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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002677 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, HILLARY CLINTON'S 
VISIT, TERRORISM/MILITARY, - NOVEMBER 05, 2009 
 
Summary:  Six mainstream newspapers ran the U.S. Embassy's statement 
refuting press reports of the "arrival of 202 Blackwater personnel 
in Islamabad." Newspapers highlighted reports that "Pak Army (is) 
close to winding up first phase of operation by this weekend by 
capturing all major towns and villages in South Waziristan." 
Commenting on the Secretary Clinton's address at the Fortune 
Conference's sixth forum, the nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt," 
asked in its editorial "how could Ms. Clinton, hailing from a 
staunch Jewish family, be a well-wisher of the Muslim world". 
However, the English language daily, "The News," noted that 
"Secretary Clinton has offered us a view to the rear that is both 
illuminating and profoundly sad" in reference her recent interview 
with Fox News where she discussed U.S. negligence in allowing Al 
Qaeda to escape from Afghanistan to Pakistan. End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
News Story: New Gas Management Plan Approved "Dawn" (11/05) 
 
"All industrial units and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations will 
remain closed two days a week on a rotation basis in Punjab and the 
North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) during winter, according to a 
gas load management plan approved by the federal cabinet on 
Wednesday." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: CNG Station Owners Threaten Countrywide Strike "The 
Nation" (11/05) 
 
"All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Station Owners Association 
Wednesday rejected the decision of the Government regarding closure 
of CNG stations two days a week and threatened a countrywide strike 
if the decision was not withdrawn." (Story also front paged in all 
newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Denies Blackwater Arrival "The Post" (11/05) 
 
"U.S. Embassy denying press reports of Blackwater personnel arrival 
in Islamabad has termed such news report as false. The story 
appearing in a newspaper Wednesday, headlined '202 Blackwater 
Personnel Arrive' and implying that the U.S. Embassy brought a large 
number of private security contractors to Islamabad on a recent PIA 
flight Tuesday, is completely false, said the Embassy in a statement 
issued in Islamabad on Wednesday."  (Story also covered in 'Pakistan 
Observer,' 'Express,' 'Aaj-Kal,' 'Islam,' and 'Al-Akhbar.') 
 
HILLARY CLINTON'S VISITS 
 
News Story: Israel Settlement Activity Illegitimate: Clinton "Daily 
Times" (11/05) 
 
"The U.S. does not accept Israeli settlement activity as legitimate 
but believes that resuming peace talks is the quickest way to 
achieve a freeze, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on 
Wednesday. Clinton, facing Arab criticism over a perceived U.S. tilt 
toward Israel on the issue of settlements in the occupied West Bank, 
said Washington's stance on the issue had not changed. The remarks 
were received positively by regional ally Egypt, which wants a focus 
on the 'end-game' of a Palestinian state." 
 
Editorial: Hillary Clinton's Lecture On Relations With The Muslim 
World; Can Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan Not Form A New 
Islamic Bloc?, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu 
daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/05) 
 
"While addressing Fortune Conference's sixth forum and giving 
interview to Al-Jazeera channel, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
said that the purpose of launching American program for the Muslim 
world was to have interfaith cooperation, give women their rights 
and enhancing cooperation in the fields of science and 
technology....  How could Hillary Clinton, hailing from a diehard 
Jew family, be a well-wisher of the Muslim world, her pronouncements 
to this effect notwithstanding? She has already blamed Pakistan for 
the acts of U.S. sponsored al-Qaeda....  If Pakistan, Turkey, Iran 
and Afghanistan join hands then this new bloc will fail the designs 
of anti-Islam forces and force the allied forces out of the 
region....  The terrorism and suicide attacks will also end with the 
exit of the American allied forces from the region." 
 
Editorial: Rear-View Vision, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/05) 
 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has offered us a view to 
the rear to the rear that is both illuminating and profoundly 
sad.... The catastrophic decisions and policies of the Bush era are 
going to poison the world for generations to come, and undoing or 
repairing the damage to the relationship between America and most if 
not all of the Muslim world is a work to span multiple presidencies 
- both here and in the U.S. The yet-to-be decided or revealed new 
American military strategy in Afghanistan is going to 'bleed' into 
Pakistan. Looking back, America got it badly wrong in Afghanistan 
almost a decade ago. Looking forward one of our principal foes tells 
us we are in for a long war. Militarily the Taliban and Al Qaeda 
have never been decisively beaten; and no matter their losses the 
mindset that drives their ideology persists. The battle to change 
that has not even begun." 
 
Opinion: A Brainstorming Visit, an op-ed by Mohammad Waseem in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/05) 
 
"The hallmark of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent 
visit to Pakistan was an innovative style of diplomacy. Never before 
had a high-level American official come to this country with a 
mission to go beyond the state and meet society.... The idea in 
Washington was to clear the mist around the bill by addressing the 
reservations of the articulate sections of Pakistani society. The 
hosts of Hillary Clinton duly obliged. The idea in Islamabad was to 
avail this opportunity to communicate the government's own 
grievances to policymakers and lawmakers in Washington. Both agreed 
to give public diplomacy a chance.... The brainstorming visit of 
Secretary Clinton to Pakistan has been characterized by a 
high-profile, fast-paced and multi-dimensional exchange of opinions 
in public. On a personal note, the visit is expected to give the 
lady an authentic voice in the foreign policy establishment on 
matters relating to Pakistan." 
 
Opinion: The Daylight And Dark, an op-ed by I.M. Mohsin in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(11/05) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was in Pakistan for three 
days.... Despite all the glitches, Hillary offered a robust 
relationship in future while urging Pakistan to do more.... This 
conundrum underlines that U.S. can adapt to any dictator, if 
American interests are perceived as being served, while singing 
eulogies for democracy. However, Hillary did say that in future the 
U.S. would not support any dictator who seized power in Pakistan. 
The taste of pudding would lie in eating like always. If a disaster 
of this type strikes again, Pakistanis could invoke such homilies to 
muster sponsorship.... The U.S. must clearly define her mission in 
Afghanistan while pursuing the political portal seriously. Pakistan 
would help but it can't fight fully facing back-stabbing. By 
Hillary's analogy, 'dark' has been replaced by 'daylight' under 
Obama. What a bleak day for Pakistan!" 
 
Opinion: The Mesmerizing Hillary, an op-ed by Khurshid Akhtar Khan 
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (11/05) 
 
"She came, she charmed and she conquered. Well, not quite. Most were 
mesmerized but some are still searching for the evil inside the 
sophisticated exterior and the hidden agenda behind the warm 
messages of friendship and better understanding that the U.S. 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sought with the people during her 
recent mission to Pakistan.... Clinton has done her job. She has 
worked through her strength of public speaking and strong 
personality to unambiguously state her government's policy without 
giving anything away and has removed any illusion of our 
government's capacity to influence it in any way.... Our unending 
petty domestic bickering, faltering economy and armed forces 
overextended on too many fronts have rendered us too ineffective to 
enforce a meaningful foreign policy and have totally isolated us 
internationally and from our immediate neighbors. God helps those 
who help themselves. We are just relying on the U.S. that has 
transformed itself into the devil to whom we have sold our soul." 
 
Opinion: Obama's Quest For A Pakistan Policy, an op-ed by Mushahid 
Hussain in the populist, often sensational national English daily 
"The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/05) 
 
 
"Hillary Clinton's visit with a difference was probably the most 
significant event in Pakistan-American relations since the advent of 
President Barack Hussein Obama. She came, she saw, but while she did 
not quite conquer the "hearts and minds" of Pakistanis, Hillary at 
least earned their grudging admiration. She showed more guts than 
the bunkered-up Pakistan rulers, who refuse to leave the comfort and 
safety of their '5-star prisons' in Islamabad. Unlike the aloof and 
abrasive Holbrooke, Hillary reached out to the 'real' Pakistan. She 
got a peep into the emerging Pakistani society - dynamic, vibrant, 
outspoken and self-confident. She seemed taken aback, used as 
visiting high-level Americans are to a sanitized Islamabad, where 
the officially-certified truth of the fawning ruling elite links 
sycophancy and servility to their self-perpetuation." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Army Close To Winding Up First Phase Of Operation "Dawn" 
(11/05) 
 
"The Army is winding up the first phase of Operation Rahi-i-Nijat by 
this weekend by capturing all major towns and villages in the 
Taliban heartland of South Waziristan, senior military officials 
said." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Intense Street Battles As Troops Enter Ladha "Daily 
Times" (11/05) 
 
"The Pakistan Army on Wednesday laid siege to Ladha town during the 
ongoing operation in South Waziristan, on a day that saw fierce 
street battles with the Taliban, Inter-Services Public Relations 
(ISPR) Director General Athar Abbas said. He said the forces were 
engaged in intense fighting with terrorists and had so far killed at 
least 10 Taliban. Seven soldiers were injured in the fighting." 
 
News Story: U.S. Missile Strike In Waziristan Kills Two "Dawn" 
(11/05) 
 
"A suspected U.S. drone aircraft fired two missiles on Thursday into 
North Waziristan killing two people, Pakistani intelligence 
officials said. The strike hit a house in a village about 18 km (12 
miles) east of North Waziristan's main town of Miramshah." 
 
News Story: Taliban Kill Two Female Teachers In Bajaur "Daily Times" 
(11/05) 
 
"Two female schoolteachers were killed on Wednesday when the Taliban 
ambushed their car in Shandai Mor, two kilometers from Khar in 
Bajaur Agency." 
 
News Story: Journalists As Spies In FATA? "The Nation" (11/05) 
 
"Agents of notorious spy agencies are using journalistic cover to 
engage themselves in intelligence activities in NWFP and FATA, 
sources informed 'The Nation' on Wednesday. To the surprise and 
shock of many, top bosses of Federally Administrated Tribal Area 
(FATA) Secretariat are allegedly feeding these journalists with 
secret reports and information regarding Pak Army and militant 
groups operating there." 
 
News Story: Fazlullah Aide Held With Rupees 81.5m "Daily Times" 
(11/05) 
 
"Security personnel have arrested Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) 
Swat Chief Mullah Fazlullah's Finance Secretary Bakht Zaman, and 24 
other Taliban, official sources said on Wednesday. They said the 
security forces had recovered Rupees 81.5 million from the TTP 
Finance Secretary." 
 
News Story: Six Foreigners Among 13 Held In Hangu "Daily Times" 
(11/05) 
 
"Hangu police arrested 13 criminals, including six foreign 
nationals, in a crackdown on various areas of the district, on 
Wednesday, speaking at a press conference, District Police Officer 
(DPO) Gul Wali Khan said." 
 
News Story: U.S. Judge Rejects Aafia's Objections To Defence Team 
"Daily Times" (11/05) 
 
 
"Setting aside Pakistani neuroscientist Aafia Siddiqui's objections 
over her legal defence team at a pre-trial session, a U.S. judge has 
ruled that she would have to be represented by lawyers already 
appointed by the U.S. District Court. Dr. Aafia is scheduled to 
stand trial on January 19 - on charges of the attempted murder of 
U.S. interrogators in Afghanistan last year - after Judge Richard 
Berman declared her mentally fit to stand trial." 
 
News Story: Aafia's Family Dissatisfied With Legal Experts "The 
Nation" (11/05) 
 
"Pakistani Embassy in the U.S. has hired incapable legal experts to 
follow the case of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, while Aafia and members of 
her family have conveyed their concerns to Prime Minister Syed 
Yousuf Raza Gilani in this regard, 'The Nation' has learnt 
reliably." 
 
News Story: U.S. Embassy Allowed To Import Weapons "The post" 
(11/05) 
 
"Government had issued license to U.S. Embassy for the import of 
armed weapons and explosives by the Ministry of Interior while 
ignoring the rules and regulation, according to documents available 
with Online (Wire Service)." (Story not available online) 
 
Editorial: Ignored Victory In South Waziristan, an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (11/05) 
 
"The final success of the operation will depend on the ability of 
the Pakistan army to prevent the expanding of the war front. The 
Taliban must be engaged within the territory controlled by Pakistan 
and the enemy must not be allowed to flee to areas where Pakistan 
army cannot pursue them. If the enemy were able to flee across the 
Durand Line and regroup on Afghan territory, the effectiveness of 
the operation would be halved, putting pressure on the paramilitary 
forces that the army will leave behind after 'pacifying' South 
Waziristan." 
 
Editorial: Evidence Of Indian Involvement In Balochistan, an 
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ, 25,000) 
(11/05) 
 
"Today, more than ever, there is a need to unveil the several local 
and foreign players involved in unrest, terrorism and interference 
in Balochistan and Waziristan. The level of Indian hypocrisy is such 
that Indian Foreign Secretary S.M. Krishna has said that all of 
Pakistan's problems are self-created. He also rejected the 
allegation of Indian arms found in Waziristan and is instead raising 
a hue and cry that terrorists are about to be sent to Kashmir. 
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Foreign Office has said that the evidence of 
Indian involvement in Waziristan has not been handed over to India 
yet. It is a need of the hour to present this evidence to the world, 
especially the U.S. without any delay." 
 
Editorial: Indian Interference: Recommendation to Raise The Issue on 
World Level, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language 
daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (11/05) 
 
"It was really shocking to hear a statement from U.S. Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton that Pakistan government did not present to 
her any evidence regarding the Indian interference in Balochistan 
and Waziristan during her recent visit. At a time when Pakistan is 
passing through the most critical juncture of its history, our 
government's failure to present such evidence to the top American 
diplomat is beyond our understanding. All the countries whose names 
have been presented before the Parliamentary Committee on National 
Security for their alleged involvement in our domestic affairs, 
insistently lecture us to cleanse our country of terrorists. But, at 
the same time, they also provide funds and weapons to those very 
militants to carry out terror activities in Pakistan. We think that 
it is high time our government exposed the actual character of these 
'champions of war against terror,' before the international 
community." 
 
Editorial: Eliminating Militancy, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (11/05) 
 
"The growing strength of the Afghan resistance ought to have brought 
home to the U.S. and allies, shortly completing the eighth year of 
their turbulent occupation of Afghanistan that they can neither hold 
their own for long nor peace could return to the country as long as 
they stay there.Q. A dispassionate assessment should inform the 
U.S. that nothing goes in its favor. Sooner or later it has to 
leave. But who should fill the gap to calm down the situation in 
this society that prolonged outside intervention has made highly 
divisive?" 
 
Editorial: Hamid Karzai's Second Tenure, And The War On Terror, an 
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ, 25,000) 
(11/05) 
 
"Hamid Karzai has been declared President of Afghanistan for the 
second time.... These are indeed happy moments for Mr. Karzai and 
his supporters but he must realize that his responsibilities have 
increased this time around, as expressed by President Obama in his 
telephone call. It has now been proven that there has been 
large-scale embezzlement of foreign assistance to Afghanistan in the 
last 8 years which has angered the U.S.; this annoyance can be 
gauged from President Obama's conversation with his Afghan 
counterpart. Due to this embezzlement, neither the war on terror 
could be made effective, nor was there satisfactory progress in 
reconstruction efforts. In his second term, President Karzai not 
only has to control corruption, but also produce results in the war 
on terror." 
 
Opinion: Confronting The Challenge, an op-ed by Talat Masood in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (11/05) 
 
"As an all-out military campaign in South Waziristan proceeds to 
establish government control over the area, the Taliban-Jihadis 
combined have responded by wrecking havoc through their retaliatory 
terrorist attacks in the heartland of Pakistan.  This poses a 
serious challenge because the militants want to demoralize the 
public and spread despondency to build pressure on the government to 
stop the military operation.  It is, however, not an unexpected 
development and the political leadership, instead of bunkering 
themselves, should lead from the front and give the nation 
confidence and resolve to face these testing tQs....  Cooperation 
with the U.S. is crucial in fighting the insurgency as it will be a 
major player in the region for the foreseeable future but 
over-reliance on it would be counter-productive. The American 
approach tends to be heavy-handed and there is not sufficient 
sensitivity and understanding of the complexity of our current 
situation." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson