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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002692 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY STATE'S VISIT, 
TERRORISM/MILITARY, POLITICAL, ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS, IRAN - 
NOVEMBER 06, 2009 
 
Summary: All dailies highlighted Secretary Clinton's statement made 
during her interview with National Public Radio (NPR) that "Pakistan 
must address U.S. concerns."  Several newspapers highlighted U.S. 
Admiral Mullen's remarks at the National Press Club, urging 
"sustained ties with Pakistan."  Commenting on the accomplishment of 
first phase of the military offensive in South Waziristan, the 
English language daily, "The News," described the lack of resistance 
put up by the militants "a tactic."  "Dawn," said that "the arms the 
militants left behind betray a flight in panic rather than a 
tactical withdrawal."  End Summary. 
 
SECRETARY STATE'S VISIT 
 
News Story: Pakistan Must Address U.S. Concerns: Hillary "The 
Nation" (11/06) 
 
"Describing the response to her candid engagement with the Pakistani 
civil society as 'overwhelmingly positive,' Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton has said the U.S. is building a strong base for ties 
between the two nations, Clinton told National Public Radio while 
travelling in Cairo." (Story also covered by 'The News,' 'Daily 
Times,' 'Express,' 'Nawa-i-Waqt,' 'Ausaf,' 'Aaj-Kal') 
 
News Story: Clinton Points Out 'Advances' Notched In ME, Pakistan 
"The Post" (11/06) 
 
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, wrapping up a weeklong mission 
to Pakistan and the Middle East, shrugged off criticism of her 
diplomatic tactics and said she made important 'advances' in her 
efforts to broker Arab-Israeli peace and promote stronger U.S. ties 
with the Islamic world." 
 
Editorial: Illegal Israeli Settlements, an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (11/06) 
 
"Speaking after talks with President Mubarak in Cairo, Clinton said 
that ending all settlement activity, current and future would be 
preferable, meaning that the U.S. would not pressurize the Jewish 
State to put a freeze. Her arguments conflict with Arab and 
Palestinian demands that all settlement activity be frozen before 
resumption of talks. Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat looked so 
frustrated over the comments of top American diplomat that he 
advised President Mahmoud Abbas to tell his people the truth, that 
with the continuation of settlement activities, the two-state 
solution is no longer an option." 
 
Editorial: Al Qaeda And The U.S., an editorial in the country's 
premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) 
(11/06) 
 
"Talking to Fox TV Secretary Hillary Clinton has admitted that the 
U.S. was also responsible for allowing al Qaeda to enter 
Pakistan.... Now that al Qaeda is again under focus, there is a need 
to co-ordinate with Pakistan while preparing the new strategy to 
deal with the militants. It won't do to remind Islamabad, as 
Secretary Clinton has done, that it has to extend the ongoing 
military operation to al Qaeda also. What is needed is to invite 
inputs from Pakistan, which not only has a good knowledge of the 
people and the terrain, but also has accumulated rich experience 
during its fight against extremism and terrorism." 
 
Opinion: Hillary's Magic, an op-ed by Arif Nizami in the leading 
mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (11/06) 
 
"The most significant part of the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton was her meeting with Army Chief General Ashfaq 
Kayani and ISI chief Lt. General Shuja Pasha. Besides, appreciating 
its role in Swat and Waziristan, she also prodded the Pakistan army 
to do more. It seems that the U.S. plans to use the Pakistan army 
beyond Waziristan operation. Washington wants Islamabad to review 
latter's strategic priorities, normalize its relations with India, 
and focus on the western frontier. But the Pakistan army considers 
Al Qaeda and the Taliban as ephemeral problem for the United States. 
Despite bearing the brunt in the war against the Taliban, the 
Pakistan army does not want to tow the U.S. line, nor it wants to 
make a distinction between the 'good Taliban' and the 'bad 
 
 
Taliban'." 
 
Opinion: Hillary Clinton's Pakistan Visit, an op-ed by Lt. Gen. 
(Retd) Abdul Qayyum in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/06) 
 
"What Hillary Clinton did for the exchange of views with Pakistanis 
during Pakistan visit might have had some importance, but more 
important was safeguarding of Pakistan's interest by our government 
and the opposition.  Hillary Clinton's irresponsible statement about 
al-Qaeda and India's threatening posture shows that at the 
diplomatic level we could not bring about the positive change in the 
U.S. attitude, which was needed to sort things out.  It is 
unfortunate that our government takes a curse like Kerry-Lugar Bill 
as a boon and failures leading to IMF loans as its success." 
 
Opinion: Hillary Clinton and American Aid, an op-ed by Maj. (Retd) 
Muhammad Younus in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 
10,000) (11/06) 
 
"We should not accept charity and that too with such humiliating 
conditions.  We are fighting their war inside Pakistan and providing 
airbases and logistical support for the war in Afghanistan.  We 
don't need peanuts of $1.5 billion.  We have a right to receive at 
least $25 billion from America.  Compare U.S. expenses on the war in 
Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere with what we get....  Instead of 
giving us lectures on relations with India, Hillary Clinton must 
tell India to implement U.N. resolutions on Kashmir, stop stealing 
our water and sponsoring terrorism at our western border....  We 
request our leadership to refuse taking assistance from America in 
the light of Clinton's utterances." 
 
Opinion: Clinton's Pakistan Visit, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (11/06) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's three-day trip to 
Pakistan was timely and needed.  In the face of a rising tide of 
anti-Americanism it was also an act of courage.  While she may not 
be returning with settlement of all outstanding issues between 
Pakistan and the U.S., the visit seems to have helped in setting the 
priorities and expectations right." 
 
Opinion: The Secretary In Town, an op-ed by M.A. Niazi in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(11/06) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton came to Pakistan. While the 
visit did have some significance, it was still less than when her 
husband had dropped in at the fag-end of a trip to India. Also, a 
secretary's visits are usually measured by the agreements signed 
either by her or in her presence, so by that measure, Secretary 
Clinton's visit was not a success.... To get her a good press, at a 
time when the U.S. was not very popular, and when it wanted to show 
that it was effective in making public opinion welcome her, it 
latched on to an issue that the Pakistani people felt deeply about, 
and which the U.S. had promised to solve, in other words, the energy 
crisis. However, Secretary Clinton had not made the trip solely to 
solve Pakistan's energy crisis." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Mullen Urges Sustained Relationship With Pakistan "Daily 
Times" (11/06) 
 
"Admiral Mike Mullen, U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, has 
called for fostering a sustained relationship with Pakistan, saying 
Washington has an obligation to the security of the region it 
abandoned two decades ago. Mullen appreciated Islamabad's response 
to terrorism, adding the Pakistani leadership, military and its 
people recognized the terrorist threat." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Concerns About India Can't Be Wished Away: 
Mullen "Dawn" (11/06) 
 
"The U.S. Military Chief has praised Pakistan's commitment to 
fighting the militants but has conceded that to eradicate militancy 
from the region Afghanistan will have to set its house right. At a 
briefing at Washington's National Press Club, Admiral Mike Mullen 
 
 
recognized Pakistan's concerns towards India, acknowledging that 
such concerns 'cannot be wished away.'" (Story also covered by 'The 
News,' 'Aaj-Kal') 
 
News Story: Seven Killed In Texas Military Base Shooting "Daily 
Times" (11/06) 
 
"Armed gunmen on Thursday killed seven people and wounded at least 
12 others in a rampage at Fort Hood military base in Texas, US media 
and officials said." (Story also front paged in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Channels Frame Rules For Terrorism Coverage "Dawn" 
(11/06) 
 
"Top news managers from Pakistan's eight television channels have 
voluntarily evolved and agreed guidelines, governing terrorism 
coverage, says a press release. In a maiden initiative, the group 
comprising key news decision-makers in their respective 
organizations, recognized that the public's abiding trust in the 
media placed a heavy responsibility on news managers to further 
improve the quality of the news product." (Story also front paged in 
all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Army Captured Laddah Fort, 28 Militants Killed "Dawn" 
(11/06) 
 
"Troops captured the strategically located Laddah Fort in the Mehsud 
heartland on Thursday. 'It's a major success,' a security official 
told 'Dawn.' According to the official, 28 militants were killed on 
Wednesday and Thursday and five others were captured." (Story also 
front paged in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Hakimullah Warns Taliban Fighters Against Fleeing "The 
News" (11/06) 
 
"Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Hakimullah Mehsud has urged 
his fighters to stand fast against the military offensive in South 
Waziristan, warning them in an intercepted message obtained on 
Thursday that cowards will go to hell, Hakimullah told his followers 
in a speech on Tuesday broadcast over a wireless radio network." 
 
News Story: UN Demands Safety For Pakistanis in Conflict Zone "Dawn" 
(11/06) 
 
"The United Nations urged Pakistan to ensure safety for civilians 
and aid workers during a major military offensive against Taliban 
militants in the northwestern tribal belt." 
 
News Story: Foreigners Barred From Visiting Sensitive Areas "The 
News" (11/06) 
 
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the four provincial 
governments not to allow foreign diplomats, journalists and 
representatives of foreign-funded NGOs to visit any part of the 
country, especially sensitive areas, without getting prior 
permission from it. In a letter to the four provincial chief 
secretaries, the foreign ministry said in recent days, the frequency 
of visits of foreigners, including diplomats, journalists and 
members of foreign-funded NGOs, had increased in areas close to 
strategic sites and facilities." 
 
News Story: Anti-Terror Ordinance May Be Extended to Malakand "The 
News" (11/06) 
 
"The Federal Government is likely to extend the Anti-Terrorism 
Amendment Ordinance 2009 to Malakand Division in the next few days 
to investigate and punish detained militants under the special 
anti-terrorism laws, NWFP Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs 
Barrister Arshad Abdullah told 'The News.'" 
 
News Story: U.S. Drone Kills Five Suspected Militants "Dawn" 
(11/06) 
 
"Missiles fired from a U.S. drone on a house in North Waziristan a 
little after Wednesday midnight killed five suspected militants. 
According to local people, two missiles were fired at the house of 
tribesman Musharraf Gul in the village of Nowrek, near Mirali." 
 
 
News Story: Security Forces Arrest 75 Suspects in Bajaur "The News" 
(11/06) 
 
"The security forces arrested 75 suspected persons during a search 
operation various areas in Khar tehsil while 21 illegal Afghan 
nationals were deported by political administration, official 
sources said on Thursday." (Story not available online) 
 
Editorial: End In Sight?, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/06) 
 
"Surprisingly quickly troops seem to have completed a rout of 
militants in South Waziristan.... But there have also been words of 
warning. Some suggest the lack of resistance put up by the militants 
is a tactic.... We continue to hope of course that the gains in 
South Waziristan mark a genuine end to Taliban control over the area 
and that they will result in a decline in terrorism and the 
instability it creates. But we must also be mentally prepared for 
the possibility that a longer, tougher fight still lies ahead. It is 
also important to think beyond military strategy." 
 
Editorial: The Task Ahead, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(11/06) 
 
"While the first phase of the operation against what was supposed to 
be a redoubtable enemy in South Waziristan is apparently almost 
over, equally daunting tasks lie ahead. The tactics adopted by the 
army high command have beaten the Taliban on their own ground - 
descend from the ridges, command the heights and do not advance via 
roads.  Four months of planning, with close coordination between the 
army and the air arm, has paid off, with many Taliban strongholds 
taken.  The arms the militants left behind betray a flight in panic 
rather than a tactical withdrawal." 
 
Editorial: Supreme Court Concern Over Non-Recovery Of Missing 
Persons, an editorial in the second largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/06) 
 
"These are the same missing persons who were picked up by dictator 
Musharraf's regime for appeasing America and handed over to it to 
get dollars in return.  Musharraf himself admitted the fact in his 
book 'In the line of fire.'...  These citizens of Pakistan are still 
missing and the sympathy expressed by the Supreme Court is no balm 
for the pain of their children.  A daughter of the nation, Aafia 
Siddiqui is undergoing worst humiliation in the torture chambers of 
America....  It was expected that during Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton Pakistan visit the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and other 
Pakistani missing persons in the U.S. torture chambers will be taken 
up.  However, no Pakistani official even mentioned the issue." 
 
Opinion: A Complex Romance, an op-ed by Zein Khan in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (11/06) 
 
"If the Pakistani military fails to destroy the Taliban strongholds' 
and re-establish the government's writ in South Waziristan before 
winter sets in, the lives of its citizens and those of its 
neighboring countries will have become endangered many times over. 
The prospect of the Taliban emerging more formidable from this 
campaign would cause irreparable damage to the morale of the 
military and also the Pakistani people who have to deal with suicide 
bombings in their cities.  The U.S. would do well by visibly 
supporting the Pakistani people at this critical juncture." 
 
Opinion: Are We Ready For The Long War?, an op-ed by Shafqat Mahmood 
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/06) 
 
"The South Waziristan operation seems to be going well. After tough 
fighting, major terror centers have been captured and the militants 
are on the run. This is a credit to the bravery and spirit of 
sacrifice among officers and men of the armed forces....  Militancy 
will also have to be taken on with determination in other parts of 
the country, which requires a strong political will....  However, 
within the structure of democracy it is critical for the political 
players to focus their energies and employ their talents of 
leadership towards combating militancy. If this requires expending 
 
 
some political capital, it would have to be done. Otherwise, this 
war cannot be won." 
 
Opinion: The Myth Of Quetta Shura, an op-ed by Momin Iftikhar in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (11/06) 
 
"But claiming that Quetta houses the top leadership of what is 
called the Quetta Shura Taliban is absurd.  Most of the Afghan 
Commanders attributed under the rubric of the Shura are dead, as 
explained by the D.G. ISPR.  In any case such unsubstantiated 
premises can't provide the justification for conducting drone 
strikes in Balochistan." 
 
ECON/BUSINESS 
 
News Story: Load Shedding To End By Next Summer: U.S. "Dawn," "The 
News" (11/06) 
 
"Pakistan can overcome the problem of load shedding by next summer, 
U.S. State Department's energy coordinator David Goldwyn said on 
Thursday. Mr. Goldwyn told a briefing in Washington that Pakistan 
also could bring its energy rate at the cost recovery level by next 
April." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Blackwater Hires Ex-Army Men On Hefty Amounts "The 
Nation" (11/06) 
 
"In order to achieve desired results as early as possible, 
Blackwater is said to have hired retired officials of Pakistan's 
law-enforcement agencies at highest ever salary packages, 'The 
Nation' has learnt reliably. To the surprise of many, the agency is 
said to have hired Pakistani officials at the rate of astonishing 
$60,000 per month salary package. Most important thing is Blackwater 
has hired former CIA intelligence officer Steven Cash to operate as 
Commander In Charge of its operations in Peshawar." 
 
News Story: UN To Pull Out Foreign Staff From Afghanistan "Dawn" 
(11/06) 
 
"The United Nations announced on Thursday it would evacuate more 
than half its international staff based in Afghanistan after a 
deadly Taliban attack on a guesthouse for UN workers. However, the 
world body said it had no intention of abandoning Afghanistan. About 
600 expatriate staff, from a total of 1,100 foreigners, would be 
temporarily relocated either within Afghanistan or abroad, UN 
spokesman Dan McNorton said." 
 
IRAN 
 
Editorial: U.S. Should Take Care of its Own People, an editorial in 
the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (11/06) 
 
"President Barack Obama has urged the Iranian people to get rid of 
the past, and support the United States if they want to achieve the 
goal of progress and prosperity. At a time when the American economy 
is experiencing a steady decline, it seems absurd for the U.S. to 
allure the Iranians with promises to help them in achieving the goal 
of prosperity. The economic condition of Iran is much better and it 
does not need any 'external savior'. However, it is time for 
Washington to take care of its own masses who are tasting the bitter 
fruits of the military adventures of their administrations in the 
form of a decline in the U.S. economy." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson