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E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 04, 2009 
 
Summary: Reports of the testimony of top U.S. officials before the 
Senate Foreign Relations Committee was highlighted in almost all 
dailies on Friday.  Newspapers quoted Secretary Clinton as 
emphasizing that "Pakistan is crucial to success of Afghan 
strategy." Defense Secretary Gates' remarks that "Afghan withdrawal 
date is not final," and Admiral Mullen's comments that "withdrawal 
will be based on conditions on ground" also received extensive 
coverage.  Several newspapers reported that the U.S. donated school 
supplies to the Bajaur Agency. Continuing its malicious U.S.-bashing 
drive, "The Nation," reported that the "Naval Headquarters in 
Islamabad was being monitored by the U.S. Embassy much before the 
terror attack (on Wednesday)." The same paper also recycled a 
"Vanity Fair" story claiming that nuclear scientist "Dr. Khan is on 
hit list of Blackwater."  In its editorial, "Dawn," noted that 
"reversing the Taliban's momentum," is a "vital goal if Washington's 
plan is to succeed in the long term in Afghanistan." Terming the 
Afghan conflict a "new Vietnam war," prominent columnist, Ayaz Amir, 
opined in "The News," that "we must not become another Cambodia, a 
country which has still not fully recovered from what America did to 
it 30-40 years ago." All TV networks reported a terror attack at a 
mosque in Rawalpindi on Friday afternoon that killed scores of 
people.  End Summary. 
 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Pakistan Crucial To Success Of Afghan Strategy: Hillary 
"Dawn" (12/04) 
 
"The presence of Al Qaeda in the tribal areas and the fear that the 
insurgents may be seeking nuclear weapons made Pakistan the focus of 
America's new war strategy, senior US officials told a Senate panel 
on Thursday. 'The Taliban regained momentum in Afghanistan and the 
extremist threat grew in Pakistan - a country with 175 million 
people, a nuclear arsenal, and more than its share of challenges,' 
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Afghan Withdrawal Date Not Final: Gates "Daily Times" 
(12/04) 
 
"U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates has hinted that the July 2011 
withdrawal timetable for Afghanistan is not final, saying extra 
troops would be in place in July 2010, and a December 2010 review 
could affect the target withdrawal date. . . Separately, Mullen told 
CBS News in an interview that the withdrawal would be conducted 
'responsibly' and 'based on conditions on the ground.'" (Story also 
covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Congress Worries Over Obama's Plan For Pakistan  "The 
News" (12/04) 
 
"President Barack Obama's planned troop build-up in Afghanistan came 
in for more skepticism on Thursday with lawmakers zeroing in on how 
the US will deal with 'terrorist havens' in Pakistan. 'What happens 
in Pakistan ... will do more to determine the outcome in Afghanistan 
than any increase in troops or shift in strategy,' said Sen John 
Kerry. Opening a hearing on Afghan strategy, Kerry said it was the 
presence of al-Qaeda in Pakistan, its direct ties to and support 
from the Taliban in Afghanistan and the perils of an unstable 
Pakistan that drive our mission." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Has 'Serious Reservations' Over US Afghan 
Policy "Daily Times" (12/04) 
"Pakistan has "serious reservations" over U.S. President Barack 
Obama's decision to send an additional 30,000 combat troops to 
Afghanistan, diplomatic sources said on Thursday. The sources said 
Pakistan had been "kept in the dark over the finer parts of the 
review policy" announced by Obama, as the administration never 
shared its details with Pakistani officials." 
News Story: Pakistan Was 'Kept In Dark' "Daily Times" (12/04) 
"Pakistan was 'kept in the dark over the finer parts of the review 
policy' announced by US President Barack Obama, diplomatic sources 
said on Thursday. The sources said Pakistan had 'serious 
reservations' over Obama's decision to send an additional 30,000 
combat troops to Afghanistan." 
Editorial:  The Afghan Challenge, an editorial-note in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/04) 
"Obama pegged the success of his surge policy on 'reversing the 
Taliban's momentum' to deny them the ability to overthrow the 
government. This is a vital goal if Washington's plan is to succeed 
in the long term in Afghanistan and if it is not to re-enact its 
strategy of cut-and-run as in 1989. This might also prove the most 
difficult goal to achieve. . . Only time will tell if American 
pressure leads to good governance in Afghanistan." 
Opinion: Familiar Road -- All Too Familiar Refrain, an op-ed by Ayaz 
Mir in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The 
News" (cir. 55,000) (12/04) 
 ". . . We are in this war together with the Americans. Geography 
leaves us with no other choice. But in this new Vietnam war we must 
not become another Cambodia, a country which has still not fully 
recovered from what America did to it 30-40 years ago. Our military 
must do what is necessary in South and North Waziristan and perhaps 
beyond. But, under American pressure, it must not allow itself to 
become over-extended. . ." 
 
Editorial: Obama And Pakistan, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000)(12/04) 
 
"US President Barack Obama's new Afghan policy centres on three 
"core" elements. First, the troop surge adding 30,000 US troops to 
those already deployed there amidst the hope that Nato can be 
persuaded to contribute another 5-7,000. The latter may prove more 
difficult, since the first responses from Europe to Obama's speech 
at West Point indicate the same reluctance that has been on display 
for some time now. The exception, as always, is Britain, whose Prime 
Minister Gordon Brown pledged another 500 British troops even before 
Obama spoke. The rest, led by Germany and France, want to wait for a 
consultation with their allies towards the end of January 2010 
before taking a final decision. Second, Obama emphasises more 
civilian presence to help the reconstruction and recovery of 
war-battered Afghan society, offering some faint hope to its 
beleaguered people. This was one of the original elements of the 
Bonn and Tokyo conferences that pledged funds and reconstruction 
help that never really arrived in sufficient quantity to make a 
critical difference. Third, and perhaps most crucially, Obama 
underlined that success in Afghanistan was inextricably linked to a 
long term, sustained partnership with Pakistan." 
 
Opinion: Obama's Afghanistan Strategy And Pakistan, an op-ed by 
Shafqat Mahmood in the populist, often sensational national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/04) 
 
"If the Americans are not here for the long haul, what kind of a 
message does it send to Pakistan: that they should turn every 
possible Afghan group against them and have no leverage left in 
Afghanistan after the Americans leave? This would suggest that the 
new American strategy in Afghanistan has it and Pakistan at 
cross-purposes. This could have negative consequences for both, but 
a far greater potential of damage to Pakistan. The only win-win 
situation is for them to collaborate.Pakistan can help the Americans 
enormously by using their influence and knowledge of the Afghan 
Taliban to sponsor a serious dialogue between the two sides. This is 
the only viable exit strategy for the Americans. And this is the 
only way in which both countries can focus on their shared objective 
of eliminating Al Qaeda." 
 
Opinion: The Perils We Face, an op-ed by Dr Masooda Bano in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (12/04) 
 
". . . From a US perspective, this position makes good strategy and 
political sense. However, chances that things will actually change 
in Afghanistan in the next 18 months are remote . . . even if the US 
withdraws Pakistan faces severe challenges as living next to a 
war-torn and ungovernable neighbour threatens Pakistan's own 
stability. What is clear is that the militarist route chosen by the 
Bush administration is leaving some countries and regions even more 
ungovernable than before. This clearly does not help curtail 
militancy." 
 
Editorial: Obama's Confusion, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/04) 
"As reactions to Obama's Afghan policy announcements, both official 
and unofficial, begin to flow in, the central theme seems to be a 
sense of confusion as to what Obama is striving for in an Afghan 
strategy that does not go beyond the already failed military-centric 
approach. The Pakistanis are wanting certain basic clarifications 
regarding the Obama statement which seemed to be conveying confused 
signals. . . Nor is it just Pakistan that is confused over what 
exactly Obama hopes will alter with the military surge since the 
basic policy remains flawed. The European NATO members are also 
unwilling to simply throw in their lot with the Obama scheme of 
things with the French refusing to send more troops - so all NATO 
can muster up for the new surge are about 5000 more troops. Unless 
Obama actually makes a policy shift, the surge is already doomed to 
failure." 
Opinion: Obama's Afghan Strategy, an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (12/04) 
 
"Obama's election was a miraculous event. The Americans did not 
believe it could happen. Another miracle will be needed if his 
Afghan strategy is to succeed. But because Obama achieved a miracle 
once, some believe that he can make it happen again. . .  The threat 
posed by the Pakistani Taliban, the Jihadis and al Qaeda to 
Pakistan, though serious, is not of a magnitude that cannot be 
contained and rolled back. Indeed that is happening." 
 
Editorial: America's Carrot and Stick, an editorial in Karachi based 
Pro-Jehadi right-wing daily "Ummat" (Cir. 33,000) (12/04) 
 
"U.S. continues to adopt the policy of 'carrot and stick,' and its 
demand for 'do more' does not end.  It always comes with new threats 
and warnings. The Obama's new policy is a plan of actions that we 
have been receiving from time to time as dictations regarding taking 
action against Taliban and Al Qaeda leaders." 
 
Opinion:  The Troop Surge, an op-ed by M. A. Niazi in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(12/04) 
 
". . . The Obama Administration has placed the time for withdrawal 
before the 2012 US presidential election, but still close enough for 
Obama to cash in on the votes of those who want the war ended. 
However, there are already commentaries which dilute the commitment 
to withdraw, and which claim that withdrawal will depend on success, 
not dates. This might be only a tactic to keep the Taliban 
off-balance, and deny them the success that a date would represent, 
but it will also mean that the Obama Administration has no intention 
of sticking to the date it has set if it means that it sees the 
troop surge as bringing success. . . There is still time, between 
this troop surge and the US admission that it has been defeated in 
Afghanistan, for a reversal of policy, and for the government to 
stop toeing the US line to the extent that Foreign Minister Shah 
Mahmood Qureshi did, by asking the USA to prolong its stay in the 
region." 
 
Editorial: Is U.S. Going To Follow In India's Footsteps?, an 
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (12/04) 
 
"Despite using its full military might during the last eight years, 
the U.S. could not conquer Afghanistan therefore the deployment of 
more troops would also fail to yield desired results. However, it 
would not be a far-fetched imagination to think that the U.S. could 
expand the war to Pakistan on the pretext of destroying Al Qaeda 
hideouts in our tribal areas. Such a possibility invites the serious 
and immediate attention of our political and military leadership to 
comprehend the real objectives of President Barack Obama's new 
Afghan policy." 
 
Opinion:  Obama's Two Generals, an op-ed by Cyril Almeida in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/04) 
"McChrystal's plan is the last chance saloon. If it fails, the 
Americans will only see a few very unsettling things in the region 
from afar: an unstable Afghanistan with the Afghan Taliban 
resurgent; a Pak-Afghan border that is the stamping ground of all 
kinds of militants, headlined by Al Qaeda, and the source of 
'reverse strategic depth' for penetration into Pakistan proper; and 
a nuclear-armed Pakistan beset by perennial political instability, 
racked by militant violence and paranoid about Indian designs in the 
region." 
Editorial: Barak Obama's Address: New Threats For Pakistan, an 
editorial in the Karachi-based right-wing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami Urdu 
daily "Jasarat" (cir. 3,000) (12/04) 
 
"Sooner or later it is the military top brass that has to make the 
policy in response to President Obama's new Afghan strategy. Besides 
a response from Pakistan civilian and military leadership, people of 
Pakistan needs to be united to counter the American designs against 
our country." 
Editorial: Pakistan Is Real Target Of New Afghan Policy, an 
editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 
10,000) (12/04) 
 
"The biggest shortcoming of President Barack Obama's much-awaited 
new Afghan policy is that it has been formulated without taking 
Pakistan on board. We must understand that sooner or later the U.S 
will leave Afghanistan, but Pakistan will have to live with these 
very Taliban. Therefore, is it better for us to revisit our policy 
of supporting Washington in the war on terror and remain impartial." 
 
 
News Story: 20 NATO States Commit More Troops "Daily Times" (12/04) 
"More than 20 countries plan to send more troops to Afghanistan 
following US President Barack Obama's increased commitment to the 
war, NATO said on Thursday, but the overall number falls short of US 
expectations. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said he 
expected US allies to provide at least 5,000 extra troops." 
News Story: UK Pledges $83m Aid: Gilani Urges 'Clarity' On US Afghan 
Strategy  "Daily Times" (12/04) 
"Pakistan wants "more clarity" on US President Barack Obama's new 
war strategy in Afghanistan, said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani 
on Thursday. Gilani said his government could not yet decide how and 
if it could implement Washington's new approach. 'We are studying 
that new policy. We need more clarity on it,' he said after talks in 
London with his British counterpart, Gordon Brown." 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: U.S. Surveillance Of Naval Hqs "The Nation" (12/04) 
 
"Much before the terror attack on the Naval Headquarters in E-9 
sector of Islamabad, the complex was being monitored by the US 
Embassy. The Nation has learnt that on November 18, a gentleman 
working for the US Embassy in Islamabad, (see photocopy of ID card) 
Mr. Abdul Ghafoor, was stopped by Naval police and intelligence 
personnel in the morning as he was suspiciously monitoring the 
entry/exit of Zafar gate (at Zafar Chowk) and doing reconnaissance 
work of naval installations." 
 
News Story: A.Q. Khan On Hot List Of Blackwater "The Nation" 
(12/04) 
 
"Immediately after 9/11 the then, U.S. President Bush issued a 
lethal finding' giving CIA the go-ahead to kill or capture Al-Qaeda 
members. To implement the order CIA put together a small team of 
agents whose job was three fold: find, fix and finish. . . The hit 
list included name of Pakistan's nuclear hero Dr. A.Q. Khan reported 
U.S. magazine Vanity Fair. 
 
News Story: 20 Killed In Rawalpindi Mosque Blasts, Firing - "The 
News Web Edition" (12/04) 
 
"Twenty persons have been killed and many injured in Parade Lanes 
mosque suicide attacks, firing and blasts in Rawalpindi. DG ISPR has 
confirmed the reports of blasts and firing around the mosque. 
According to reports, at least six to seven gunmen entered into 
Parade Lanes mosque located near Qasim market. They threw hand 
grenades initially followed by indiscriminate firing. Security 
forces officials opened retaliatory fire." 
 
News Story: Pak Fears It May Pay Price Of U.S. Afghan Surge "The 
Nation" (12/04) 
 
"President Barack Obama's troop surge in Afghanistan has sparked 
fears in Pakistan it will lead to more US drone attacks and military 
involvement in its border areas, possibly further destabilizing 
Washington's ally. Many analysts and security officials fear an 
emboldened Afghan Taliban could then capitalize on Obama's plans to 
start withdrawing troops in 18 months by waiting it out in Pakistan, 
which already faces militants on its own soil." 
 
News Story: Two Taliban 'Commanders' Among 20 Killed  "Dawn" 
(12/04) 
 
"Two Taliban 'commanders' were among 20 militants killed in clashes 
and air strikes in Swat and Orakzai Agency on Thursday. In Swat, 13 
insurgents were killed in clashes with security forces on 
Thursday." 
 
News Story: 7 Militants Killed, Three Hurt In Fata Operations "Dawn" 
(12/04) 
 
"Seven militants were killed and three injured while 20 others 
arrested during operations by security forces in different parts of 
the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and NWFP on Thursday. 
Official sources said that seven militants including an important 
local commander surrendered to security forces in Maidan area of 
Lower Dir." 
 
News Story: Al Qaeda Will Try To Provoke India-Pakistan War: Gates - 
"Dawn" (12/04) 
 
"US Defence Secretary Robert Gates warned on Thursday that Al Qaeda 
would try to provoke a war between India and Pakistan with the aim 
to destabilizing Pakistan and gaining access to its nuclear 
arsenal." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: Pakistan Says Has Proof Of Indian Involvement   "Dawn" 
(12/04) 
 
"Pakistan reiterated on Thursday that India was behind terrorist 
activities in Balochistan and Federally Administered Tribal Areas. 
Commenting on reports that Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. 
Krishna had denied any Indian interference in Pakistan, Foreign 
Office spokesman Abdul Basit said: 'India cannot deny its 
involvement in Balochistan and Fata because Pakistan does have 
evidence to this effect.'" 
 
News Story: Pakistan Has No Proof Against India: Krishna  "Daily 
Times" (12/04) 
 
"The Indian external affairs minister on Thursday rejected 
Pakistan's claims of having information regarding New Delhi 
fomenting the insurgency in Balochistan, saying Islamabad had no 
evidence against India." 
 
Editorial: Engaging India, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/04) 
 
". . . Talking to Pakistan is in India's own interest. The fight 
against militancy is best fought together, not at daggers drawn. 
Pakistan's enemies are India's enemies. If India does indeed pull 
back troops from Kashmir, as Home Minister P. Chidamabaram told 
parliament, it could send a signal that justice may be delivered in 
due course. . ." 
 
Editorial: "Partial Withdrawal (Of Indian Troops From Occupied 
Kashmir) Is No Substitute To Right Of Self-Determination," an 
editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, often 
sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (12/04) 
 
"It seems that the timing of the New Delhi's announcement to 
withdraw its forces from the occupied Kashmir with the unveiling of 
the new Afghan policy of U.S. President Barack Obama is another 
Indian attempt to befool the world by diverting attention from 
atrocities being committed in the held valley. The international 
community, especially the United States, must take immediate notice 
of the situation keeping in view the security of Pakistan. It is 
also imperative for our government to make it clear to the 
international community that real objectives of the war on terror 
would remain elusive if immediate steps are not taken to pre-empt 
the evil designs of India." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
Opinion: Anne Patterson's Blackwater-Gate" an op-ed by Fasi Zaka in 
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/04) 
"I wonder if Anne Patterson is using the Bill Clinton defense, when 
he tried to wiggle out of confessing to an extra-marital affair by 
claiming that oral acts do not cover that definition. Is she denying 
Blackwater (which technically doesn't exist anymore), by evading 
responses on Xe? If that is the case, it is disingenuous and 
untrustworthy. Blackwater changed its name to Xe (which is short for 
Xenon, an inert element) to appear harmless in the wake of bad press 
around the world. Maybe they should have changed their name to 
Hydro, which would not refer to a neutral, water-like substance but 
hydrogen, the most inflammable of elements." 
News Story: What was Nicole doing in Torkham?  "The Nation" (12/04) 
 
"An American lady, arrested on Tuesday (December 1) while being 
illegally present in Khyber Agency has been found to have no 
passport or proper visa on her. The Political Agent, Khyber Agency, 
Mr Wazir, when contacted by TheNation, confirmed these facts and 
revealed that the lady, Ms Nicole Tung, hailing originally from 
Hongkong claimed she was an American national working for the 
American government. This was corroborated by the personnel of the 
US Consulate, when they visited the Political Agent's office to get 
her released. According to an eye witness account, the US diplomats 
became abusive and started threatening the officials when the 
Political Agent informed them that she had been handed over to the 
Special Branch where a specially constituted Joint Investigation 
Team was interrogating her." 
 
News Story: Female Commandos Deployed In Islamabad  "The News" 
(12/04) 
 
"The federal police on Thursday deployed contingents of female 
commandos at important places, keeping in view the volatile law and 
order situation in the capital. The commandos are fully trained and 
capable of tackling any untoward situation. Islamabad SSP Tahir Alam 
Khan has made the deployment along with the police force on the 
directives of Islamabad Inspector General of Police Syed Kaleem 
Imam, said a press release. The commandos would be deployed at 
universities, colleges, shopping centres and bus terminals to check 
the movement of suspicious women." 
 
News Story: U.S. Donates School Supplies to Bajaur Agency "The News" 
(12/04) 
 
"Schools in Bajaur Agency will be better equipped to accommodate 
students returning from IDP camps with today's donation by the U.S. 
government of approximately $70,000 worth of school furniture and 
supplies." (Story also covered in "Jang," "Islam," "Aaj Kal," 
"Al-Akhbar,") 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
 
Patterson