VZCZCXYZ0005
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIL #2827/01 3271114
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 231114Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6110
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0365
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 6021
RHEHAAA/THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCPA// IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 1844
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 8072
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2069
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002827 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: NOVEMBER 23, 2009 
 
Summary:  The Sunday edition of all major dailies published reports 
and photographs of the memorial service held at the U.S. Embassy in 
Islamabad in commemoration of the four staff members killed when the 
Embassy was burned down in 1979. Politically significant headlines 
dominated all newspapers on Monday.  Foreign Minister Qureshi's 
statement that India is supporting insurgents in Pakistan was 
highlighted.  Some dailies also quoted Indian Prime Minister Singh 
as saying that Islamabad's objectives in Afghanistan were not 
necessarily those of the United States.  Reports of the killings of 
20 militants in Bajaur and South Waziristan and 13 Taliban in Hangu 
in fierce fighting also received prominent display.  "The Nation," 
reported that "four armed Americans were detained at a checkpoint, 
and later released" in Peshawar. Commenting on the potential 
whereabouts of Al Qaeda leaders, "The News," noted that "logically 
speaking, for a number of reasons, Pakistan remains the most likely 
location." End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: U.S. Embassy Staff Remembers Colleagues Killed In 1979 
"The News" (11/22) 
 
"A memorial service was held at the American embassy here Saturday 
to remember their four colleagues who lost their lives during an 
attack by a mob at the Embassy three decades back on the same day. 
U.S. Ambassador in Pakistan Anne W. Patterson led the memorial 
service at the embassy lawns which was attended by the staff and 
U.S. Marine Guards. Floral wreaths were laid to remember the four 
embassy staffers including two Pakistanis who lost their lives in an 
attack by students at the embassy enraged by a radio report claiming 
that US had occupied Khana Kaaba in Mecca. (Story also covered in 
'The Nation,' 'The Post,' 'Pakistan Observer,' 'Jang,' 'Express,' 
'Ausaf, 'Jinnah, 'Aaj-Kal') 
 
News Story: Qureshi Accuses India Of Aiding Insurgents "Dawn" 
(11/23) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has accused India of 
supporting insurgents in Pakistan. Speaking to German news agency 
DPA, Mr. Qureshi claimed that Pakistan was 'compiling hard evidence 
of India's involvement and interference in Balochistan and FATA.'" 
(Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: PM Singh Objects To U.S.-Pakistan Partnership "Dawn" 
(11/23) 
 
"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived in Washington on 
Sunday as the Obama administration's first state guest, has 
questioned Pakistan's partnership with the United States, saying 
that Islamabad's objectives in Afghanistan were not necessarily 
those of the United States. Asked who he believed was running 
Pakistan, the Indian Prime Minister told CNN: 'It is not clear if 
the president (Zardari) is in charge of the army.'" (Story also 
covered in all newspapers) 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: 20 Militants Killed In Bajaur Attack "The News" (11/23) 
 
 
"At least 20 militants were killed in the security forces' action in 
different areas of Bajaur and South Waziristan tribal regions on 
Sunday. In Bajaur Agency, 15 militants, including two commanders and 
as many foreigners, were killed and eight others sustained injuries 
in jetfighters' blitz and clashes between the security forces and 
insurgents." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Troops Advance On Taliban Bastions In Hangu, Orakzai 
"Dawn" (11/23) 
 
"Thirteen terrorists and a soldier were killed in fierce clashes 
between security forces and the Taliban in Shahu Khel area of Hangu 
on Sunday. Sources said that seven security personnel were injured. 
Troops destroyed 17 installations, including a communications tower, 
an FM radio station and a training camp, of Tehrik-i-Taliban 
Pakistan in Kasha and Darha Darh Mamozai areas in the Upper Orakzai 
agency." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Army Operation Likely In Khyber Agency "The News" 
(11/23) 
"Another full-fledged military operation is anticipated as scores of 
soldiers equipped with latest weapons and backed by artillery guns 
arrived in different areas of Bara subdivision in Khyber Agency on 
Sunday. Sources told 'The News' that over 1,000 personnel of 
security forces, equipped with artillery guns and rocket launchers, 
were stationed in different areas of Bara Tehsil.' (Story also 
covered in all newspapers) 
 
Editorial: Where Is Usama?, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (11/23) 
 
"The question of the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden and other key 
lieutenants of the man who has done so much to change the face of 
the world and inflict a series of ugly scars on it has of course 
haunted the world since the events of 9/11. There has been 
consistent conjecture that he was based along the Pak-Afghan border. 
There is of course absolutely no way of verifying this. It is indeed 
far from certain if Bin Laden today is indeed even alive. Al Qaeda 
has changed in nature from a single structure to a far more hazy 
entity which has almost no tangible form. It exists as much in minds 
as in reality. But this does not alter the fact that locating key 
leaders could still be significant.... The people the world seeks 
cannot simply have vanished into thin air. They must be based in one 
place or the other. Logically speaking, for a number of reasons, 
Pakistan remains the most likely location." 
 
Editorial: Action in Darra. Please Don't, an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (11/23) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik while talking to media persons has 
said that the Government would soon take action in Darra Adam Khel 
and Bara to flush out terrorists to prevent suicide bombings in 
Peshawar.... Such high sounding statements being given by the 
Interior Minister would be seen by the people as a submission to the 
demand of the U.S. that Pakistan should not limit the operation to 
Swat and SWA and expand it to North Waziristan and other agencies. 
In our view, further expansion of the scope of operation in Darra, 
Bara and North Waziristan would give new dimension and would be 
suicidal." 
 
Opinion: What Are We Doing For Waziristan?, an op-ed by Ayaz Wazir 
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/23) 
 
"Operation Rah-e-Nijaat, or to use the so-called FATA experts' pet 
phrase 'the mother of all wars', has entered its fourth week. All 
indications are that it will soon be over.... The army's job, as we 
all know, is to destroy the enemy. Once that is done, it is then the 
job of the civil government to step in to sort out the problem on a 
permanent basis. It is so unfortunate that our civilian government 
has not taken that step and keeps on blaming the past rulers for the 
policies that it is still following.... Waziristan and Peshawar are 
burning, while life in other cities goes on unaffected. What kind of 
a nation are we? We are not agitating, expressing our concern, 
pressuring the members of Parliament to do what they are supposed to 
do, instead of wasting time and energies defending shady deals and 
bills such as the NRO. What are we up to?" 
 
Opinion: Fault Lines!, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (11/23) 
 
"If one raises two cardinal queries regarding the war on terrorism 
in the context of our region, for instance which is the country that 
is putting in maximum resource effort and which is the country 
helping the sustenance of extremist fighters economically; 
ironically, the unanimous answer to both these queries would be, 'of 
course the United States of America is performing both feats 
simultaneously.'... A dangerous public perception is snowballing 
that the Americans are the problems of this region, which they 
profess to solve. So they are continuously loosing their friends in 
Asia. Their influence and hence leverage is shrinking at a pretty 
fast pace." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Four Armed Americans Intercepted, Released "The Nation" 
(11/23) 
 
"NWFP Police intercepted four armed Americans in Peshawar at a 
police check-post on Sunday but let them go after the mighty guests 
(Americans) approached police high-ups to secure their immediate 
release. To the shock of police personnel, duty officer leading the 
team at the check-post received a call, perhaps from one of the 
higher authorities of NWFP Police, on his cell phone and let the 
American go with their illegal weapons." 
 
News Story: Kashmir Dispute Can't Be Resolved Unilaterally: FO 
"Daily Times" (11/23) 
 
"India does not have the right to decide the Kashmir dispute 
unilaterally and the issue must be resolved in accordance with UN 
resolutions, the Foreign Office said on Sunday. Responding to Indian 
Primer Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's interview with CNN, FO 
spokesman Abdul Basit said Kashmir was a pivotal part of the 
comprehensive peace dialogue between Pakistan and India." 
 
Editorial: Rehman Malik's Claim And Admission, an editorial in the 
second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(11/23) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that he will resign if 
Blackwater's presence in Pakistan is proved. In a statement before 
the Senate Standing Committee on Interior Affairs, he said Dyn-Corps 
agency is working for America inside Afghanistan besides working in 
Pakistan since General Pervez Musharraf's time.  However, he said 
that we will not allow anyone work against Pakistani laws....  The 
nefarious activities of American non-government terrorist 
organization Blackwater in Pakistan, especially in Islamabad and 
around Kahuta, are known to all and sundry.  The hideous face of 
this organization cannot be concealed behind the label of Xe; the 
world knows that Xe is the other name given to Blackwater.... 
Moreover, merely making a statement that American Dyn-Corps is 
working in Pakistan since the time of Pervez Musharraf cannot be 
taken as an excuse....  Instead of offering resignations the 
Interior Minister should fulfill his responsibilities of purging 
Pakistan of those foreign elements who have become a danger for our 
nuclear assets and are involved in promoting terrorism." 
 
Editorial: Talks On Kashmir, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (11/23) 
 
"Kashmir remains a festering wound over which India and Pakistan 
have fought two wars since 1947. After 9/11, like all guerrilla 
movements, militancy in Kashmir was also lumped in the terrorist 
basket.... The two sides have held talks since January 2004 to 
resolve the Kashmir dispute, apart from other significant issues. 
India should realize that the Kashmir dispute is not only about 
territory, but also involves human lives and human emotions.... The 
world community should also lend its support to the issue of Kashmir 
so that the lives of the Kashmiri people, on both sides of the 
border, should become normal again. The bulk of resources of both 
the countries has been consumed by the conflict in Kashmir." 
 
Editorial: Karzai's Second Term, an editorial in the country's 
premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) 
(11/23) 
 
"The uniqueness of President Obama's worldview isn't aptly reflected 
in the pattern of United States historical positions in its 
relations with other states. So, no wonder, his administration had 
taken a dim view of President Hamid Karzai's intention to stand for 
a second term.... Rightly then President Karzai doesn't feel 
beholden to the United States or the NATO countries for his 
victory.... To what extent the U.S. government is in sync with the 
emerging reality in Afghanistan we would know only when the Obama 
administration makes public its strategic review of its Afghan 
policy." 
 
Opinion: The Crucial Stage, an op-ed by Arif Nizami in the leading 
mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 
300,000) (11/23) 
 
"After concluding its deliberations on the new Afghan policy, it 
seems that Washington will soon decide either to send more troops to 
Afghanistan or not.  But one thing is clear that pressure on 
Pakistan will become multifold.  After the failure of its Afghan-Pak 
and Middle East policies, the Obama administration desperately needs 
a success story. Afghanistan is rapidly going out to control and to 
succeed there, the U.S. needs unlimited and unconditional Pakistani 
support. Washington wants Islamabad to launch a military operation 
in North Waziristan, but Pakistan army thinks that such an offensive 
would seriously harm its strategic interests.  Now the U.S. is 
working to resolve the differences between Pakistan and India and 
later convince the two countries to jointly play their role in 
Afghanistan." 
 
Opinion: Obsolete Policies On Afghanistan, an op-ed by Saleem Safi 
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/23) 
 
"The time is ripe for President Obama to exploit diplomatic and 
political channels for the resolution of the Afghanistan issue, 
rejecting the pressure put by the establishment for sending more 
troops to Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai should also lessen the 
burden of Obama, playing an important role in a fresh and meaningful 
dialogue with the Taliban leadership. A dialogue with the Taliban 
would be incomplete without taking Al Qaeda on board. Similarly, the 
Obama administration will also have to take all the neighboring 
states of Afghanistan on board on dialogue process and their 
concerns will have to be addressed. This is the only solution to 
Afghanistan quandary - otherwise, the US will be trapped in the 
terrains of Afghanistan, the region will keep burning and Obama will 
face the same end as was the fate of George W. Bush." 
 
Opinion: A Diplomatic Surge, an op-ed by Zaid Haider in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (11/24) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's three-day visit to 
Islamabad and Lahore highlighted the ongoing challenge of conducting 
diplomacy in Pakistan. The fact that Pakistan's partnership is vital 
to U.S. security, and yet 64 percent of Pakistanis view the United 
States as an enemy, represents no small challenge for the Americans. 
As the White House reassesses its 'Af-Pak' strategy, it must clearly 
define U.S. interests in Pakistan and chart a new course in the 
relationship that places a greater emphasis on diplomacy. The U.S. 
has two vital interests in Pakistan. The first is to combat 
extremism. This includes Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and the associated 
domestic terrorist groups that threaten Pakistan's stability. The 
second is to ensure regional stability.... For now, a democratic and 
prosperous Pakistan, at peace with itself and its neighbors, is 
critical for U.S. national security. To this end, as in Afghanistan, 
the U.S. is essentially fighting a form of counter-insurgency in 
Pakistan - minus the troops. This further necessitates a surge in 
U.S. diplomacy toward Pakistan to secure a more willing and able 
partner." 
 
Editorial: The Palestine Tragedy, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (11/23) 
 
"The Palestine tragedy, which began as far back as 61 years ago, has 
not yet played out, thanks to Israel's intransigent refusal to 
vacate the land it has usurped from the Palestinian people and the 
support of its Western friends, principally the U.S.... The hope, 
which Obama's overtures to the Muslims of the world and his specific 
utterances on the Palestinian issue had raised in the initial period 
of his presidency, has all but died out." 
 
Opinion: A Quantum Of Discomfort, an op-ed by Ahmad Faruqui in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (11/23) 
 
"The nuclear weapons have placed Pakistan in a quandary. They were 
supposed to help the nation survive an Indian invasion. And now the 
survival of the weapons themselves has become a priority. But there 
is controversy as to who poses the biggest threat to the weapons. 
The Americans say it is Jihadis and the Pakistani nationalists say 
it is the Americans." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson