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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002718 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, VISITING U.S. 
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, TERRORISM/MILITARY, POLITICAL, 
ECON/BUSINESS, MISCELLANEOUS - NOVEMBER 12, 2009 
 
Summary:  Pakistan Army Chief General Kayani's statement that 
"terror cannot cow down the nation" dominated headlines in several 
major newspapers on Thursday.  The visit by Codel Tierney with 
senior Pakistani officials received extensive coverage in all 
dailies on Thursday.  Prime Minister Gilani's remarks, made in his 
meeting with the visiting Codel, urging the U.S. to "channel aid 
through government agencies" were also highlighted.  President 
Obama's interview with ABC TV, seeking "effective partnership with 
Pakistan" received prominent coverage.  Newspapers reported that 
U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones will arrive in Islamabad 
today (Thursday).  Commenting on the concerns about internal 
security and growing religiosity in the Pakistan army, as expressed 
in the 'New Yorker' article, "Dawn," said that "these concerns 
should not automatically be brushed aside just because they are 
voiced primarily from outside the country."  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Terror Can't Cow Down The Nation: Kayani "The News" 
(11/12) 
 
"Terming terrorist attacks on civilians acts of cowardice, Chief of 
Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Wednesday dubbed 
terrorists as incapable of confronting the military operation. 
'Since terrorists were incapable of confronting the military 
operation, they were targeting innocent civilians,' said Army chief 
General Kayani in his address to the 123rd Corps Commanders 
Conference." 
 
VISITING U.S. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION 
 
News Story: PM Asks U.S. To Channel Aid Through Govt. Agencies "The 
News" 11/12) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has called upon the U.S. to 
channel its economic assistance through such government agencies as 
the Trust Fund established for Malakand, Higher Education 
Commission, National Commission for Human Development and the 
Benazir Income Support Program. The prime minister said this while 
talking to a U.S. Congressional delegation headed by John Tierney, 
which called on him at the PM House in Islamabad on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: U.S. Troop Surge Should Not Affect Balochistan: PM "The 
Nation," "The Statesman" (11/12) 
 
"Pakistan on Wednesday asked the United States to take it into 
confidence on its Afghan policy and ensure that a military buildup 
in Afghanistan does not have any 'effect' on Balochistan and other 
areas, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, said while talking to a 
U.S. Congressional delegation led by John Tierney at the PM House." 
 
 
News Story: U.S. Congressmen Meets Qureshi "The News," "The Nation," 
"Nawa-i-Waqt, "Jang" (11/12) 
 
"A delegation of U.S. Congressmen led by Congressman John Tierney 
called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in Islamabad at the 
Foreign Office on Wednesday.  Matters of mutual interest including 
Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relation as well as regional issues were 
discussed in the meeting." 
 
News Story: U.S. Delegation Calls on NA Opposition Leader "Pakistan 
Observer," "Daily Times," "The News," "Jang" (11/12) 
 
"Parliament has to be strengthened to achieve stability of democracy 
and all democratic institutions, said leader of the opposition in 
the National Assembly, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan while talking to a 
high level delegation from the United States, which was headed by 
Mr. John F. Tierney, member of the U.S. Congress who called on him 
in Islamabad on Wednesday." 
 
Kerry-Lugar Aid Should Be Spent On Education, Health, Says Governor 
"Daily Times" (11/12) 
 
"A five-member U.S. delegation, led by U.S. Deputy Under Secretary 
of Defence Paul A. Brinkley, on Wednesday met Punjab Governor 
Salmaan Taseer. According to a press release issued on Wednesday, 
the Governor praised the U.S. for its confidence-building measures, 
 
 
adding that the funding through the Kerry-Lugar law should be spent 
on the education and health sectors and the eradication of poverty." 
 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Obama Wants Effective ties With Pakistan "The News" 
(11/12) 
 
"President Barack Obama has said his administration -seeking a 
viable way forward in conflict-hit Afghanistan - wants an effective 
partnership with Pakistan that works towards achieving peace and 
stability in the region.  In an interview with ABC news channel, the 
U.S. President stressed that the Afghans must share the burden of 
their own security and made it clear that Washington is not looking 
at an indefinite stay in Afghanistan." 
 
News Story: Obama Thinks Pak Army Not Targeting Afghan Groups "The 
News" (11/12) 
 
"U.S. President Barack Obama is still skeptical about Pakistan's 
willingness to attack Taliban groups allegedly operating out of 
Quetta, who are involved in attacks across the border inside 
Afghanistan, Pakistan's military operation against the Taliban 
militants in Waziristan notwithstanding. Top U.S. officials familiar 
with the situation room discussions on Pakistan and Afghanistan in 
the White House say: 'Though Pakistan has mounted military 
operations in FATA, they are focused on the Taliban who are 
targeting the Pakistani government, not those who are running 
operations inside Afghanistan.' 
 
News Story: U.S. Security Adviser Gen Jones Due Today "Dawn," "Daily 
times" (11/12) 
 
"U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones is expected in Islamabad 
on Thursday for taking Pakistan into confidence on the Af-Pak policy 
review. "The ongoing review of the Af-Pak strategy would be fairly 
high on the agenda when Mr. Jones meets his interlocutors in 
Islamabad on Friday," a senior diplomat said on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: Report On Command Authority Bill Tabled In NA "Dawn" 
(11/12) 
 
"A report of the standing committee on defence on the National 
Command Authority bill, 2007, was laid before the National Assembly 
on Wednesday. Apparently, the bill has been laid before parliament 
to satisfy the international community on the steps being introduced 
on safety of Pakistan's nuclear facility and non-proliferation." 
 
News Story: Ten Soldiers Killed, Nine Missing In Mohmand "Dawn" 
(11/12) 
 
"At least 10 soldiers were killed and several others injured in a 
landmine explosion and an ambush by militants in Mohmand Agency, 
sources said on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: Seven Soldiers Killed In Roadside Blast "The News" 
(11/12) 
 
"Eight people, including seven personnel of Mohmand Rifles, were 
killed and two others sustained injuries when a roadside bomb went 
off in Safi Tehsil in the Mohmand Agency, officials said on 
Wednesday." 
 
25 Arrested In Bajaur Agency "The News" (11/12) 
 
"The security forces arrested 23 suspected persons and two 
unidentified militant commanders during search operation in various 
areas of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday, official sources told 'The 
News.'" 
 
Editorial: Nuclear Issues, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(11/12) 
 
"As the dust begins to settle after an article in 'The New Yorker' 
questioned the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons and suggested 
that the U.S. is negotiating a possible role for Americans in 
 
 
protecting the Pakistani arsenal in the event of a crisis, some 
observations are in order....  But these concerns, echoed in Seymour 
Hersh's article, should not automatically be brushed aside just 
because they are voiced primarily from outside the country....  The 
government's decision to formally enact the National Command 
Authority Ordinance, 2007 is a welcome development....  While 
enactment by Parliament of that ordinance will not change anything 
on the ground - the nuclear command structure is already in place 
and functioning - it will send a positive signal to the world that 
Pakistan takes its responsibilities as a nuclear power seriously. 
Parliament must now play its part and ensure that the bill is passed 
at the earliest." 
 
Editorial: Charsadda Carnage, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/12) 
 
 
"It is becoming apparent that the final frontier of the battle we 
are fighting does not lie in South Waziristan. The militants operate 
from many places. The monster we fight is a Hydra-headed one. It is 
essential that we keep this in mind and go after all its heads, 
whether they lie in Balochistan, the southern Punjab or elsewhere. 
Until this happens we cannot end the rapid destruction of life in 
our towns." 
 
Editorial: Beyond Rhetoric, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (11/12) 
 
"Richard Holbrooke has, in a recent interview, once again reiterated 
the periodic U.S. statement on the need for a lowering of tensions 
between Pakistan and India and for seeking a resolution of the 
Kashmir dispute....  All the U.S. seems capable of doing is to make 
the regular statement on the need for Pakistan and India to dialogue 
and resolve their conflicts, especially Kashmir. But these words are 
ringing hollow and have little worth when the U.S. is not prepared 
to move and translate its words into action. After all, there is a 
dialogue process framework that the U.S. can push India into 
restarting." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Seriousness In Resolving Kashmir Issue And Our 
National Interests, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist 
Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/12) 
 
"President Obama's Special Representative on Afghanistan and 
Pakistan Richard Holbrooke has disclosed in an interview to a U.S. 
magazine that present tension between Pakistan and India poses 
danger of a conflict in the subcontinent....  According to 
Holbrooke, President Obama has taken the issue very seriously and 
deputed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to work on restarting the 
composite dialogue between Pakistan and India....  Being a nuclear 
state we are capable of responding to any possible aggression by 
India.  If America wants to establish global and regional peace then 
it should work on bringing India to terms with holding a plebiscite 
in Kashmir." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Interest To Solve Kashmir Issue And Some Ground 
Realities, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily 
"Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (11/12) 
 
"The Pakistani masses have always been ignored during the history of 
Pak-U.S. relationship. At present, Pakistan is rendering great 
sacrifices in the U.S.-led war against terror. But Washington's 
reciprocity is not commensurate with the losses we are suffering in 
this war, which is essentially a problem for the U.S. We think that 
the Obama administration must also do more other than providing 
meager financial assistance to Pakistan. If the U.S. helps in the 
resolution of Kashmir issue, Pakistan can emerge as an economic 
power." 
 
Editorial: The Al Qaeda Connection?, an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (11/12) 
 
"The military is trying to eliminate the militants from the tribal 
region but it seems as if the country does not have enough funds for 
the purpose. This can be gauged from Interior Minister Rehman 
Malik's statement that the government is now using development funds 
for the capacity building of law-enforcement agencies in a bid to 
 
 
improve security. If Al Qaeda is actually helping the local Taliban, 
it is not only alarming for our country but for the whole world. 
Fighting the militants on this scale requires heavy-duty finances; 
it is time the international community, especially the U.S., rises 
to the occasion and helps Pakistan in this common cause. Peace and 
stability in this region, once achieved, will translate into peace 
all over the world." 
 
Editorial: Who Will Provide Unconditional Aid Sans Good Governance?, 
an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often 
sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (11/12) 
 
"At a time when Washington is showing a tilt towards holding 
dialogue with some Taliban groups, the U.S. must stop drone attacks, 
and transfer the drone technology to Pakistan army instead of 
shifting the war to our country. The Obama administration must also 
help in strengthening the democratic government in Pakistan which 
enjoys popular support in the war against terrorism. Due to our 
frontline status in this war, the entire world, including the United 
States and other friendly countries, is focusing on Pakistan and 
wants to help us. But to reap the benefits of our present position, 
we will have to ensure transparency, good governance and financial 
discipline in our institutions. This goal will remain elusive unless 
we take practical steps in this direction." 
 
Editorial: Iraqi Style Terrible Car Bomb Blasts, an editorial in the 
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) 
(11/12) 
 
"Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Toor Jan has said that his 
organization is fighting the U.S. because the latter has invaded 
their country. He rejected any link between his organization and the 
Taliban movement in Pakistan. Ironically, the style of terror 
incidents in our countries is also different from that adopted by 
the Pakistani Taliban. It resembles with the devastating car 
bombings in Iraq. The current situation of Pakistan is the direct 
result of increasing U.S. interference and the slavish policies of 
our rulers. We think that after being defeated in Afghanistan, the 
U.S. is planning to target Pakistan with the help of India and 
Israel." 
 
Editorial: Shoddy Journalism, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/12) 
 
 
"Journalists lead dangerous lives in Pakistan. They are targeted by 
the terrorists whose actions they report and by politicians and 
bureaucrats whose failings and indiscretions they expose. All this 
is to be expected. What a working journalist may not expect, 
however, is to be stabbed in the back by one of his own, as has 
recently happened to Matthew Rosenberg, a journalist working for the 
Wall Street Journal. Mr. Rosenberg has been accused in a local 
newspaper of having links to the CIA and Mossad and of acting in 
some undefined way as an agent of Blackwater. As if this were not 
enough to blight his life and career, he is further accused of 
having 'secret' meetings with Secretary Law and Order FATA 
Secretariat, Tariq Hayat Khan, and Additional Chief Secretary FATA, 
Habib Khan. Both are said to have 'fed' documents to Mr. Rosenberg, 
thereby implicating them in his alleged espionage activities. The 
story is based upon information from a nameless source and has no 
supporting evidence. Mr. Rosenberg has had to leave the country and 
is unlikely to be working here in the foreseeable future." 
 
Editorial: Jihadi Literature, an op-ed by Hameed Akhtar in the 
liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (11/12) 
 
"As an average Muslim, I can say that the efforts our religious and 
other political circles have started to turn jihad into the only 
identity of Islam, while ignoring all basic Islamic teachings, is 
wrong.  There are actually some other motives behind such efforts. 
After 9/11, the publication of some Jihadi magazines and newspapers 
was banned, but soon after they started their publication under 
different names. During their period of proscription, the main aim 
of all Jihadi propaganda was to present jihad as the only solution 
to the Muslim world's problems. The question is: where does the 
money come from to print this Jihadi literature, and what are its 
real objectives?" 
 
 
Opinion: Beyond The Clinton Visit, an op-ed by Talat Masood in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (11/12) 
 
"The positive momentum generated by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary 
Clinton's visit has to be sustained and enhanced to take it to its 
logical end of placing the Pakistan-U.S. relationship on a mature 
and mutually beneficial basis. This is vital in the long-term 
interests of both countries. Pakistan's security, economic growth, 
global image and relations with the western world and India are 
greatly influenced by how it relates with the U.S. For America, 
Pakistan is a pivotal country for its security, geo-strategic 
position, Islamic character and nuclear prowess.... A major 
trust-building move would be if the U.S. would truly reconcile with 
Pakistan as a nuclear weapons state. This could take a form similar 
to the U.S.-India nuclear deal at least in principle, for it is 
understandable that the A. Q. Khan legacy is still too fresh to be 
set aside. The constant flow of speculation that emanates from 
western sources of nuclear assets falling in the hands of militants 
has given rise to a state bordering on paranoia in the Pakistani 
psyche. Finally, we have to remind ourselves what Hillary Clinton 
said: 'relations with Pakistan are two-way traffic' and that we 
cannot have the cake and eat it too." 
 
Opinion: Views Are Not News, an op-ed by Abdul Quayyum Khan Kundi in 
the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (11/12) 
 
"The U.S. as a superpower has interests in all regions of the world. 
But the question the US has to ask is what will be the driving force 
of its foreign policy to maintain and safeguard its interests around 
the world. During the cold war, the most favored approach was 
containment. It seems in this new era, to fight the rising tide of 
non-state actors, the most favored weapon is the drone. But the 
problem with a drone is that it might achieve a short-term objective 
but in the long term it creates more recruits for the nameless 
enemy.... The U.S. cannot win hearts and minds through its drones 
and technologically superior soldiers. It should rather promote its 
values of equal opportunity, freedom of expression, and liberty. 
This is a more powerful message, which was deployed to good effect 
during the struggle against communism." 
 
ECON/BUSINESS 
 
News Story: NGOs Press U.S. On Aid Package "Dawn" (11/12) 
 
"The $1.5 billion a year U.S. aid package proposed for Pakistan has 
raised hackles among many U.S. aid groups who worry that channeling 
big amounts of money through the country's fragile government will 
backfire. U.S.-based groups with projects in Pakistan have met 
several times in recent weeks with Obama administration officials to 
voice concern over the handling of the five-year package, which will 
be tackled differently from previous aid. 'We have highlighted the 
risk of running large amounts of money through the government of 
Pakistan and that this would end up biting them,' said one aid group 
executive." 
 
News Story: U.S. Restores Pakistan's Budget Support "Dawn," "Daily 
Times," "The News" (11/12) 
 
"Pakistan has received $174 million after the United States restored 
budgetary support after three years of suspension, according to 
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar. She told 
reporters in Islamabad on Wednesday that the budgetary support was 
part of the U.S. pledge made at the Friends of Democratic Pakistan 
forum." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Blasphemer Gets Death Sentence "Dawn" (11/12) 
 
"Gojra Additional district and sessions judge Syed Muzaffar Ali Shah 
on Wednesday handed down death sentence and fined Rs100,000 to a 
blasphemy accused. Convict Muhammad Aslam of Shahabad Colony had 
been arrested on the complaint of Haji Umer Hayat of the same 
locality for using blasphemous language publicly on Oct 5, 2008." 
 
Editorial: Failure Of Obama-Netanyahu Talks: What Should Be Done 
 
 
Now, an editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (circ. 25,000) 
(11/12) 
 
"Closed-door talks between President Obama and Israeli PM Netanyahu 
have failed as  the U.S. President  stressed on the Israeli leader 
to completely stop Jewish settlements on the West Bank while the 
Israeli premier flatly refused by saying that he cannot stop the 
construction.... This deadlock shows that there will be tension in 
the Middle East once again as the continuation of settlements would 
provoke the Palestinians, giving the Israelis a chance to turn their 
helicopter gunships, tanks and guns on them... It is now the United 
Nations' responsibility to end this deadlock." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson