owned and the whole families 
suffered instead of only the suspected militants being targeted." 
 
"11 Arrested In Fresh Buner Offensive" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Security forces arrested 11 suspects on Sunday during a fresh 
offensive against militants in the mountainous areas of district 
Buner, bordering Swat, sources said." 
 
"All Mehsuds Are Not Militants, Says Jirga" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"A Jirga of the Mehsud tribe of South Waziristan has urged the 
government to avoid taking indiscriminate action against the tribe, 
saying that all the Mehsuds are not militants." 
 
"Militants, Some Posing As FC Soldiers, Held In Darra" "Dawn" 
(09/28) 
 
"Security forces arrested 24 suspected militants, three of them 
wearing uniforms of Frontier Corps, during a search operation in 
Darra Adamkhel on Sunday." 
 
"Terror War Inflicts $400m Loss On Tourism" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Tourism industry of Frontier province suffered a loss worth $400 
million since the launch of war on terror, said NWFP Tourism 
Minister Syed Aqil Shah in Peshawar on Sunday." 
 
"Merge FATA Into NWFP Or Make It province: HRCP" "The News" (09/28) 
 
"A recent publication of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan 
(HRCP) has suggested that after consultation with the residents of 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the Parliament should 
merge FATA into the NWFP or give it an independent status as 
province." 
 
"Pakistan's Concerns Addressed In Aid Bill, Says Farhat" "Dawn" 
(09/28) 
 
"Pakistan's concerns that attaching conditions to U.S. aid will be 
counter-productive have been accommodated in the Kerry-Lugar bill, 
presidential spokesman Farhatullah Babar said on Saturday.  'Our 
reservations have not been ignored,' said Mr. Babar while briefing 
journalists in New York." 
 
"Feel-Good Factor In U.S. Aid" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Much of the corporate Pakistan is thrilled by the passage of 
Biden-Lugar Bill in the U.S. Senate and the move to create a trust 
fund to finance the country's needs.  The capital inflow, many 
believe, would help the economy to recover." 
 
"Resolution On Nuclear Disarmament Welcomed" "Dawn" (09/28) 
 
"Pakistan has described as a significant step the UN Security 
Council resolution that seeks to rid the planet of nuclear weapons. 
Talking to Voice of America, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit 
said Pakistan always supported efforts meant for global peace and 
stability and had adopted a balanced and principled approach on 
disarmament." 
 
--------------------- 
Editorials/Op-eds 
--------------------- 
 
"A New Beginning," an editorial in the populist, often sensational 
national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (09/28) 
 
"It is now quite clear the U.S. will remain engaged in Pakistan for 
some time to come.  The significant aid packages that have been 
announced mean that there is no possibility of a swift pull out from 
the region....  Islamabad meanwhile must also find ways to lay down 
the blueprint for a new kind of relationship with Washington.  The 
money they pour in must not allow them to assume the role of 
masters. The equation must be a more equitable one.  The challenge 
for Pakistan is to find a way to make this possible and set the 
necessary wheels in motion to drive towards this goal." 
 
"Shameful Conditions For Pakistan In The Kerry-Lugar," an editorial 
in the second-largest, center-right nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (09/08) 
 
"According to newspaper reports, Pakistan will have to meet such 
conditions under the Kerry-Lugar Bill that are contrary to our 
independence, sovereignty and security....  There is an 
infrastructure being erected under Robin Raphel's leadership for the 
implementation of these conditions and the nation has already 
reacted to it.  The nation would never accept if the government of 
Pakistan agreed to half-yearly shameful certification by U.S. 
Secretary of State for the acquisition of the aid....  The 
government should reject the bill while all the politicians, 
including Mian Nawaz Sharif and religious parties, should raise 
their voices against it." 
 
"Kerry-Lugar Bill," an editorial in the Lahore-based populist 
center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (09/28) 
 
"If Pakistan fails to meet even one condition out of the many 
included in the Kerry-Lugar bill, the U.S. would have the right to 
stop the tranche and deprive Pakistan of this aid.  Pakistan should 
reject these shameful conditions which go against our national 
dignity.  By accepting these conditions, Pakistan would almost turn 
into a U.S. colony whose policies would be determined and monitored 
by the U.S, and the Pakistani government would be left hanging like 
a lifeless limb." 
"Kerry-Lugar Bill: Unpleasant Conditions," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 10,000) (09/28) 
 
"The condition demanding non-interference by the three armed forces 
in political and judicial matters is beyond the average Pakistani's 
comprehension.  This obviously means that by giving peanuts to 
Pakistan every year, the U.S. wants to subjugate all state 
institutions....  To make matters worse, the U.S. is threatening to 
stop aid if all these conditions are not met." 
 
"Conditions Tied To U.S. Assistance" an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (09/28) 
 
"Anxiety over the conditions in the Kerry-Lugar Bill is a natural 
reaction, but some of the conditions cannot, in principle, be 
described as wrong; for example, the assistance will stop in the 
event of army or intelligence agencies interference in the political 
and judicial process....  However, dialogue is a better option then 
coming up with conditions when it's a matter of relations between 
two nations." 
 
"FoDP," an editorial in the center-right national English daily "The 
Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/28) 
 
"The Friends of Democratic Pakistan have not helped Pakistan so much 
as done the American bidding, by creating a Multi Donor Trust Fund, 
or MDTF....  In this way, the central government will not be able to 
determine how the money is spent there, and thus will have that 
funding determined by the MDTF.  The MDTF will be administered by 
the World Bank based in Pakistan, not the Pakistani Finance 
Ministry....  This is very clearly an example of those who are 
contributing to the MDTF having bought into the rhetoric, which 
portrays Pakistan as one of those irresponsible countries, which 
cannot be trusted with money....  However, the Pakistan government 
should realize that by accepting the money on these terms, it has 
more or less admitted the charge....  The FoDP are not true friends, 
and should be made to respect Pakistan's national sovereignty by 
putting the money they promised in the hands of Pakistani 
institutions, or not making the money available at all." 
 
"Taliban Hit Back In NWFP," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (09/28) 
 
"The latest incursion into the NWFP territory is supposed to be a 
message to the ANP government in Peshawar that the TTP is still 
strong and controls the cities of the province....  What, however, 
cannot be missed is the TTP's realization that they could be 
confronted with an army advancing into their strongholds in the 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).  The ANP leaders have 
spread the word that this attack is imminent.  Clearly, the 
terrorists are on the run in the most populated two areas, Malakand 
and Bajaur....  The cards have to be played very carefully from now 
on.  The army cannot afford to weaken its presence in Malakand if 
that is what will happen when it moves troops into South 
Waziristan." 
 
"Is Aid The Answer?," an op-ed by Dr. Sania Nishtar in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(09/28) 
 
"There are other things that both sides can do to improve aid 
effectiveness.  The Pakistani government should strengthen fiduciary 
systems and prioritize, transparency-building measures, a call for 
which has been renewed in the tabling of Transparency 
International's recent reports.  The Friends, on the other hand, 
must be sensitive to connotations of conditionality, refrain from 
using regional unified approaches to policy such as Af-Pak.... " 
 
"A New Document of Slavery," an op-ed by Hamid Mir in the leading 
mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (09/28) 
 
"In fact, three U.S. private security agencies including the 
infamous Blackwater, which has changed its name, are operating in 
Pakistan.  It appears that the Americans working in Islamabad are 
equating Pakistan with the war-ravaged Afghanistan and consider 
themselves above all laws of this country.  They consider that, as 
in Kabul, they can also roam this city while brandishing and touting 
their sophisticated weapons.  But they are committing a blunder of 
far-reaching dimensions in this regard.  Here, in Pakistan, there 
does not exist any 'Northern Alliance' to welcome the U.S. forces, 
nor has the UN passed any resolution for a military intervention in 
this country.  The suspicious activities of the Americans in 
Islamabad are creating unrest among the local residents which may 
prove detrimental to the U.S. interests as well as to the democratic 
dispensation in Pakistan, which has just been snared with the 
Kerry-Lugar bill.  An ordinary Pakistani considers that the U.S. 
policies are becoming a potential threat to the security of his or 
her country.  They are not against friendly ties with Washington but 
they cannot accept the U.S. slavery at any cost.  The Kerry-Lugar 
bill is a document of slavery, not of friendship, hence Pakistan's 
Parliament should reject it." 
 
"Interesting Times," an op-ed by Syed Manzoor Hussain in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (09/28) 
 
"Whether the U.S. decides to finish the campaign against the Taliban 
or make some sort of deal, declare victory and leave, it will, for 
the foreseeable future, need the Pakistan Army to prevent the 
Taliban from using Pakistani territory to mount attacks against U.S. 
and allied troops in Afghanistan.  It will also require some form of 
commitment from the Pakistani government that it will not actively 
try to destabilize the Karzai government after the U.S. leaves.  So, 
it might seem that considering U.S. needs in Afghanistan, Pakistan 
is in a 'win-win' situation.  But it should also be remembered that 
even though the Taliban are now unpopular, the U.S. is at this time 
also about equally unpopular in Pakistan.  That puts the Pakistani 
government as well as the army in a delicate situation....  It is 
therefore important for the government, the army as well as members 
of the responsible media to present to the people the point that by 
helping the U.S. at this time, Pakistan will accomplish three 
important goals.  First, improve its economic situation, second have 
a better chance at successfully fighting against the extremist 
threats to the country, and third, most importantly, facilitate an 
early departure of the U.S. from the area." 
 
"Obama's Afghan Dilemma," an op-ed by Shahzad Chaudhry in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (09/28) 
 
"President Obama is right - eliminate Al Qaeda as your main military 
mission. Additionally, use available resources to facilitate an 
environment of stability by neutralizing the real bad elements, not 
by alienating the largest segment of the Afghan population; 
mainstream the majority Afghan Taliban into a participatory process 
of nation-building....  One thing though should be expressly clear: 
there is no military victory in Afghanistan.  Success will be in 
leaving behind a stable Afghanistan minus Al Qaeda, but not minus 
what time has begun to define as the Taliban.  These so called 
'Afghan Taliban' are but a creation of an environment, who found 
impetus when clubbed into the same corner as Al Qaeda.  Minus Al 
Qaeda, they would settle down into their alternative options. That 
shall certainly have a salutary effect on stabilizing Pakistan's 
troubled regions." 
 
"India's Militarism," an editorial in the center-right national 
English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (09/28) 
 
"With India upping its military ante against Pakistan in terms of 
conventional weapons, the intent is clearly to keep Pakistan's 
military focused on the eastern front.  After all, unless the 
Pakistan military is suicidal, it cannot move the bulk of its 
fighting force to the western front or into FATA as the U.S. would 
like.  Which makes one wonder why the U.S. would indulge India's 
resurgent militarism by giving in to its weapons wish list?  Or does 
the U.S. deliberately want to make us vulnerable on the eastern 
front? The Pakistan military should explore these questions in depth 
before continuing its cooperation with the U.S. in its 'war on 
terror.'" 
 
"India's Orchestrated Pak Bashing," an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (09/28) 
 
"The statement by the Indian Prime Minister on the side lines of the 
G-20 summit in Pittsburgh is in line with New Delhi's decades old 
policy of blaming Pakistan at international forums....  From the 
statement of the Indian leader it should be clear to those powers 
that wanted to see resumption of dialogue between the two countries 
that New Delhi has its own agenda of Pakistan bashing rather than 
addressing key issues that confront the two South Asian neighbors." 
 
 
"Iran's Intentions," an editorial in the Karachi-based center-left 
independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (09/28) 
 
"Iran's disclosure about its upcoming uranium enrichment facility 
has expectedly upset the U.S. and its western allies....  Iran 
believes it has done nothing wrong and insists that its uranium 
enrichment will not be of weapons grade.  Resorting to a lot of 
hair-splitting arguments, the West has been strongly critical of 
Iran and called for stronger sanctions....  A lot will now depend on 
the degree to which Iran is prepared to cooperate with the IAEA 
inspectors who alone can reassure the U.S. and the others about 
Iranian motives." 
 
"Nuclear Double Standards," an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (09/28) 
 
"The West's concerns over Iran's nuclear program are understandable. 
However, the double standards employed by the international 
community on the issue needs to be taken up.  The United States' 
uneven approach in dealing with the issue of nuclear proliferation 
in the region is amply reflected in its turning a blind eye to 
Israel's nuclear program and its belligerent posture vis-`-vis 
Iran....  There is weight in the argument that if Iran is pushed 
against the wall, it may go nuclear, resulting in nuclear 
proliferation in the entire region and beyond.  Aggressive posture, 
be it from the U.S. or Iran, is bound to push the region into chaos 
and disaster." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson