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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002640 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, SECRETARY CLINTON'S 
VISIT, TERRORISM/MILITARY, ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS - OCTOBER 
30, 2009 
 
Summary:  Secretary Clinton's ongoing visit to Pakistan continued to 
garner extensive coverage in all newspapers on Friday.  Reports and 
photographs of her meetings with senior provincial officials of 
Punjab, PML-N leaders, civil society members, students and senior 
editors in Lahore, on the second day of her visit to Pakistan, were 
highlighted on the front-pages of all major dailies.  The leading 
mass circulation populist Urdu daily "Jang," and the Lahore-based 
liberal English language newspaper, "Daily Times," published special 
supplements to mark the Secretary Clinton's Pakistan trip.  Her 
remarks that the "Al Qaeda leadership is in Pakistan" and that 
"Pakistan's economy will take off, if ties with India normalize" 
made front-page headlines in almost all major newspapers.  Also 
highlighted by all newspapers was Secretary Clinton's meeting with 
Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani, and her visit to the Shrine of 
Sufi Saint Bari Imam near Islamabad.  In its editorial on the 
Secretary of State's visit, the prestigious English language 
newspaper, "Dawn," observed that Secretary Clinton is on a mission 
to "mend fences with the Pakistani public, media and opposition." 
Likewise, another daily, "The News," also termed her efforts to 
reach out and interact with ordinary people "a good omen."  End 
Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: "Passport Of 9/11 Suspect Found In Militant Base" "Dawn" 
(10/30) 
 
"A prominent member of the so-called Hamburg cell linked with 9/11 
attacks was believed to be among senior Al Qaeda leaders involved 
with the Taliban fighting the Pakistani troops in South Waziristan. 
A green German passport belonging to Said Bahaji, a close associate 
of Mohammed Atta, the leader of the 9/11 hijackers, was among 
several documents which were found by Pakistani forces in a mud 
compound in Sherawangi village which was used by Taliban as their 
command and control base. There were also documents which showed 
presence of some other European nationals in the area." (Story also 
front paged in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: "Al Qaeda Leadership In Pakistan: Hillary Clinton" 
"Daily Times" (10/30) 
 
"The leadership of Al Qaeda is in Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton said on Thursday. 'I find it hard to believe that 
nobody in your government knows where they are and couldn't get them 
if they really wanted to,' she added.  'Maybe that's the case; maybe 
they're not gettable. I don't know... As far as we know, they are in 
Pakistan,' Clinton told senior Pakistani newspaper editors in 
Lahore." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: "Hit Terror More Aggressively, Says Hillary" "The News" 
(10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Thursday 
that Pakistan had little choice but to take a more aggressive 
approach to combating the Taliban and other insurgents that threaten 
to destabilize the country. With the country reeling from 
Wednesday's devastating bombing in Peshawar, Clinton engaged in an 
intense give-and-take with students at the Government College of 
Lahore, insisting that inaction by the government would have ceded 
ground to terrorists....  'Though the terror war is being fought on 
your (Pakistan) land, but it is not Pakistan's war alone; Pakistan 
is fighting on the front and the U.S. stands by it.' She observed if 
peace was restored between Pakistan and India and their mutual 
disputes were resolved, Pakistan would take off as a rocket in terms 
of economic development." (Story also front paged in all 
newspapers) 
 
SECRETARY CLINTON'S VISIT 
 
News Story: "Nawaz Urges Hillary To Remove Reservations Over Aid 
Bill" "The News" (10/30) 
 
"PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif, during a meeting with U.S. Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton on Thursday, stressed the need for 
establishing Pak-U.S. ties on the basis of mutual trust. He said 
that Pakistan had been an important ally of the U.S. and the two 
countries had cooperated on many key global issues. The U.S. 
secretary of state tried to do away PML-N leaders' reservations over 
 
 
the Kerry-Lugar Law, saying the U.S. realized the reservations of 
the people of Pakistan. 'That was why the U.S. government had issued 
an explanatory note on it,' she added." (Story also front paged in 
all newspapers) 
 
News Story: "Hillary Meets Kayani, Assures Boosting Defence, 
Strategic Ties" "Pakistan Observer" (10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Chief of Army 
Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani here at GHQ on Thursday evening. 
During meeting, issues pertaining to Pak-U.S. strategic relations 
including Pak-U.S. cooperation in war on terror, Operation 
Rah-e-Nijat and situation of Afghanistan were discussed in length." 
 
 
News Story: "Clinton Visits Bari Imam Shrine" "Daily Times" (10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited shrine of Saint 
Bari Imam Thursday morning. On arrival, children presented the U.S. 
state secretary bouquet. She later laid floral wreath on the saint's 
grave and distributed food among devotees." 
 
News Story: "Clinton Pledges $289.5m For Four Sectors" "Daily Times" 
(10/30) 
 
"During a meeting with Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, U.S. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged $289.5 million support in 
four different sectors. According to a press release issued by the 
U.S. Embassy on Thursday, the four sectors included law enforcement 
and border security programs which would receive $103.5 million, the 
Benazir Income Support Program would get $85 million, $56 million 
for the rehabilitation of displaced persons and the Higher Education 
Commission would receive $45 million. Clinton also announced the 
delivery of five additional Huey II helicopters to the Air Wing of 
the Ministry of Interior and a new funding for operations and 
maintenance support for the expanded fleet." 
 
News Story: "We Will Keep Assisting Pakistan Against Terror: 
Hillary" "Dawn" (10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton answered critical questions 
on U.S. policy at a town hall meeting in Pakistan on Thursday, 
unveiling cash for universities and calling for peace with India.... 
 Following previous announcements of cash for poverty, border 
security and energy development, she pledged a 45-million-dollar 
investment for higher education in Pakistan.... Clinton, who says 
the United States wants to 'turn the page' on its relationship with 
Pakistan, is devoting significant energy to public diplomacy to 
counter rising Pakistani criticism of the alliance with 
Washington.... Clinton has already committed 85 million dollars to 
countering poverty, 125 million dollars to improving Pakistan's 
woefully inadequate electricity supply and 104 million dollars to 
law enforcement and border security assistance." 
 
News Story: "Kerry-Lugar Aid Will Improve People's Living Standard: 
Hillary" "Daily Times" (10/30) 
 
"The Kerry-Lugar legislation will improve the living standard of the 
people of Pakistan, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on 
Thursday, adding the aid package will not address sovereignty and 
national security issues." 
 
News Story: "Clinton All Praise For Gilani" "The News" (10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton termed Prime Minister 
Yousuf Raza Gilani the magician of politics when she heard that he 
was unanimously elected as the leader of the house in parliament 
last year and was running the house with consensus since then with 
the confidence of the establishment and the masses alike." 
 
News Story: "Hillary Clinton To Meet Parliamentarians Today" "Daily 
Times" (10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will meet Parliamentarians 
and a delegation from the NWFP today (Friday)." 
 
Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Visit" an editorial in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
 
 
(cir. 55,000) (10/30) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is in Pakistan on a 
mission, it seems, to mend fences with the Pakistani public, media 
and opposition. Ms. Clinton is the highest-ranking official of the 
Obama administration to have visited Pakistan in an attempt to 
mollify detractors here who have been aggrieved by the strictures 
contained in the Kerry-Lugar bill and the army and the government's 
role in the 'U.S. war on terror'." 
 
Editorial: "Bridging The Gap" an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/30) 
 
"Hillary Clinton is clearly on a mission in Pakistan. She is 
obviously eager to set Pakistan-U.S. relations on the right footing 
after the angst created by the Kerry-Lugar Bill....  Ms Clinton's 
challenge to extremists, to come forward and let the Pakistani 
people decide, brought out the degree to which the U.S. is aware 
that extremism is not favored by people.  In this context the 
efforts made by the U.S. Secretary of State, despite immense 
security concerns, to reach out and interact with ordinary people 
are a good omen.... Hillary Clinton spoke several times of winning 
over hearts. Perhaps she and her staff, for her next visit, should 
also keep in mind that the blocking of roads and the consequent 
problems imposed on people are one way to lose goodwill rapidly!... 
These may be minor considerations, but they all play a part in 
winning over people and persuading them to see friends where at 
present many see enemies." 
 
Editorial: "Hillary's Visit" an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (10/30) 
 
"One reading of the U.S. foreign policy says that as far as Pakistan 
is concerned, the broad contours of U.S. engagement with Pakistan 
remain the same, no matter who occupies the oval office. This 
perception has to change. Hillary visit will be seen as successful 
if she is able to show to the government and people of Pakistan that 
the U.S. understands the critical situation Pakistan finds itself 
in. If the U.S. government realizes that Pakistan is in deep waters 
and has to be helped out if the terrorists are to be eliminated, it 
should be treated as an equal partner in the war against 
terrorism....  The U.S. administration will have to reverse the 
policies that proved harmful to the interests of the U.S. as well as 
Pakistan and open up both in political and economic terms." 
 
Editorial: "Pointless Symbolism" an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (10/30) 
 
"When asked about the illegal activities of U.S. diplomats in the 
Capital she simply declared she did not know anything of this. Now 
given that all U.S. diplomats come under the State Department and 
Ms. Clinton is the Secretary of State, it is astonishing to find 
that she was ignorant on what has become a major diplomatic issue in 
Pakistan. All in all, if Ms Clinton really wants to win over the 
Pakistani nation to thinking positively about the U.S., she will 
have to tackle these contentious issues as well as stop the 
diatribes and warnings regarding our nukes. The time for beguiling 
the people of Pakistan with symbolism is long over; it is time to 
show intent through actions." 
 
Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Visit To Pakistan And Its 
Implications; We Need National Dignity Today More Than Ever" an 
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (10/30) 
 
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's meaningful silence vis-`-vis 
Peshawar blast strengthens the impression about American and Indian 
intelligence agencies involvement in such incidents....  The 
al-Qaeda and Taliban have announced dissociation from the Peshawar 
blast, which creates the impression that a deep conspiracy was 
present behind the Peshawar blast on the occasion of Hillary 
Clinton's Pakistan trip....  National pride demands that we ask 
American Secretary of State to take the American aid and U.S. 
military back to America.  She should be told that we cannot sell 
our freedom and independence for American aid." 
 
Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Remarks And Pakistan's Reservations" 
an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) 
 
 
(10/30) 
 
"We welcome Secretary of State Clinton's statement that America 
wants to end misunderstanding and open up a new of Pakistan-U.S. 
relations. America should take practical steps to end Pakistan's 
reservations....  America's recent steps include removal of American 
check posts at Pak-Afghan border and it must end the apprehensions 
created by the step....  If America's imposing attitude, actions and 
partiality did not end then Pakistanis would be right to look at 
'new chapter' talk as mere noisemaking." 
 
Editorial: "Hillary Clinton's Visit To Pakistan And Pak-U.S. 
Relations" an editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 
25,000) (10/30) 
 
"America should compensate for all the losses Pakistan incurred in 
the war against terrorism....  The Secretary of State has announced 
to help Pakistan in combating the energy crisis, but it seems that 
Pakistan's other needs have been ignored. American Secretary of 
State did not talk about Pakistani products access to American 
markets, which has been a demand by Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: "U.S. Secretary of State's Visit To Pakistan" an 
editorial note in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (10/30) 
 
"Looking at the difficulties people faced the other day due to the 
visit we are constrained to ask as to what was the need for her 
Pakistan visit if she felt threatened to this extent....  When asked 
she evaded the question about American's illegal activities in 
Pakistan.  Pakistanis are right to raise questions about our freedom 
and sovereignty in the backdrop of the drone attacks and American 
armed troops patrol on Islamabad streets." 
 
Editorial: "Clinton Hints At Talks With Taliban" an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (10/30) 
 
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has given an indication that the 
United States is willing to talk with those Taliban who give up 
armed struggle and agree to adopt peaceful and democratic path. This 
reflects a change in the thinking of Washington in the wake of 
domestic pressure and ever increasing losses in fighting....  A deal 
could be reached with the Taliban if America gives a firm commitment 
to withdraw from Afghanistan and in return seeks a guarantee that 
Al-Qaeda would not be allowed to operate or launch attacks against 
any country from the Afghan soil." 
 
News Analysis: "Just Say No" an op-ed by Ikram Sehgal in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (10/30) 
 
"Hillary Clinton's ongoing visit to Pakistan must be seen in the 
context of a awareness in the Obama administration that there was 
something fundamentally wrong in the U.S. treatment of Pakistan, 
that 'turning a new page' was necessary to lay out the parameters of 
our future relationship....  During the course of the discussions, 
Hilary Clinton at one time said that if we did not want the aid it 
was not compulsory for us to accept it, nobody was forcing us to 
take the financial support being offered. One is aware about her 
'war against drugs' during the time Bill Clinton was President and 
she the First Lady. The catch-phrase she used was 'Just Say No'. 
Pakistan should indeed be really grateful for the economic aid and 
with the utmost gratitude accept Title I of the KLB without 
reservations. As far as the 'Security Assistance' being offered 
under Title II of the KLB, we should 'Just Say No'." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: "11 Militants Killed As Troops Surround Kaniguram" "The 
News" (10/30) 
 
"Continuing their advance towards Srarogha, the stronghold of 
Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) head Hakimullah Mehsud, security 
forces said they had killed 11 militants and lost one soldier with 
two others injured on Thursday, the 13th day of the operation 
Rah-e-Nijat. However, reporters and cameramen of television channels 
flown to South Waziristan and taken on a guided visit to several 
 
 
points quoted the security forces as claiming that 82 militants were 
killed in the fighting." 
 
News Story: "Forces Repel Simultaneous Attacks In Bajaur" "The News" 
(10/30) 
 
"Official sources said that militants in groups simultaneously 
attacked the security forces' check-posts in various areas of Bajaur 
Agency on Thursday.  The security forces claimed killing several 
militants during clashes." 
 
News Story" "Bombing Toll Hits 116" "The News" (10/30) 
 
"The death toll from the Meena Bazaar bombing reached 116 while over 
20 people were still missing and believed buried under the rubble 
that could not be removed due to lack of sophisticated equipment.... 
 TTP Chief Hakimullah Mehsud, in an interview with media, had 
accused the Americans and U.S. private army Xe or Blackwater for the 
terrorist act." 
 
 
News Story" "New U.S. Policy To Raise Aid For Pakistan" "Dawn" 
(10/30) 
 
"The new U.S. policy for the Pak-Afghan region will be a combination 
of continued military presence in Afghanistan and an increase in 
military and economic assistance to Pakistan, officials and 
lawmakers say. U.S. President Barack Obama holds his final meeting 
with his senior military advisers on Friday to finalize the 
policy." 
 
Editorial: "Pakistan's War For Survival" an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (10/30) 
 
"The root cause of war is in fact clear and present: the terrorists 
are killing our women and children. They are damaging our economy by 
scaring away domestic and international investment. They want 
Pakistan to collapse into a 'state of nature' to serve them as the 
hub of their global terror. Pakistan has to fight them and see to it 
that the international community is lined up behind it with every 
kind of support and sympathy." 
 
Editorial: "After The Bombings" an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/30) 
 
"The death toll from the blast that ripped through a crowded bazaar 
in Peshawar has risen to over 100....  The fact is that there is no 
guarantee at all that we will be able to swiftly overcome the 
monster of terrorism that is destroying society....  The situation 
we face today suggests we would do well to acquire it as fast as we 
can, with foreign help where necessary....  It is time to adopt 
other measures to cope with the bloodshed that takes place almost 
every day." 
 
Editorial" "Peshawar Tragedy: For How Long We Will Continue to Pay 
This Price?" an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, 
often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (10/30) 
 
"The synchronization of the Peshawar bomb blast with the visit of 
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton would have dawned upon her 
that Pakistan is paying a very high price for its participation in 
the war on terror. A nation that has jeopardized its very existence 
in order to save its friends from illusory dangers reserves the 
right to take its allies into confidence regarding the negative 
effects of drone attacks, Kerry-Lugar Bill and the removal of the 
NATO check-posts on the Pak-Afghan border. The difference between 
the U.S. aid for Pakistan - which has rendered meritorious services 
in the war on terror and, resultantly, paid a very high price for 
this policy in terms of human and financial losses - and that for 
Kirgizstan for providing a single military base for this purpose 
speaks volumes about the sincerity of our old friends. On their 
part, our present and previous governments are also responsible for 
pushing the country into this grave situation because they failed to 
convey their point of view regarding the negative impacts of the 
U.S. policies in the region and the Indian conspiracies against 
Pakistan." 
 
 
"U.S. Will Quit After Plunging Us Into War," an editorial in the 
popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (10/30) 
 
"Nowadays, the U.S. is considering to divide the Taliban between two 
groups; good Taliban and bad Taliban. Washington wants to negotiate 
with the 'good Taliban' in order to rid itself of the Afghan 
quagmire. In the past, whenever Pakistan struck some deal with the 
Taliban, the U.S. forced it to breach all such agreements. The 
Americans has planned to get the Pakistan army entangled in a battle 
against terrorists, which would result in a civil war in the entire 
Pushtun belt transcending the Pak-Afghan border, and then isolate 
themselves from this hell. It was well-conceived conspiracy to break 
up the state of Pakistan but our rulers failed to understand it. It 
would be better for us to negotiate with the Taliban before 
Washington begins to allure them." 
 
Opinion: "War And Politics" an op-ed Shafqat Mahmood by in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (10/30) 
 
"The U.S. could indeed help us to fight this home-grown insurgency 
better by making its attitude towards Pakistan clearer. It is not 
just a question of giving us money and arms, although given the 
state of our economy and the militancy challenge it is not something 
to sneer at. It could go further by giving greater respect to our 
sovereignty and not appear to assist our adversaries." 
 
Opinion: "The Higher Direction Of War: Where Is It?" an op-ed Ayaz 
Amir by in the populist, often sensational national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (10/30) 
 
"Pakistan and the U.S. engaging in a dialogue of equals? Well, 
adversity is a great equalizer. What the U.S. is now beginning to 
undergo in Afghanistan is a trauma. We may be a cash-strapped 
country with a perpetual begging bowl in our hands but America is 
stuck in a quagmire. Between a begging bowl and a quagmire there is 
not much to choose....  The Americans are telling us what to do, 
which is strange given that they are not doing too well in 
Afghanistan. They should be listening rather than giving sermons. 
Being their allies, and taking more hits than they are, it is now 
time for us to tell them that their occupation can't last much 
longer. Sooner than they now think possible, it will have to be 
rolled back and other options examined. When they depart we will 
still be here. Bolstering Pakistan and its military should not be 
seen thus as a favor. From America's point of view it should be a 
strategic necessity." 
 
ECON/BUSINESS 
 
News Story: "Economy To Grow By 2.5-3.5 pc In 2009-10: SBP" "The 
News" (10/30) 
 
"The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday said that Pakistan's 
GDP growth is projected to remain between 2.5 per cent and 3.5 per 
cent during 2009-10 if the manufacturing and agricultural sectors 
performed well." 
 
 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: "No Pre-Conditions For Talks: Singh" "Dawn" (10/30) 
 
"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Srinagar on Thursday 
that there were no pre-conditions for talks with Pakistan but 
cautioned they could make headway without 'effective control' of the 
terror groups operating across the border." 
 
News Story: "Pakistan Welcomes India's Readiness To Resume Dialogue: 
FO" "Dawn" (10/30) 
 
"Commenting on Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent 
statement expressing readiness to discuss with Pakistan all issues, 
including Jammu and Kashmir, a Foreign Office spokesman said this 
was a welcome reiteration of the understanding reached at the 
Sharm-El Sheikh summit between Pakistan and India." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
 
 
Patterson