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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002787 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: TOP STORIES, TERRORISM/MILITARY, 
MISCELLANEOUS - NOVEMBER 19, 2009 
 
Summary:  All TV channels reported a suicide bomb blast in Peshawar 
that killed 19, and wounded several people on Thursday morning. 
President Obama's statement pledging to "end the Afghan war before 
leaving office" received wide media coverage on Thursday.  Likewise, 
Secretary Clinton's remarks that Afghanistan faces 'critical moment' 
were also prominently displayed. Newspapers reported State 
Department spokesperson Kelly's remarks that U.S. is pleased with 
Pakistan's advances in South Waziristan.  Also reported on the front 
pages was the rejection by the Indian Foreign Office that India does 
not need third-party mediation for ties with Pakistan.  All major 
dailies also highlighted Pakistan Foreign Office's appreciation of 
U.S.-China commitment to peace and stability in South Asia.  Along 
with these reports, newspapers ran Under Secretary Burns' remarks 
ruling out any mediation in Indo-Pakistan peace process.  "Daily 
Times" lauded the U.S.-China resolve as a "positive development," 
while another English daily, "Dawn," termed  President Obama's 
decision to seek China's help in improving Indo-Pak ties a "welcome 
move."  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Exit Strategy In New Policy: Obama "Dawn" (11/19) 
 
"U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Wednesday to end the Afghan 
war before leaving office. In an interview with CNN, Mr. Obama said 
he would announce the results of his long-awaited review soon. It 
would include an exit strategy to avoid 'a multi-year occupation 
that won't serve the interests of the United States,' he said." 
(Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Karzai To Be Sworn In For New Term Today: Afghanistan 
Faces 'Critical Moment', Says Hillary "Daily Times" (11/19) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that 
Afghanistan faced a critical moment on the eve of President Hamid 
Karzai's inauguration for a second five-year term. Speaking after 
arriving in Kabul for the swearing-in ceremony, the top U.S. 
diplomat said there was now a 'clear window of opportunity' for 
Karzai to take action despite the controversy surrounding his 
re-election." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Pleased With Pakistan's Advances In S. Waziristan 
"Daily Times" (11/19) 
 
"U.S. State Department spokesperson Ian Kelly on Wednesday 
reaffirmed Washington's commitment to back Pakistan with economic 
and security assistance. As Pakistan made fresh gains in its 
anti-militant drive in South Waziristan, the United States said it 
is pleased with the success of the operation, taking place along the 
Pak-Afghan border region considered critical to security efforts in 
both countries." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Let No One Misjudge Our Resolve To Fight Terror: COAS 
"The News" (11/19) 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has 
said that today the nation has been challenged as never before but 
he has full faith and conviction that the nation has the will and 
resolve to surmount these challenges as it stands fully united to 
confront them and ensure that its rightful identity is restored and 
the armed forces are fully alive to the complete spectrum of threat 
that confronts the nation." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Taliban In Tactical Retreat: TTP "Daily Times" (11/19) 
 
"The Taliban have 'voluntarily withdrawn' into the mountains under a 
strategy that will trap the army in the area, a Tehreek-e-Taliban 
Pakistan spokesman said on Wednesday. We have not been defeated. 
Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told journalists taken blindfold to a 
mountain top, AFP reported." 
 
News Story: U.S. Missile Hits Militants In North Waziristan: 
Officials "Dawn" (11/19) 
 
"At least four militants were killed and five others wounded in a 
U.S. drone missile strike in Pakistan's tribal region near the 
Afghan border, officials said Thursday." 
 
News Story: Drone Strikes Drop Significantly During SWA Offensive 
"Daily Times" (11/19) 
 
"The U.S. has "almost halted" drone strikes against the Taliban and 
Al Qaeda in Waziristan after Islamabad made the request in a bid to 
maintain public support for 'Operation Rah-e-Nijaat' against the 
TTP, the officials told 'Daily Times' on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: Nine Militants Killed In Kurram, Bajaur "The News" 
(11/19) 
 
"Heavy artillery shelling by security forces in Kurram Agency killed 
five militants on Wednesday while four insurgents were killed when 
fighter jets blitzed their positions in Bajaur Agency." 
 
News Story: Whereabouts Of Fazlullah Being Investigated "Dawn" 
(11/19) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the government is 
investigating whether Swat Taliban leader Maulana Fazlullah is in 
the tribal areas or Afghanistan. Talking to journalists in Islamabad 
on Wednesday, he said Fazlullah had used an Afghan phone number, but 
there was a possibility that he was not in Afghanistan." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: No Afghan Exit Till Al-Qaeda Eliminated In Pakistan: 
U.S. "The News" (11/19) 
 
"Supporting U.S. General McChrystal's plan to send additional troops 
to Afghanistan, a former American general on Wednesday told the U.S. 
lawmakers that there should be no Afghan 'exit strategy' till the 
al-Qaeda leadership currently based in Pakistan is eliminated. Any 
exit of the US forces from the region would not only give the 
Taliban and al-Qaeda a sense of victory, but would also have adverse 
impact on the stability of Pakistan, Gen. (Retd) Wesley Clark, 
former North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Supreme Allied Commander 
in Europe, told lawmakers at a Congressional hearing on Pakistan and 
Afghanistan." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Warns Against Early U.S. Withdrawal From 
Afghanistan "Daily Times" (11/19) 
 
"Pakistan on Wednesday warned Washington that a hasty and 
ill-planned U.S. pullout from Afghanistan could be disastrous for 
the region. Speaking at the 55th annual session of the NATO 
Parliamentary Assembly in Edinburgh, Senator Nayyer Husain Bokhari 
dispelled Western misgivings about Pakistan's commitment to the war 
on terrorism." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Urged Not To Fear Indo-U.S. Ties "Dawn" (11/19) 
 
 
"The United States assured Pakistan on Wednesday that it had nothing 
to fear from growing U.S.-India relations because Washington also 
valued its ties with Islamabad. At a briefing in Washington, 
Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Robert Blake 
also addressed India's concern over a joint U.S.-China statement 
issued in Beijing on Tuesday which recognized China's role in 
improving India-Pakistan relations." (Story also covered in all 
newspapers) 
 
News Story: No Mediation In Indo-Pak Peace Process: U.S. "The 
Nation" (11/19) 
 
"Ruling out any mediation in the India-Pakistan peace process, the 
U.S. on Wednesday said it is for the two neighbors to decide on its 
'scope, content and pace.'  The U.S. supports resolution of 
outstanding disputes through dialogue, Under-Secretary of State for 
political Affairs Bill Burns said in a speech at the Carnegie 
Endowment for International Peace - a key Washington-based 
think-tank." 
 
News Story: U.S.-China Stance On South Asia Welcomed "The News" 
(11/19) 
 
"Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the U.S.-China joint reiteration to 
peace and stability in south Asia.  The Foreign Office spokesman, 
while replying to a question, mentioned that the U.S. had sought 
Chinese role in resolving Pak-India differences." 
 
 
 
 
News Story: India Does Not Need Third-Party Mediation For Pakistan 
Ties "Daily Times" (11/19) 
 
"India on Thursday said it did not desire the help of a third 
country to improve its ties with Pakistan. 'The government of India 
is committed to resolving all outstanding issues with Pakistan 
through a peaceful bilateral dialogue in accordance with the Shimla 
agreement,' External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash 
told reporters. 'A third country's role cannot be envisaged nor is 
it necessary." 
 
News Story: Old U.S. Mining Town Elects Pakistani Mayor "Daily 
Times" (11/19) 
 
"Granite Falls residents are suspicious of any newcomers, let alone 
a native of Pakistan who moved to this rugged, blue-collar mining 
town to open his own bar. But 54-year-old Haroon Saleem has thrived, 
winning over the town with hard work and an easy smile. He has 
become so popular that, on November 3, he won the mayor's job in a 
landslide, getting 61 percent of the more than 800 votes cast -a 
result that residents say would have been inconceivable not long 
ago." 
 
News Story: JI Blasts Govt. Policies, U.S. Presence In Region "The 
Nation" (11/19) 
 
"Thousands of women took to the streets on Wednesday against U.S. 
presence in the region in a protest titled 'Go America Go Rally' 
organized by Women Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Islamabad chapter. 
Addressing the rally, JI Amir Syed Munawar Hassan demanded of Prime 
Minister Syed Yousuf Gilani and Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez 
Kayani to inform the nation about the balance sheet of military 
operations, as terrorism had increased manifold." 
 
News Story: Helen Keller Friendship Community Centre opens in 
Capital "Daily Times," "The News" (11/19) 
 
"The U.S. Embassy joined the Ministry of Social Welfare and Special 
Education today to dedicate the Helen Keller Friendship Community 
Center in F-7 Markaz at the National Library and Resource Centre." 
 
Editorial: Indo-Pak Ties, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (11/19) 
 
"The U.S. and China have stressed the improvement of relations 
between India and Pakistan for the promotion of 'peace, stability 
and development in South Asia.' It is a positive development that 
the two great powers in today's world - China and the U.S. - realize 
the importance of good relations between the two nuclear-armed 
nations of the subcontinent.... Pakistan itself is the worst victim 
of terrorism. India should work with Pakistan on devising a joint 
strategy to fight terrorism in the region. With the war on terror 
going on in South Asia, this region is of great importance to the 
peace of the world as well." 
 
Editorial: A Welcome Move, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(11/19) 
 
"One must welcome President Barack Obama's decision to seek China's 
help in improving relations between Pakistan and India. In what 
observers have described as a significant departure from previous 
U.S. policy.... For Washington, the goals are clear: it wants 
Pakistan and India to patch up their differences, so that Islamabad 
can focus on the war on terror. It remains to be seen whether New 
Delhi will react positively to the Sino-American move. Specifically, 
the question is whether India will show flexibility and reduce troop 
strength on its western border to give Pakistan a free hand in 
crushing the enemy within. This is in India's interest too." 
 
Editorial: Indo-Pak Relations: U.S. Should Also Play A Role, an 
editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) 
(11/19) 
 
"President Obama has expressed the desire for a role by China for 
improving ties between Pakistan and India....  Pakistan never 
deviated from dialogue and renewal of peace with India.  However, 
Indian attitude is bothersome and negative and it continues to hurl 
accusations on Pakistan.  In order to improve Pakistan-India 
 
relations America has to play a positive role and India has to 
change its attitude." 
 
Editorial: U.S., China Can Help Improve Indo-Pak Ties, an editorial 
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" 
(cir. 5,000) (11/19) 
 
"The joint statement issued after talks between President Obama and 
President Hu Jintao in Beijing stated that the two countries have 
agreed to work together to bring about stable and peaceful relations 
in all of South Asia. The joint statement is very encouraging and 
indicates the desire of the two big powers that they would work 
together and use their influence to bring the two South Asian rivals 
at the negotiating table and encourage them for the resolution of 
the contentious issues.... Now that a strong and clear message has 
been sent to New Delhi by the two major powers, we hope the Indian 
leadership would give a second thought to its belligerent stance and 
adopt the path of improving relations with Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: Major Achievements In Fighting Terror, an editorial in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (11/19) 
 
"Contrary to apprehensions expressed by different circles and 
quarters, Pakistan Army has achieved miraculous successes in its 
fight against militants in the hitherto dreaded South Waziristan 
Agency, which was being portrayed by the Western world as the 
epicenter of terrorism.... The speed with which the armed forces 
have proceeded in South Waziristan has baffled many especially the 
Western media but a minute analysis of the whole situation would 
reveal that the success was achieved through meticulous planning and 
great sacrifices.... It is, however, very important and pertinent to 
consolidate gains on a long-term basis." 
 
Editorial: Do Not Delay Important Decisions, an editorial in the 
leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily 
"Jang" (cir. 300,000) (11/19) 
 
"Our armed forces are effectively targeting the terrorists' 
strongholds in South Waziristan. The entire nation also owes 
indebtedness to the tribesmen who left their homes and suffered 
severe hardships to make the ongoing military operation a success. 
The government must work out a roadmap to integrate the tribesmen in 
mainstream Pakistani society as per their customs, and manage the 
possible fallouts after the withdrawal of foreign forces from 
Afghanistan." 
 
Editorial: Cryptograms, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/19) 
 
"Decoding the various messages that come out of Afghanistan or those 
that are given to Afghanistan by its well-wishers is an arcane art 
form. The latest message has been delivered by British Foreign 
Secretary David Miliband, while speaking at a meeting of the NATO 
parliamentary assembly in Edinburgh.... He probably had little 
choice but to say what he did, yet viewed from our end of the 
telescope his statement appears to bear little resemblance to what 
we understand ground realities to be. He concluded by delivering his 
own version of the 'Pakistan must do more' mantra by calling for 
more support for Pakistan to 'squeeze the life' out of the Taliban 
and Al Qaeda. Messages are tailored to audiences and Miliband's 
audience in Edinburgh got what it wanted to hear. Decoding it for 
local consumption suggests a reality-disconnect that bodes ill for 
all of us." 
 
Editorial: British Proposal For Allied Forces' Withdrawal From 
Afghanistan, an editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi 
Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 15,000) (11/19) 
 
"The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan is the precondition for 
Taliban to kick off negotiations. British Prime Minister Brown has 
also proposed an international conference to develop a strategy to 
quit Afghanistan by 2010. We think that the Taliban would be ready 
to address the 'reservations' of the U.S. and its allies provided 
the latter give them a chance to form government in Afghanistan." 
 
Opinion: Time To Quit Afghanistan?, an op-ed by Mohammad Jamil in 
the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (11/19) 
 
"President Barack Obama is facing a big dilemma. If he continues 
with the policy of former President Bush vis-`-vis 'staying the 
course' in Afghanistan, he is in for a drubbing not only by the 
American public but also by the leaders of his own party.... There 
is no denying that the U.S. and its allies are stuck in a quagmire 
in Afghanistan, and they are looking for some scapegoat to cover up 
their failures.... Though the U.S. has increased its forces bringing 
the coalition total to 110,000, things are going from bad to 
worse.... The U.S. should prepare an exit strategy and let the 
people of Afghanistan decide their own destiny." 
 
Opinion: The Steely Strategy Syndrome, an op-ed by I.M. Mohsin in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(11/19) 
 
"In Afghanistan the U.S. has, generally, tried the 'steely' strategy 
for nine years. The main component of that policy appeared to be 
indiscriminate bombings by the air-force and advanced fire power. 
Resultantly, there were frequent killings of civilians which 
prompted even Karzai to protest.... Those ridiculing Obama are 
acting naove as Afghanistan, despite the bravery of the Vietnamese, 
could end up as much worse than their East-Asian quagmire. Its 
history, geography and traditions make it a conundrum for those who 
want to tame it with 'steel.' Ask Gorbachev! Obama has to use the 
'soft power' for a settlement.... The U.S. must create goodwill by 
defining its mission as suggested by General Petraeus." 
 
Opinion: Leave Afghanistan Alone, an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (11/19) 
 
"Actually, the American presence in Afghanistan and America's 
unpopularity among Pakistanis has only served to divide Pakistan and 
lent the cause of the Taliban righteousness and legitimacy in the 
eyes of Pakistanis that it does not deserve.... America's 
assistance, valuable, reassuring and welcome as it might appear, is 
merely prolonging the day when the Pakistanis will have to confront 
and overcome the challenge posed by the extremists by dint of their 
own efforts.... Success or failure lies in our hands and not in the 
complexion of any future regime in Afghanistan or even whether 
America chooses to stay or leave though the chances of success will 
increase immeasurably if America does leave and confines its help to 
funding, appropriate weaponry and economic assistance to offset the 
costs of the war." 
 
Editorial: Towards IPI, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (11/19) 
 
"During an official visit to New Delhi, the Iranian foreign minister 
on Tuesday invited India to join the IPI pipeline project. In 
response, the Indian prime minister has also reportedly shown his 
commitment to taking the three-nation mega project forward. 
Islamabad and Tehran have already signed a bilateral deal for the 
IPI natural gas pipeline...  This is a welcoming sign as India's 
participation will finally lead the project to fruition which was 
conceived in 1994...." 
 
Editorial: The issue of Palestine's Independence And American 
Intransigence, in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir.25, 000) 
(11/19) 
 
"Once again, the real intent of the U.S. administration - involved 
in fruitless efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict 
since long - has come to the fore. Addressing a press conference, 
Democratic Senator Ted Kaufman has said that demanding the UN for 
one-sided approval of Palestine's independence would be nothing but 
a waste of time and the U.S. would veto such a step.... There is no 
conflict between rival Democrats and Republicans on the Palestine 
issue.... The European Union's view is no different than the U.S.... 
Knowingly, the western powers are giving  Israel the opportunity to 
occupy as much of Palestinian land as possible, so that later on  a 
tiny Palestinian state would be formed just to show to the world." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson