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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002773 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, TERRORISM/MILITARY, 
MISCELLANEOUS, POLITICAL ISSUES, ECON/BUSINESS - NOVEMBER 18, 2009 
 
Summary: President Obama's remarks that the U.S. wants China to help 
improve relations between India and Pakistan received extensive 
coverage in media on Wednesday.  Urdu newspapers "Jang," and 
"Express" published U.S. Embassy denial regarding the presence of 
alleged "Blackwater operatives" in a neighborhood of Islamabad as 
reported in a section of media.  All newspapers highlighted the 
Transparency International report that corruption in Pakistan has 
increased in one year of PPP government.  Reports that security 
forces captured most of Taliban's bases in South Waziristan Agency 
were also prominent displayed.  All major dailies, quoting BBC, 
reported that the Swat Taliban leader Fazlullah managed to escape to 
Afghanistan.  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: U.S. Requests China To Help Develop Indo-Pak Ties "Dawn" 
(11/18) 
 
"The United States wants China to help improve relations between 
India and Pakistan and to work with it to ensure that neither 
Pakistan nor Afghanistan is used as a base for terrorism, says U.S. 
President Barack Obama. Mr. Obama emphasized both points in his 
remarks in Beijing on Tuesday and they were also included in a joint 
statement issued after talks between the U.S. president and his 
Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao." (Story also covered in all 
newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Denies Presence of Blackwater Operatives in 
Islamabad 'Jang,' 'Express' (11/18) 
 
"The U.S. Embassy has clarified that a national daily newspaper 
yesterday published on its front page the photograph of a residence 
in Islamabad that it alleged is a 'suspected Blackwater house,' 
where 'suspicious foreigners' had 'manhandled' and created 'a wave 
of fear and insecurity' among residents.  The paper's edition today 
adds further to the story, but claiming that its photographer had 
been harassed by police while taking pictures of the residence. The 
accusations are entirely false." 
 
News Story: Corruption In Pakistan Increases: Transparency 
International "Daily Times" (11/18) 
 
"Pakistan has climbed five places to number 42 in an annual list of 
the world's most corrupt countries, Transparency International said 
in a report on Tuesday. In its annual Corruption Perceptions Index, 
the TI said Pakistan's 2009 Corruption Perceptions Index Score is 
2.4, and of the 180 countries and in its ranking as the most corrupt 
country, it has slipped five ranks, from 47 in 2008 to the 42nd most 
corrupt country in 2009." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Troops To Hunt Militants In Forests; ISPR Says Main 
Taliban Bases In SWA Cleared "The News" (11/18) 
 
"The security forces have captured most main Taliban bases in their 
offensive in South Waziristan Agency and will soon fan out into the 
rugged countryside to hunt for militants there, commanders said on 
Tuesday.  Chief military spokesman and D.G. ISPR Maj. Gen. Athar 
Abbas told reporters on a trip to South Waziristan with the army 
that some militants might have slipped out the region but many were 
hiding." 
 
News Story: Laddah, Sararogha Cleared; Street Fighting In Makin 
"Dawn" (11/18) 
 
"The mud-compound, which had a part of its outer wall blown up by 
artillery fire, was used as an Al Qaeda training facility until 
recently. Jihadi literature and guerilla training manuals, mostly in 
Arabic, lay in a heap amidst a huge pile of weapons left by the 
insurgents after security forces captured Laddah, a key militant 
stronghold in South Waziristan. Army officials said on Tuesday that 
the place was used for militant as well as ideological training." 
 
News Story: Fazlullah Escapes To Afghanistan "Dawn" (11/18) 
 
"Maulana Fazlullah, one of the most wanted Taliban leaders, has told 
the BBC that he has escaped to Afghanistan and is planning new 
attacks on Pakistani forces. Fazlullah was said by officials to have 
been wounded or killed in July, during the operation in Swat." 
 
(Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Militants' Possession Of Israeli Arms Raises Questions 
"The Nation" (11/18) 
 
"Use of Israeli-made light arms by militants against security forces 
in Waziristan has raised several questions amongst many recently. 
'The Nation' has learnt on good authority that militants are using 
Israeli-made light arms including 'Uzi gun' and 'Rapid-fire pistol' 
against security forces in North Waziristan as the operation 
Rah-I-Rast reached its final stage." 
 
News Story: 24 Militants Surrender In Bajaur "The News" (11/26) 
 
"Twenty-four militants surrendered to security forces while a huge 
quantity of weapons was seized during a search operation in Charmang 
area of Bajaur's Nawagai Tehsil on Tuesday. The militants, belonging 
to Shaida Shah, Asghar and Manogi areas in Charmang valley, laid 
down arms and surrendered to security forces during a Jirga." 
 
News Story: Agencies Hiring Interpreters "The Nation" (11/18) 
 
"Foreign as well as local agencies are looking for persons 
understanding the languages being used by terrorists, 'The Nation' 
has learnt reliably.  According to the reports, a U.S.-based company 
has established a language center in Doha, Qatar, and is hiring 
people from across Pakistan on handsome salaries." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Can Deal With Local, Afghan Militants: U.S. 
"Dawn" (11/18) 
 
"The United States believes that Pakistan has the capability of 
dealing with the militants operating within its border and also with 
those who may come from Afghanistan. At a briefing at the U.S. State 
Department, spokesman Ian Kelly, however, acknowledged that the 
fight against the militants could not be won by military means 
alone." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: One Killed, Nine Injured In Quetta Motorbike Attack 
"Dawn" (11/18) 
 
"At least one person was killed and nine others injured in a bomb 
blast outside a security official's office here on Tuesday. Deputy 
Inspector General (DIG) Nizam Durrani sustained injuries as a result 
of the attack and is believed to have been the target." 
 
News Story: TTP Threatens To Poison Water In Pindi Area "The News" 
(11/18) 
 
"Banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have threatened the 
Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) and Chaklala Cantonment Board the 
(CCB) of contaminating water sources and reservoirs with poisonous 
material with the aim of pressurizing the Army to stop military 
operation in Waziristan. Official sources told 'The News' that a 
letter threatening to contaminate water was faxed to the Directorate 
of Military Lands and Cantonments (ML&C), Rawalpindi on Tuesday." 
 
News Story: NATO Trucks Cost NHA $83 Million Per Annum "The Nation" 
(11/18) 
 
"Pakistan is suffering a loss of approximate $83 million every year 
due to NATO/ISF freight truckloads that have been badly damaging the 
National Highway network for the last seven years, according to 
documents made available to 'The Nation.'" 
 
News Story: Defence Spending To Go Up By 20pc "Dawn" (11/18) 
 
"Pakistan's defence expenditures may exceed the budgetary allocation 
of Rs343 billion by about 20 per cent during the current fiscal year 
because of the military operation against militants. Sources told 
'Dawn' that the security-related expenditures in Waziristan were 
much higher than during the operation in Swat." 
 
News Story: Taliban Blow Up Girls' School Near Bara "Daily Times" 
(11/18) 
 
"The Taliban on Tuesday blew up a girls' school in Khyber Agency on 
Tuesday, the third such attack in the Tribal Areas so far this 
month. The Taliban have destroyed hundreds of schools, mostly for 
girls, officials said." 
 
 
News Story: Taliban Not Behind Attack On NATO Supplies: IG - "The 
Nation" (11/18) 
 
"Inspector General (IG) Police Balochistan Syed Javed Ali Shah 
Bukhari has said that Taliban are not behind attacks on NATO 
supplies in Balochistan.  He expressed these views while talking to 
media persons in Chaman, a bordering tow with Afghanistan, the other 
day." 
 
Editorial: "Do More" Once More, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/18) 
 
"The New York Times reports that U.S. National Security Adviser 
James Jones carried a letter on his recent visit from President 
Barack Obama to President Asif Ali Zardari urging Pakistan to expand 
its operations against the Taliban and al Qaeda.... To sweeten the 
pill, President Obama offers a range of new incentives such as 
enhanced intelligence sharing and military cooperation.... The 
concerns of the U.S. seem to be too narrowly focused on al Qaeda 
without giving due weight to the nexus between Usama bin Laden's 
organisation, the Afghan Taliban and now, arguably, the Pakistani 
Taliban along with militant groups originally nurtured for the 
Kashmir struggle but who have now emerged from the deserts of south 
Punjab to make common cause with their extremist brothers in arms. 
Pakistan on the other hand, is hoist between taking on al Qaeda and 
the Pakistani Taliban and their allies while retaining the Afghan 
Taliban card close to its chest for a rainy day. This disjuncture 
between the respective positions and concerns of both sides in the 
uneasy U.S.-Pakistan alliance may one day lead to divergence, unless 
both sides sit down and come to the conclusion that the militant 
threat is indivisible." 
 
Editorial: Illogical Demand To Expand The Military Operation, an 
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (11/18) 
 
"American President Barack Obama has demanded in a letter to 
President Asif Ali Zardari that Pakistan should expand the military 
operation against extremists.  The terrorism and suicide attacks in 
Pakistan are logical conclusion of American interference in 
Afghanistan and unjust occupation of a Muslim state....  Pakistan 
may get a few more dollars by expanding the scope of the operation, 
but the ensuing destruction and chaos in Pakistan is not difficult 
to assess.  Following the disclosure that in case of a danger 
American special squad could takeover Pakistan's nuclear program, 
the American demand for enlarging the scope of the operation is 
tantamount to fuel the fire of chaos, terrorism and civil war in 
Pakistan....  America is spending $1 million annually on one soldier 
in Afghanistan and the weekly expenditure on its troops equals 
annual assistance of $1.5 billion to Pakistan.  Still, America 
expects from Pakistan to win a war which will not end for years...." 
 
 
Editorial: President Obama's Letter, an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (11/18) 
 
"In view of the discussion that started after President Obama's 
letter and what James Jones had to say, it seems that only Pakistan 
can fight the terrorists and it should be the one that should be 
forced to fight them.  Did Pakistan attack Afghanistan in the first 
place to shoulder the entire responsibility of fighting the war? 
James Jones opinion gives the impression that American President is 
not in favor of extended stay of his troops in Afghanistan and he 
does not want to send more troops to Afghanistan.  American 
authorities believe that in return to $1.5 billion annually two 
birds can be killed with one stone.  Accepting American advice would 
mean that entire country is pushed into the bloody consequences.... 
President Obama's letter would help us understand the American 
designs and reconsider our role in the war against terrorism." 
 
Editorial: Another Mischief By The U.S., an editorial note an 
editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (11/17) 
 
"During his address in Shanghai, President Obama said that 
terrorists have fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan and are now the 
biggest threat to the U.S.  The question is: who is to blame if 
terrorists flee Afghanistan? Can Obama not ask the allied troops as 
to why check-posts from the Pak-Afghan border were removed? Is he 
 
not aware of the fact that despite allied forces' presence in the 
country, 75 percent of Afghanistan is still under Taliban control? 
Why do the Taliban need to flee into Pakistan when most of 
Afghanistan is under their control? Is it not a fact that the allied 
forces have failed, and are pushing the Taliban into Pakistan? 
Actually, President Obama is asking Pakistan to 'do more' just to 
absolve himself." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Demand For 'Do More', an editorial in the 
Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) 
(11/18) 
 
"At a time when the military operation in South Waziristan is in 
progress, and the terrorists are retaliating through deadly suicide 
attacks in Peshawar, the demand from President Obama to expand the 
offensive against the Taliban and Al Qaeda seems part of the U.S. 
plan to push Pakistan into civil war. We think that it is high time 
for our leadership to expose the American blackmailing and formulate 
the national policies in line with the aspirations of the nation." 
 
Editorial: Will Obama's Revised Afghan Policy Guarantee Peace?, an 
editorial in the Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 
5000) (11/18) 
 
"According to the U.S. media, President Obama has written a letter 
to President Zardari asking Pakistan to step up its measures against 
terrorists.... The silent progress U.S. is making to ensure Indian 
supremacy in the region does not bode well for our national 
security. Hence we feel that the Pakistan government should make a 
wise assessment of the outcome of U.S. policies, and hold talks with 
American authorities keeping national interests paramount." 
 
Editorial: Target Error?, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/18) 
 
"As Peshawar picks itself up from daily bombing attacks, the toll of 
civilians rises.... Where we hear anything coherent from the bombers 
as to why it is that they are doing what it is that they do, it is 
invariably along the lines of... 'We are fighting America. We want 
the Americans out of Pakistan.' We would not wish to inflame the 
bombers into yet further atrocity, against American or other foreign 
interests, why is it that the terrorists seem intent on harvesting 
the souls of their fellow Muslims, women and children, schools and 
mosques? The answer lies in the dual identity of the war that is 
being fought - part of the Taliban's war is fought against the 
Americans but another and perhaps larger part of their war is fought 
against the state of Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: What United States Is Up To?, an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (11/18) 
 
"There is a general impression that U.S. demands become unending if 
one keeps on meeting them without any resistance.... However, 
emboldened by the meekish approach of the Pakistan's successive 
leaders, the United States is increasing pressure on the country to 
do things that could endanger the very existence of Pakistan.... As 
the U.S. President is about to announce a new so-called Af-Pak 
policy, it seems that the new approach too would expect too much 
from Pakistan without any worthwhile effort to meet its demands and 
needs. This is time for Pakistani strategists and leaders to deeply 
ponder and analyze the situation." 
 
Editorial: Take The Nation On Board, an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (11/18) 
 
"The NWFP provincial ministers have maintained that a good number of 
terrorists have shifted from Waziristan to other tribal areas from 
where they are launching terrorist attacks in Peshawar. They demand 
the government to launch military operation in Orakzai Agency, 
Malakand, Khyber Agency and other areas. We think that the expansion 
of military operation in the entire FATA region would overstretch 
the capabilities of the Pak army which might undermine national 
interests of Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: Real Threat To Pakistan's Nuclear Assets, an editorial in 
the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) 
(11/18) 
 
"The Taliban, both Afghan and Pakistani, or any Jihadi group have 
 
never uttered even a single word against the nuclear program of 
Pakistan. In fact, the agents of the United States, India and Israel 
present in Pakistan, who had staged rallies on the roads of 
Islamabad against our nukes, are the real threat to our nuclear 
assets. We urge our military leadership to beware of these 
anti-Pakistan elements who are siding with the armed forces on the 
pretext of fighting the Taliban." 
 
Editorial: Unholy Crusade, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/18) 
 
"The Tablighi Jamaat (with millions of followers worldwide) has 
spoken out in very strong terms against the Taliban and their 
terrorist activities in the name of Islam. At the Jamaat's annual 
feature in Pakistan, the Tablighi Ijtema in Raiwind, scholars 
denounced the Taliban for their 'unholy crusade' against 
humanity.... The Tablighi Jamaat's message of moderate Islam will 
surely resound amongst the believers. By taking this position 
against the Taliban, the Jamaat has shown the Muslim world the true 
face of the Taliban. This message comes at a crucial time because in 
the recent past, we saw the fanatics dominating the discourse on 
Islam in the media and the public space." 
 
Opinion: "Do More" Becomes Obsolete, an op-ed by Shireen M. Mazari 
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (11/18) 
 
"The U.S. keeps on chanting the 'do more' mantra before our rulers 
and they keep going more - even if that means destroying the 
nation's social fabric and stability.... Is it not time for the 
present leadership, then, to put a stop to the U.S. 'do more' mantra 
which is destroying our country?" 
 
Opinion: Wooing The Middle Class, an op-ed by Rafia Zakaria in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/18) 
 
"While reconsidering military/strategic initiatives is crucial the 
Obama administration must realize that much of its failure in 
winning Pakistani hearts and minds has been because of its failure 
to identify which hearts can indeed be won. A strategy that seeks to 
amend this omission should undertake a reconsideration of current 
initiatives for a narrower focus towards empowering the Pakistani 
middle class through the facilitation of projects that directly 
affect their lives. The answer to the vexing question of how 
Pakistanis can be wooed may thus quite simply be to know which ones 
to pursue." 
 
Opinion:  Washington's Welcome Indecision, an op-ed by Mahir Ali in 
the Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily 
"Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (11/18) 
 
"The indecision in Washington over Afghanistan has prompted a 
plethora of criticism from a broad range of angles, but there is at 
least one redeeming factor that has received insufficient 
acknowledgment.... The Obama administration has faced considerable 
criticism for lumping Afghanistan and Pakistan together in its 
so-called Af-Pak strategy, but the role that links between the most 
deleterious elements in the two countries have played in the 
evolution of present conditions are undeniable.... The current 
debate in Washington is likely to lead to a decision that won't 
please anyone: a surge that doesn't mean Gen Stanley McChrystal's 
audacious demand, but also doesn't clearly spell out an exit 
strategy. It'll disappoint those who are prone to crying uncle. But 
a sustainable future for the region has got to be one in which Uncle 
Sam does not play a military role." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: We Can Question 'Suspicious' Journalists, Says Mazari 
"Daily Times" (11/18) 
 
"We have every right to raise questions about 'suspicious' 
journalists and question their activities, Shireen Mazari, editor of 
a Lahore-based English daily, said on Tuesday. According to a 
private TV channel (DawnNews). She was referring to a report, 
published by her newspaper, which questioned the credibility of Wall 
Street Journal correspondent Matthew Rosenberg and accused him of 
being a 'spy.' Defending her newspaper's stance, Mazari said those 
who broke the country's laws and had frequently travelled to hostile 
 
lands such as India in the past, were liable to scrutiny by the 
Pakistani media. She said Rosenberg had ventured into FATA without 
permission from the government, adding that she had credible 
information that Rosenberg had met with certain 'undesirable' 
individuals." 
 
News Story: Home-Built JF-17 to Be Unveiled On 23rd "Dawn" (11/18) 
 
"The first multi-role JF-17 Thunder jet fighter, jointly developed 
with China, produced at the Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (AMF) of 
the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex will roll out in Kamra, Attock on 
Nov 23. This would be a milestone, marking the fulfillment of 
Pakistan Air Force's goals of achieving self-sufficiency and 
strengthening its fighting capability, ISPR said on Tuesday." 
 
News Story: Musharraf Passed Atomic Information To U.S. "The News" 
(11/18) 
 
"Nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan has expressed his firm 
conviction that former military ruler Pervez Musharraf had 
transferred very sensitive information relating to Pakistan's atomic 
program to the U.S. Dr. Khan said he was ready to record the facts 
before the court of law." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: Jamaat-e-Islami Anti-U.S. Rally Today "The Nation" 
(11/18) 
 
"Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) (women) Islamabad will organize a 'Go America 
Go' rally today (Wednesday) against the unnoticed interference of 
the U.S. in the internal affairs of Pakistan.  Addressing a press 
conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Syed Bilal, JI Islamabad Amir, 
alleged that U.S. firm Blackwater was providing assistance to 
notorious spy agencies of India and Israel in Balochistan and FATA 
region." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson