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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002543 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: KERRY-LUGAR BILL, TERRORISM, 
INDIA-AMERICA-PAKISTAN OCTOBER 20, 2009 
 
Summary:  Reports and photographs of Senator Kerry and CENTCOM Chief 
General Petraeus' Pakistan visit and their meetings with senior 
civilian and military officials received front-page coverage in all 
newspapers on Tuesday.  Senator Kerry's remarks that "the Pakistani 
leadership, civil and military, is on the same page" with regards to 
Kerry-Lugar Bill were widely highlighted.  Several major newspapers, 
however, gave prominent coverage to remarks attributed to PML-N 
Chief Nawaz Sharif that the "Kerry-Lugar legislation, with its 
conditions, continues to be a source of concern for the people of 
Pakistan."  Prime Minister Gilani's assertion that "infiltrations 
from Afghanistan into Pakistan should be checked by the U.S. and 
NATO forces" was also highlighted.  All major dailies highlighted 
reports that Army Chief General Kayani sent an open letter to the 
Mehsud tribe to seek "its support in the operation against militants 
in South Waziristan." 
 
In other news, reports that the Iranian President Ahmadinejad in a 
telephonic conversation with President Zardari, urged Pakistan to 
"help to quickly arrest the criminals" involved in the Sistan bomb 
blast were also highlighted.  Editorializing the "Bomb in Iran," the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News," 
observed that "Islamabad needs also to keep in mind that the new 
charges from Iran will add to the perceptions that we are a nation 
unable to control the militancy that has sprung up in our midst." 
All news channels highlighted latest bombing at Islamic University 
in Islamabad today.  End Summary. 
 
---------- 
Terrorism 
---------- 
 
News Story: "U.S. Asked To Expedite Coalition Support Fund Payments" 
"Dawn" (10/20) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday urged the United 
States to expedite the delayed payments of Coalition Support Fund 
claims and Foreign Military Funds to Pakistan at the current 
critical juncture when the government was engaged in military action 
in South Waziristan.  Talking to General David Petraeus, Commander 
U.S. Central Command, at the Prime Minister House, the Prime 
Minister called for the supply of most needed equipment for 
Pakistan's armed forces." 
 
News Story: "Check Infiltration From Afghan Side, Petraeus Told" 
"The News" (10/20) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday made it clear to 
the U.S. that as Pakistan was engaged in military action against the 
militants in South Waziristan, infiltrations from Afghanistan into 
Pakistan should be checked by the U.S. and NATO forces.  The prime 
minister was talking to General David Petraeus, Commander U.S. 
Central Command, who called on him at the Prime Minister House." 
 
News Story: "COAS Raises Border Posts Issue With Petraeus" "Daily 
Times" (10/20) 
 
"NATO forces vacating check-posts in Afghanistan allow Afghan 
Taliban to cross the Pak-Afghan border and join the Pakistani 
Taliban in South Waziristan, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General 
Ashfaq Kayani said on Monday.  During a meeting with U.S. Central 
Command (CENTCOM) chief General David Petraeus, he discussed the 
U.S. providing state-of-the-art weapons to Pakistani forces to help 
them combat terrorists in the Tribal Areas." 
 
News Story: "Kayani Writes To Mehsuds, Seeks Tribe's Support" 
"Dawn" 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has sought 
support of Mehsud tribes in the operation against militants in South 
Waziristan.  In an open letter to the Mehsud tribes, the copies of 
which were distributed among reporters at a press briefing jointly 
addressed by Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira and military 
spokesman Maj-Gen Athar Abbas, the Army Chief expressed the hope 
that the tribes would fully back the army in the operation and 
collectively rise against oppressive elements for a decisive 
action." 
 
News Story: "Zardari Calls Ahmadinejad Iran Blames U.S. And Pakistan 
For Attack" "Dawn" (10/20) 
 
 
"Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has pointed a finger 
of blame at the United States for Sunday's suicide bombing at a 
meeting of the Revolutionary Guards and tribal chiefs in 
Sistan-Baluchestan.  Iranian President Ahmadinejad in a telephonic 
conversation with President Zardari, charged that those behind the 
bombing were in Pakistan and needed to be 'quickly confronted.'" 
 
News Story: "Pakistan Tells Iran: Jandullah, TTP And LJ Are 
Involved" "The News" (10/20) 
 
"Islamabad has informed Tehran that Jandullah (or Soldiers of God), 
the Pakistan-based anti-Shia militant outfit, which has claimed 
responsibility for the October 18 deadly suicide attack in Zahedan, 
targeting Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is carrying out coordinated 
terrorist operations with the help of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ), to undermine Pak-Iran ties." 
 
News Story: "7 persons were Killed, over 20 Injured In Twin Blasts 
At Islamic University In Islamabad" "Geo Website" (10/20) 
 
"7 persons were killed, over 20 injured in the twin blasts at the 
new campus of the International Islamic University in Islamabad on 
Tuesday afternoon." 
 
News Story: "South Waziristan Offensive Kills 18 More Militants: 
Army" "Dawn" (10/20) 
 
"At least 18 more militants were killed and two soldiers martyred in 
the last 24 hours of the operation in South Waziristan agency. 
 
News Story: "14 Militants, Three Children Killed In Mohmand Blitz" 
"The News" (10/20) 
 
"Fourteen militants were killed and several others sustained 
injuries when jet fighters pounded militant hideouts in Yakkaghund 
and Baizai subdivisions of Mohmand Agency on Monday." 
 
News Story: "NATO Hails Pakistan Offensive Against Taliban" "Dawn" 
(10/20) 
 
"NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen welcomed on Monday 
Pakistan's offensive against Taliban in South Waziristan, saying it 
was crucial for regional stability.  Mr. Rasmussen expressed his 
'appreciation of the increased efforts by the Pakistani military and 
the Pakistani government in the fight against terrorists in the 
border regions,' he told reporters at NATO headquarters in 
Brussels." 
 
News Story: "U.S. Giving Importance To Waziristan Operation" "The 
News" (102/20) 
 
"The Barack Obama Administration as well as American media has been 
giving extraordinary importance to the latest military action, 
launched by the Pakistan armed forces against the well-organized and 
all-powerful Taliban militants in South Waziristan Agency and 
believed the army this time is ambitious under Gen. Ashfaq Parvez 
Kayani to eliminate militants." 
 
News Story: "Public Opinion In Pakistan Turns Against Militants, 
U.S. Congress Told" "Dawn" (10/20) 
 
"The Pakistani public opinion has turned sharply and intensely 
against violent religious militants operating within the country, 
the U.S. Congress was told.  The Pakistani military is also 
beginning to turn against the Taliban quite forcefully.  Meanwhile, 
the Pakistani elite are searching for a new national security 
doctrine that does not fuel internal revolution and does not impede 
economic and social progress.  These observations were made at a 
recent hearing of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs convened to 
review the current U.S. policy towards Afghanistan." 
 
News Story: "U.S. Counter-Terror Units Using Sihala College Premises 
Since '03'" "Dawn" (10/20) 
 
"A letter sent to the Inspector-General of Punjab Police by the 
commandant of the Sihala Police College seeking clarification from 
the Interior Ministry and the Foreign Office about the use of their 
installation has confirmed that it had been under the use of U.S. 
 
counter-terrorism training personnel since 2003.  'Dawn' has learned 
that the letter was also forwarded to the personal Secretary of the 
Interior Minister." 
 
News Story: "Rupees 500,000 Reward For Terror Information" "Dawn" 
(10/20) 
 
"The government has decided to offer a reward of Rs500,000 to people 
providing credible information or mobile video clips about 
terrorists to security agencies" 
 
News Story: "Stocks Slump 4.34 Percent On Security Concerns" 
"Business Recorder" (10/20) 
 
"Panic selling was witnessed at Karachi share market on Monday due 
to South Waziristan operation and security concerns, and KSE-100 
index registered heavy loss of 426.83 points, or 4.34 percent, to 
close at 9,411.29 points from 9,838.12 points." 
 
News Story: "170,000 People Displaced By South Waziristan Agency 
Operation So Far: UN" "The News" (102/20) 
 
"The United Nations said on Monday that 170,000 People has been 
Displaced from the troubled South Waziristan Agency due to fresh 
violence and military operation by the Pakistan army against 
militants and estimated that the number of the IDPs would reach 
250,000 in the next couple of days." 
 
News Story: "Karachi TTP Chief Among Four Arrested" "Dawn" (10/20) 
 
"The alleged Amir of the Karachi branch of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan 
and his three accomplices were arrested on Monday.  Police also 
seized a large cache of arms and ammunition." 
 
News Story: "Action Against Madressahs May Affect Mainstreaming 
Effort" "Dawn" (10/20) 
 
"The government's move to crackdown on madressahs providing 
sanctuary to militants will be difficult as just over 500 seminaries 
have been registered since the launch of a reforms program four 
years ago.  Abdul Qadoos Muhammad, a spokesman for the Wafaqul 
Madaris, a coalition of Deobandi seminaries claiming control over 
12,000 seminaries, said: 'We have no objection to the government's 
inspection of madressahs allegedly involved in terrorist activities, 
but the government does not seem to be interested.'" 
 
News Story: "Blackwater Arms Warehouse In Capital?" "The Nation" 
(10/20) 
 
"Kestral Logistics, a warehouse located in the industrial area of 
Sector I-9/3, and involved in arms trading, is working as the 
subcontractor of U.S. security company, Xe Worldwide (Blackwater), 
'The Nation' has learned." 
 
 
Editorial: "Bomb In Iran," an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"Iran claims that there was involvement of agents based in Pakistan 
with elements inside Iran in the suicide bombing on Sunday... 
Islamabad needs to keep in mind that the new charges from Iran will 
add to the perceptions that we are a nation unable to control the 
militancy that has sprung up in our midst.  The continued turmoil in 
Balochistan of course adds to the problem.  This is an issue we need 
to bring under check.  Terrorism needs to be thwarted.  Otherwise we 
will continue to face embarrassing accusations and a consequent 
increase in tensions in the region." 
 
Editorial: "Suicide Attack In Iran: Regrettable Allegations And Our 
Obligation," an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu 
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (10/20) 
 
"The suicide attack in Iran has apparently put two neighboring 
countries at odds and made American strategy successful.  That is 
why, the Iranian finger pointing at Pakistan could be described as 
regrettable, to say the least....  There were reports coming out in 
the past which talked about American patronage for Jandullah.... 
Iran should take into account clever tactics of 'big Satan' America 
and should not increase its isolation by leveling allegations 
 
against Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: "Suicide Attack In Iran," an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (10/20) 
 
"We are not in a position to blame any power for the attack. We 
should keep our eyes open in the wake of the experiment in Iraq 
whereby the Iraqi nation was pushed into a civil war.  Pakistan and 
Iran should know that powers with malafide intentions can create a 
gulf between the two countries in order to sabotage Pakistan-Iran 
gas pipeline project." 
 
Editorial: "Jandullah And Relations With Iran," an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (10/20) 
 
"There is a clear break here between what the world thinks and what 
Iran thinks.  The world thinks that the U.S. unwittingly 
strengthened Iran's regional position by destroying two regimes: 
Saddam Hussein's in the west and the Taliban's in the east.  But 
Tehran continues to think that the U.S. and its allies are trying to 
get Iran into a challenging regional pincers movement. 
Unfortunately, Pakistan can hardly reassure Iran in this regard 
because of its declining writ of the state in Balochistan and 
elsewhere." 
 
Editorial: "It Is The Work Of Enemies Of Pakistan And Iran," an 
editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often 
sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (10/20) 
 
"The allegations leveled by the Iranian leaders regarding 
Islamabad's involvement in the recent suicide attack in Iran and the 
presence of the terrorist outfit, Jandullah, in Pakistan are nothing 
more than emotional reaction which lacks any substantial evidence. 
Both countries should embark upon joint efforts to find the hidden 
elements behind this tragic incident and formulate a strategy to 
cope with them.  The government of Pakistan, in particular, must 
keep in mind that the foreign powers, which laud our role in the war 
on terror, are not our friends.  In fact, they are the biggest 
patrons of the terrorists.  It the responsibility of our political 
leadership that it get itself and the 170-million strong Pakistani 
nation out of this quagmire which has become a potential threat to 
our independence and security." 
 
Editorial: "Operation Rah-i-Nijat," an editorial in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"As the security forces close in on the centre of gravity of 
Pakistani militancy in South Waziristan, the country is holding its 
breath, both in anticipation of good news from South Waziristan and 
in apprehension of bad news from the cities and towns.  It's early 
days yet in Operation Rah-i-Nijat, but initial reports suggest that 
the army's planning has been careful and professional.  Target 
selection for bombing runs by the jets does not appear to be 
indiscriminate and the troops on the ground have been aided in their 
movement by sophisticated equipment that the army has quietly 
deployed.  Protecting the population is key in counter-insurgency 
doctrine and the army appears to be aware of this.  However, there 
are limitations when it comes to using a blunt tool like a 
conventional army as a surgical instrument that kills or captures 
the enemy without causing 'collateral damage' to the civilian 
population." 
 
Editorial: "Battle Joined," an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"The tides of war now wash across Waziristan.  Operation Rah-e-Nijat 
is underway and the first battlefield reports are coming in along 
with claims and counterclaims from both sides.  This is a complex 
conflict, not a simple case of 'baddies' versus 'goodies.'  The 
patchwork of tribal allegiances and rivalries is going to color and 
influence the outcome of the wider battle....  These are early days 
in an operation that could last months.  Not only is the conflict 
complex but so is the terrain. As we have seen in Swat, it is one 
thing to take the ground, another to hold it.  And putting it all 
back together post-conflict in a place where the writ of the state 
has never been more than diaphanous is going to make Swat look like 
a walk in the park by comparison." 
 
 
Editorial: "U.S. Questionable Intent," an editorial in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(10/20) 
 
"The South Waziristan (SW) operation in itself has already begun to 
have a fallout on the country, in terms of a raised threat level 
with schools being closed and security being heightened all 
around....  But it is the adverse external environment that is being 
created deliberately to coincide with the South Waziristan Agency 
operation, which raises larger questions of whether we are falling 
into a trap created by the U.S. to destabilize the country to such 
an extent that the nuclear assets can be taken under U.S. control 
and Pakistan's map redrawn.  Is it simply a coincidence that the 
moment the SWA operation begins, the U.S. and NATO vacate their 
critical check posts on the Afghan border with Pakistan, when 
everyone knows that the TTP is being supplied weapons from 
Afghanistan?  Is the real U.S. intent to allow enough supplies to 
continue flowing to the TTP (Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan) so that the 
Pakistan army gets bogged down in SWA and Pakistan gets even more 
engulfed in terror attacks across the country?...  Perhaps most 
important, though, our leadership really needs to re-examine, in the 
light of what the U.S. has been doing to our external environment 
while pushing us to launch the SWA operation, whose interests it is 
serving.  In other words, is the U.S. really an ally or a covert 
enemy, determined to cut nuclear Pakistan down to size?" 
 
Editorial: "Mysterious Airlifting Of TTP Leaders," an editorial in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (10/20) 
 
"There are two major developments which indicate that some foreign 
powers were actively engaged to undermine the military operation, 
called Rah-i-Najat, in South Waziristan.  According to a report, 
there has been mysterious airlifting of some Taliban elements from 
Pakistan-Afghanistan border areas close to Waziristan.  It is feared 
that anti-Pakistan TTP leaders are being rescued by their foreign 
handlers in the wake of operation in the area.  And according to 
another report, U.S.-led NATO forces have vacated half a dozen key 
check posts on Afghan side of the border with the apparent objective 
of giving free hand to Afghan Taliban to cross over to Waziristan to 
fight against Pakistan Army.  There had been concerns since long 
that the United States was playing double game in the area - 
eliminating militants that are resisting foreign occupation of 
Afghanistan and prodding those engaged in terrorists activities 
inside Pakistan.  This strange differentiation between Taliban 
exposes the real designs of the United States, which are nothing but 
destabilization of the region and especially Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: "Ongoing operation in South Waziristan And New Dangers," 
an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (10/20) 
 
"Defense analysts are of the view that the ongoing operation in 
Waziristan may last for months.  The intelligence agencies of the 
U.S., India and Israel will definitely do their best to expand this 
war to the every nook and corner of Pakistan.  True, Washington is 
considering to increase its financial and military assistance for 
our country, but the real objective of this generosity may be to 
entangle Pakistan into this war." 
 
Editorial: "Arrival Of American Officials," an editorial in the 
second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(10/20) 
 
"If America considers al-Qaeda a threat for it then it should pay 
attention to Afghanistan instead of Pakistan....  America should 
look for the treatment of the malady in Afghanistan and not 
elsewhere." 
 
Editorial: "Waziristan IDPs," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(10/20) 
 
"The Waziristan operation is expected to be a tougher challenge for 
the army compared to what transpired in Swat simply because it is 
believed that there is greater support for the militants in that 
area than there was in Swat.  Analysts say the operation may last 
for two months, but in such matters giving and sticking to time 
 
frames can be difficult.  Winter is fast approaching and if the 
conflict drags on, life will become even more tough for the 
displaced.  One hopes that the government has learnt from the 
experience of the Swat IDPs and that contingency plans are in place. 
 Also, while all humanitarian assistance should be extended to the 
affected people, the authorities must be wary of extremists trying 
to sneak out posing as refugees." 
 
Editorial: "New Displacements," an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"The trickle of people leaving South Waziristan has grown to 
resemble something of a flood.  Nearly 200,000 are now estimated to 
be displaced.  The displacements can also be seized upon as an 
opportunity - even if it is one that arises from the most 
unfortunate of circumstances.  For well over a decade, the people of 
Waziristan have been in the grip of the Taliban.  Their region has 
been described, in the context of global terrorism, as the most 
dangerous in the world.  They will need to be incorporated into any 
effort to build a brighter future.  The presence of so many IDPs 
offers a chance to communicate with them, bring them closer to the 
state and persuade them that it can meet their needs in terms of 
education, health and employment....  With these people, a 
partnership needs to be built - so there can be hope and the IDPs 
feel they have something to look forward to once they are able to 
return home." 
 
Editorial: "Alarm In Schools," an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(10/20) 
 
"With the start of the army operation in South Waziristan, it was 
feared - and not unrealistically - that the Taliban would retaliate 
by stepping up attacks on civilians....  As a result, when the 
authorities received intelligence reports of schools in some regions 
being potential targets their knee-jerk reaction was to shut down 
educational institutions in Islamabad....  This is no doubt a tricky 
situation.  On the one hand, one cannot take risks and expose 
children to unnecessary dangers.  On the other, it will devastate 
the psyche of the people if a climate of panic is created when it 
may not really be warranted.  The authorities have to strike a 
balance between the two." 
 
Opinion: "Waziristan - The Mother Of All Battles," an op-ed by 
Rahimullah Yusufzai in the populist, often sensational national 
English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"Pakistan's armed forces started the air and ground offensive after 
months of preparations, during which the areas inhabited by the 
Mahsud tribe and controlled by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 
were blocked from all sides and artillery shelling and air strikes 
using jet-fighters and helicopter- gunships were carried out to 
'soften' Taliban positions....  The military authorities have been 
quoted as saying that six to eight weeks would be required to 
complete the ongoing action in South Waziristan.  If this doesn't 
happen, the military operation would be judged in the light of this 
timeline and termed a failure or half-victory....  It is certainly 
going to be a lot harder and longer than the battle for Swat.  There 
will be more fighting and casualties." 
 
Opinion: "Terrorist Surge And Its Implications," an op-ed by Tariq 
Osman Hyder in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" 
(cir. 20,000) (10/20) 
 
"To analyze what the present situation portends one must view this 
struggle between the forces for a progressive Pakistan and the 
militants' vision of a theocratic Pakistan in the context of 
national dynamics, regional and international parallels and of the 
timescale and resources required to win this battle for the soul of 
Pakistan....  The battle against the militants has become 
multi-dimensional....  Without adequate multinational economic and 
military equipment support and also action by the Extra Regional 
Forces to control the border from the Afghan side, the battle in 
Pakistan will take far longer." 
 
Opinion: "Striking At The Edifice!," an op-ed by Zaheer Bhatti in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(10/20) 
 
"One would have expected the U.S. to stand firmly with Pakistan 
rather than every now and then resort to apprehensions about its 
declared long-term strategic partner.  It is perhaps time to make up 
for past neglect, and treat Pakistan as a sovereign equal with its 
neighbors, rather than discriminate and try to browbeat it to a 
subservient role in the region.  Raising the bogey of Pakistan's 
nuclear assets falling into the wrong hands without a plausible 
reason, deliberately confusing the real Taliban demanding 
enforcement of Shariah, with terrorists facilitating infiltration of 
their ranks by inimical forces and involving the Pak Army into 
combat with them, tinkering with Pakistan's internal affairs and 
invading its ideological edifice with alien cultures, and weary of 
the potential of the forces, trying to brand them as a rogue army, 
is bound to widen the cleavage instead of building bridges." 
 
Opinion: "The American Guest," an op-ed by Nazir Naji in the leading 
mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (10/20) 
 
"I have always been expressing doubts on the covert U.S. intentions 
in the war on terror. Washington had insisted for military operation 
in Waziristan before Malakand.  It was sure that majority of the 
terrorists would flee into Malakand and would block the Karakoram 
Highway, the only land route connecting China and Pakistan, for 
transportation for an unspecified period of time.  The latest 
developments in the regions have started gradually exposing real 
motives of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan.  It appears that the 
main battlefield in the war against terrorism is being shifted to 
Pakistan. Washington wants to engage the Pakistani security forces 
on our Western borders in order to provide relief to India which has 
become a strategic partner of the United States.  We should not 
trust Washington despite our alliance with it in the war on terror." 
 
 
---------------- 
Kerry-Lugar Bill 
---------------- 
 
News Story: "Pak Civil, Military Leaders On Same Page: Kerry" "Daily 
Times" (10/20) 
 
"'As of today, it seems to me that the Pakistani leadership, civil 
and military,' is on the same page, said Senator John Kerry in a 
select briefing in Islamabad with six senior journalists.  He was 
asked whether the Kerry-Lugar Bill and its subsequent clarification 
had found acceptance in the power centers of Pakistan.  Senator 
Kerry was on a brief visit to Pakistan because he was 'concerned 
that a straight forward effort has been misinterpreted.'  He said 
that the Unites States' statement of clarification on the KLB 'could 
not be clearer.'  He cautioned that 'we should not play to cheap 
galleries here.'  He aslo said, 'if you don't want the money, say 
so.  We're not forcing you to take it.'  Senator Kerry said that his 
meetings with civilian and military leaders had been 'very 
positive.'" 
 
News Story: "Nawaz Urges U.S. To Establish Trust With Pakistan" 
"Daily Times" (10/20) 
 
"The Obama administration and the US Congress should establish a 
genuine partnership with the people of Pakistan based on mutual 
respect and trust, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Chief Nawaz Sharif 
said on Monday.  During a meeting with U.S. Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee Chairman Senator John Kerry, he said the Kerry-Lugar 
legislation, with its conditions, continues to be a source of 
concern for the people of Pakistan.  He said these concerns 'needed 
to be addressed to establish a relationship of trust and confidence 
between the two countries,' a press release issued by the PML-N's 
media cell stated." 
 
News Story: "Zardari Hopes For Early Legislation On ROZs" "Daily 
Times" (10/20) 
 
"Following the successful passage of the Kerry-Lugar legislation, 
Pakistan hopes the U.S. will soon adopt the legislation on the 
Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) for the uplift of the Tribal 
Areas, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Monday.  'I hope the ROZ 
legislation will soon be approved and the labor provision softened,' 
he told U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator 
John Kerry." 
 
 
News Story: "Jamaat-e-Islami Referendum On KLB Act On October 23" 
"The Nation" (10/20) 
 
"Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) will hold a referendum on Kerry-Lugar Bill 
(KLB) Act on October 23 and the masses will not tolerate the 
government and the Parliament which are favoring anti-Pakistan aid 
Bill." 
 
Editorial: "U.S. Officials' Invasion," an editorial in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(10/20) 
 
"Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Senator John Kerry, 
who is also a co-author of the document that has sparked public 
outrage here for its vicious designs on Pakistan's sovereignty, is 
already here....  One might as well ask the Senator what 
justification there was for inserting the degrading conditionalities 
in the first instance if they were subsequently to be 'negated' by 
an additional document, which the Americans now unconvincingly plead 
the statement has done.  The opposition parties must put up a joint 
stand and unequivocally oppose these clauses....  Can the Pakistani 
electorate also hope that the government, which represents them, 
would act in line with democratic traditions, respect their 
sentiments and tell their American interlocutors to bring in the 
necessary changes that have legal validity?...  It is hoped that our 
leadership would not be taken in by their explanations and would put 
across their point of view forcefully." 
 
Opinion: "The Bill Explained," an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"When a decade ago Pakistan borrowed from the World Bank some funds 
to develop its power sector it agreed to restructure WAPDA according 
to a plan essentially developed in Washington....  Similarly 
Islamabad agreed to very specific fiscal and monetary targets with 
the IMF when it negotiated an agreement with that organisation in 
November 2008.  It is understood that the flow of funds would stop 
if these conditions were not met.  The World Bank sends out 
supervision missions and the IMF review missions to make sure that 
their conditions are being met.  The American bill does not have 
such conditions. The only requirement is that the administration 
report to the various committees of Congress on the expectations it 
has of the policies Pakistan will adopt.  The bill does not have the 
provision that economic aid to Pakistan will be terminated or 
reduced if the country does not implement some of the 
recommendations made by the U.S. Congress.  The World Bank and IMF 
support comes with this kind of contingency....  This is the way the 
U.S. system works.  It is not peculiar to aid to Pakistan." 
 
Opinion: "The Bad Old Kerry-Lugar Bill," an op-ed by Kamran Shafi in 
the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily 
"Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (10/20) 
 
"So, if the present American administration under the wise 
leadership of Barack Obama is trying to cleanse our polity why are 
we protesting?...  But seriously, aid-givers do what they will; 
aid-receivers should do what they will.  The Kerry-Lugar bill was 
passed by the U.S. Congress, not by the Pakistani parliament. The 
language used is because the $15 billion that were pumped into the 
country during the Commando's time in the sun were not accounted for 
properly....  If someone doesn't like the language, let him/her 
refuse the money.  It is as simple as that.  Beggars as we all know 
cannot be choosers." 
 
Opinion: "Terms Of Friendship," an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (10/20) 
 
"The Obama Administration would do well to seek to reverse the 
damage by showing respect and encouraging Congress to also respect 
the sentiments of the Pakistani people as well as the country's red 
lines of its sovereignty.  The way the U.S. is perceived after all 
affects the extent of cooperation it can get from any government in 
Islamabad....  Institutional dysfunction and disconnect, the 
intensely personalized conduct of foreign policy, bypassing 
institutions and not taking parliamentary allies and other political 
forces in to confidence all contributed to Islamabad's flawed 
 
engagement with the process leading up to the adoption of the 
Kerry-Lugar Bill.  Had this not been the case it is conceivable that 
the outcome might have been different.  In part because of its 
desire to take 'sole credit' for the American aid package the 
government behaved the way it did.  In its anxiety to secure the aid 
package it overlooked its obligation to try to ensure that the law's 
provisions were not an affront to the country in the eyes of its 
people." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson