VZCZCXRO3275
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #1983/01 2671146
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241146Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8072
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1999
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 5111
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 4335
RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 0967
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2393
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6323
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 2842
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9712
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4149
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 6820
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8482
RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHMCSUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001983 
 
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: NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IN SOUTH 
ASIA, INDO-PAK RELATIONS, INDIA-CHINA TENSIONS, 
BANGLADESH; 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. 
 
----------------------------------- 
NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION IN SOUTH ASIA 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶1. "YOUR ATOM BOMB AND MINE," editorial in September 23 
right-of-center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "When 
Pakistan was producing nuclear weapons of mass 
destruction, America not only turned its back on 
Pakistan, it often extended its full cooperation. No 
doubt, it was a part of its gameplan in the 
subcontinent. No doubt, it was a well conceived plot of 
China and Pakistan, which played a major role in 
spreading the atomic technology throughout the world, 
but America's role in this gameplan was nothing short 
of a selfish motive. However, America is still in need 
of Pakistan. When will we get rid of Uncle Sam's 
deceptive games, which are responsible for endless 
arms-races in the subcontinent?" 
 
¶2. "THERE'S A BIG CALCULATION BEHIND A.Q.KHAN'S LETTER 
BOMB," editorial in the September 23 centrist Gujarati 
daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "At last, father of Pakistan's 
nuclear bomb A.Q. Khan has spilt the beans. It is 
certainly a vindication of India's stand that A.Q. Khan 
would not have succeeded in the clandestine transfer of 
nuclear technology to nations like Iran, North Korea 
and Libya without the backing of Pakistani leaders. 
The timing of the release of this letter indicates the 
America strategy to tighten the noose around 
Pakistan. It is imperative for the international 
community to assess the situation and take all possible 
to steps to prevent Pakistan from failing." 
 
¶3. "DR. KHAN'S LETTER BOMB," editorial in September 23 
centrist Gujarati daily, JANMABHOOMI: "The letter bomb 
is just the tip of the iceberg of many more secrets 
that will come out if A.Q. Khan is set free. The 
'double' role of nations like United States and Britain 
will also be exposed if Dr. Khan opens the Pandora's 
box. As far as India is concerned, she will have to 
tread cautiously over recent developments. Musharraf's 
revelations of U.S. aid being used to stockpile weapons 
against India, America's policy shift vis-`-vis 
Afghanistan and now this letter bomb. India needs to 
rethink it policy after taking all these into 
consideration." 
 
------------------ 
INDO-PAK RELATIONS 
------------------ 
 
¶4. "DISCLOSURE BY 'THE NEWS'," editorial in September 
23 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "It is 
known to one and all that the reason behind the 
prevailing tension between India and Pakistan is 
 
NEW DELHI 00001983  002 OF 003 
 
 
Pakistan's weak stand on terrorism. Pakistan never 
showed sincerity in stopping the infiltration of 
Pakistan trained terrorists into Kashmir or bordering 
Indian areas. It also never kept its words made to the 
world community, particularly India, regarding closure 
of terrorist camps in Pakistani territories. The report 
published in "The News", referring to former President 
Musharraf's support of terrorism, is proof that 
Pakistani rulers keep patronizing terrorist activities 
against India." 
 
¶5. "MUSHARRAF'S ADMISSION," op-ed article by columnist 
Shashikant Pitre in September 23 centrist Marathi 
daily, SAKAAL:  "It is true that former Pakistani 
President Pervez Musharraf's admission of diversion of 
U.S. aid for anti-India activities is a sensational 
one. It is also the first such direct revelation made 
by a former-head-of-the-state of Pakistan. But there is 
hardly anything distinctly new in this admission. The 
U.S. has provided aid to Pakistan despite knowing the 
anti-India insurgency sponsored by Pakistan on the 
India-Pakistan border." 
 
¶6. "THE EVIDENCE IS IN PAKISTAN ITSELF," editorial in 
September 23 right-of-center Urdu daily, URDU TIMES: 
"This time the ball is in Pakistan's court. Home 
Minister P. Chidambaram has explained that Pakistan 
will now have to gather evidence on its own land, 
particularly in matters related to Hafiz Saeed and his 
accomplices. If Pakistan wants an early start of Indo- 
Pak talks, it will have to make serious efforts to 
prosecute 26/11 culprits." 
 
¶7. "THE DIALOGUE CONTINUES, BUT," op-ed In September 24 
left-of-center Marathi daily, MAHANAGAR: "Pakistan 
wants to continue the bilateral dialogue with India, 
but it does not wish to conduct an honest inquiry into 
the 26/11 conspiracy that was hatched on its soil. 
India is rightly building the pressure on Pakistan as 
well as the U.S. India is willing to resume the 
dialogue with Pakistan only if the latter shows 
willingness to fight a joint war against terror." 
 
-------------------- 
INDIA-CHINA TENSIONS 
-------------------- 
 
¶8. "SEE CHINA THROUGH PRISM OF FUTURE, NOT PAST," 
commentary in September 22 right-of-center Hindi daily, 
DAINIK JAGRAN: "In the last few weeks the Indian media 
has been full of reports of skirmishes between Chinese 
and Indian troops, although these stories have been 
denied or played down by both governments. India is 
worried because China is always seemingly in its way - 
be it in international forums like United Nations and 
ADB, or by supplying arms to our enemy countries. 
Neighbors like Pakistan, Nepal and Myanmar are good at 
playing the China card against India. It is not China 
that is intruding in our region - our neighbors are 
opening their doors to it. Let us set our own house in 
 
NEW DELHI 00001983  003 OF 003 
 
 
order." 
 
---------- 
BANGLADESH 
---------- 
 
¶9. "BANGLADESH'S CHALLENGES," op-ed in September 22 
right-of-center Hindi daily, DAINIK JAGRAN: "Extremism 
is rearing its head again in Bangladesh. Bangladesh has 
become a haven for organizations banned in India, Sri 
Lanka and Myanmar. The United Liberation Front of Asom, 
the LTTE and other lawless groups operate from 
Bangladeshi soil and find it is safe to do so. Perhaps 
New Delhi can encourage some private investors to pump 
money into Bangladesh or set up joint ventures to 
produce what India requires. The problem is that New 
Delhi expects much more than Dhaka can deliver. There 
is a feeling that India is becoming increasingly 
conscious of emerging as a world power and tends to 
throw its weight around. New Delhi must alleviate 
suspicions through its actions." 
ROEMER