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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002939 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 07, 2009 
 
Summary: U.S. Defense Secretary Gates' statement that "U.S. would 
not pursue Taliban leaders in Pakistan" dominated headlines in Urdu 
language newspapers on Monday.  However, English language dailies 
highlighted his acknowledgment that "U.S. lost track of Usama years 
ago."  Several major dailies quoted U.S. National Security Advisor 
Jones as saying that the "U.S. will launch a new effort to capture 
or kill Usama Bin Laden."  "The Nation" front-paged a report that 
"U.S. experts will impart counter-terror training to NWFP Police." 
The Sunday editions of several dailies ran the U.S. Embassy's 
statement condemning the terror attack in Rawalpindi on 
Friday.Interior Minister Malik's remarks that "drone attacks in FATA 
are fueling militancy in the country" were also displayed 
prominently. Terming the drone attacks "beneficial for Pakistan's 
sovereignty," "Daily Times," noted that "they are successful in 
knocking out militants who pose a danger to Pakistan's security." 
All newspapers reported remarks of India's Minister of State for 
External Affairs Tharoor that "Pakistan's nuclear weapons are safe." 
 All TV networks reported a bomb explosion in Peshawar on Monday 
afternoon that killed five people and wounded twenty.  End Summary. 
 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: We Won't Pursue Taliban Leaders In Pakistan: Gates: 
Troop Surge To Force Taliban To Talks: U.S. "Daily Times" (12/07) 
 
"President Barack Obama's decision to bolster the U.S. military 
presence in Afghanistan is aimed in part at bringing the Taliban to 
the negotiating table on U.S. terms, Defence Secretary Robert Gates 
said on Sunday. Gates also said the U.S. would not pursue Taliban 
leaders in Pakistan and that it was up to Islamabad to address the 
threat posed by the terrorists to its territory." (Story also 
covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Lost Track Of Osama Years Ago: Gates "Dawn" (12/07) 
 
 
"U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said on Sunday that the United 
States had had no information about Osama bin Laden in years and 
still did not know where he was hiding. In an interview to ABC News 
on Sunday, Mr. Gates said he could not confirm reports this week 
that a detainee might have seen Bin Laden in Afghanistan earlier 
this year." (Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. To Launch New Effort To Capture Osama: Jones "Daily 
Times" (12/07) 
 
"The U.S. will launch a new effort to capture or kill Osama Bin 
Laden, who is believed to be hiding along the mountainous borders of 
Afghanistan and Pakistan, U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones 
said on Sunday. Asked in an interview if the administration planned 
a fresh attempt to go after Al Qaeda's leader, Jones said, 'I think 
so.'" 
 
News Story: U.S. To Train Cops For Counter-Terror "The Nation" 
(12/07) 
 
"NWFP Police have acquired a big tract for establishment of the 
country's biggest police training centre where American experts 
would impart training to police staff ranging from constables to 
DSPs. Advanced anti-terrorist training course is said to be the area 
is which foreigners have demonstrated extra interest." 
 
News Story: U.S. Condemns Mosque Attack In Rawalpindi "Daily Times," 
"The Nation," "Pakistan Observer," "Express," "Khabrain," 
"Pakistan," "Ausaf," "Jinnah" (12/06) 
 
"The U.S. on Saturday condemned Friday's deadly attack on a mosque 
in Rawalpindi, saying it highlighted the need for Washington to 
support Islamabad in fighting a 'common' enemy. 'These attacks 
highlight the vicious and inhuman nature of this enemy whose true 
target is the democratically elected government of Pakistan and the 
security of all Pakistanis,' State Department spokesman Ian Kelly 
told reporters." 
 
News Story: Drones Fuelling Militancy: Malik "The Nation" (12/07) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said that all Ulema will 
be consulted in the ongoing war on terror and that the U.S. drone 
attacks in FATA are fuelling militancy in the country." (Story also 
covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: Pakistani Nukes Safe, Says Indian Minister "Dawn" 12/07) 
 
 
"Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said 
on Sunday that Pakistan's nuclear weapons were safe. 'We do not have 
first-hand information on that. Certainly, those who are very close 
to Pakistan seem to be convinced that there is nothing to be worried 
about,' he told the CNN-IBN TV channel. (Story also covered in all 
newspapers) 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Five Killed In Suicide Attack In Peshawar "Dawn" (12/07) 
 
 
"Five people have been killed on Monday (today) in a suicide attack 
which took place near the Sessions Court in Peshawar, according to 
SSP Operations, Karim Khan. Twenty people were also injured in the 
attack." 
 
News Story: Mosque Attack Reflects Threat To Pakistan: U.S. "Dawn" 
(12/07) 
 
"Senior U.S. officials and lawmakers warned on Sunday that the 
attack on the Parade Lane mosque in Rawalpindi last week indicated 
that the insurgents were trying to destabilize the Pakistani state. 
'They just blew up a mosque in Rawalpindi, which is frequently (sic) 
by members of the military,' U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
told an American television channel on Sunday." 
 
News Story: Musharraf Alone Took Decision To Let U.S. Use Airports 
"Dawn" (12/07) 
 
"The decision to allow US forces to use Pakistani airports and other 
facilities for operations against Taliban in Afghanistan was taken 
by former president Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf unilaterally 
without taking Corps Commanders into confidence. This has been 
revealed by former Chief of General Staff and Corps Commander Lt. 
Gen. (Retd) Shahid Aziz in an interview with 'Dawn.'" 
 
News Story: 17 Taliban Killed In Military Operation "Daily Times" 
(12/07) 
 
"Security forces on Sunday killed at least 17 terrorists at Dangram 
Garasa area in Mingora and apprehended several others in operations 
against the terrorists, official sources told 'Daily Times.'" 
 
News Story: Commander Among Five Militants Killed In Swat "The News" 
(12/07) 
 
"Five militants, including local commander Gul Maula, were killed in 
a clash with security forces in the Dangram area in the suburbs of 
Mingora city while six suspects were arrested elsewhere in the 
district on Sunday, sources said." (Story also covered in all 
newspapers) 
 
News Story: 366 Killed In 7 Attacks Targeting Mosques in '09 "The 
News" (12/07) 
 
"At least 366 innocent Pakistanis have been killed and 901 injured 
in the first 11 months of the year 2009 in seven bloody attacks on 
mosques across Pakistan, targeting the worshippers with suicide 
bombers and explosive-laden vehicles." 
 
News Story: Jamaat Leader Says U.S., India Behind Terror Acts 'The 
News" (12/07) 
 
"Vowing to observe December 14-16 as black days, Jamaat-e-Islami 
leader Liaqat Baloch Sunday blamed the pro-U.S. polices behind the 
growing incidents of terrorism in the country. 'There are proofs 
(sic) of U.S. and Indian involvements in terrors activities in the 
country but the rulers are bent on killing their own countrymen,' he 
told reporters after speaking at a convention of the party in 
Mansehra." 
 
News Story: 2 Foreigners Held In Khyber "The News" (12/07) 
 
"Official sources said the law enforcement agencies arrested two 
foreigners, identified as Mrs. Nicol Tin, an American woman, and 
Mithas Otnum, a Swiss national, while crossing the Torkham border 
illegally on Sunday." 
 
News Story: "NATO Oil Tanker Attacked "The Nation" (12/07) 
 
"An oil tanker, supplying fuel to NATO and U.S. forces in 
Afghanistan, was attacked in Mastung district (Quetta) on Sunday. 
However, the attacked reportedly caused no loss of life and damage 
to the vehicle. The assailants managed to escape from the scene 
after firing." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: U.S. Embassy Again Causes Chaos For Locals "The Nation" 
(12/07) 
 
"As the U.S. Embassy's security related project is nearing 
completion stage, vehicular traffic on a portion of the Kashmir 
Highway passing yards away from the Embassy and outside the 
diplomatic enclave, has come to a grinding halt causing great 
inconvenience to local travelers.... Well-placed sources told 'The 
Nation' on Sunday that this has been done on the pressure of the 
U.S. Embassy which was working day and night to complete its 
expansion program envisaging a huge security related project over 28 
acres of land, which may also include an airfield. Sources further 
said that the project was nearing its completion, with security 
related equipment shipped to Karachi for onward journey to Islamabad 
under the security of U.S. private security company DynCorp, which 
was providing dedicated logistic services in its handling and 
transportation to the Embassy." 
 
News Story: U.S. Seeking Way Out Of Afghanistan "The Nation" 
(12/07) 
 
"America's new Afghan policy is more realistic and opposite than 
that of Bush administration. Perhaps the US has realized that defeat 
is its destiny and now it seeks way out to flee from Afghanistan 
after facing results of war. These views were expressed by former 
Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz, former Secretary Foreign Affairs, 
former Ambassador Iqbal Ahmed Khan and former Ambassador Javed 
Hussain while addressing a program 'American's New Afghan Policy and 
its impact on Pakistan' arranged by 'The Nation,' 'Nawa-i-Waqt' and 
'Waqt TV' at the Hamid Nizami Hall in Lahore on Sunday. The speakers 
said that the U.S. wanted face saving and we must offer them the 
opportunity in this regard instead of insisting it to stay in 
Afghanistan." 
 
News Story: Karzai Urges U.S. To Back Talks With Taliban "The News" 
(12/07) 
 
"Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged the U.S. on Sunday to back 
talks with Taliban leader Mullah Omar, saying there was an "urgent 
need" for a negotiated approach to the conflict. "Alone, we can't do 
it," Karzai said in an interview with the CNN. Karzai acknowledged 
that there was no support from his U.S. partners for the talks with 
Mullah Omar, but reaffirmed his longstanding view that it would be 
useful to engage the Taliban leader in negotiations." 
 
News Story: 9,236 U.S. Nationals Issued Pakistani Visas Over 4 
Months "Daily Times" (12/07) 
 
"The Pakistani mission in Washington and consulates in the U.S. 
issued visas to 9,236 American nationals - including 234 from the 
U.S. armed forces and 628 U. S. diplomats - over the four months 
from July to October, according to a report, prepared by the Foreign 
Ministry and of which is available with 'Daily Times.'" 
 
News Story: Action Against Terrorism: India Asks Russia To Influence 
Pakistan's Policy "Dawn" (12/07) 
 
"Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked Russia to use its 
influence with Pakistan to rein in terror groups it says are 
operating from across the border against New Delhi. In remarks 
released before his departure on Sunday for Moscow for a bilateral 
meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Dr. Singh told 
Russian journalists." 
 
Editorial: Drone Attacks In Balochistan, an editorial in the 
Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (12/07) 
 
"Whenever there is a drone attack inside the country, everyone 
starts talking about how Pakistan's sovereignty has been violated. 
It must be pointed out that Pakistan has already surrendered its 
sovereignty in many ways throughout its history. Starting from the 
Cold War when we helped the U.S. counter communism, we have remained 
a dependent country. Our economic as well as military funding is 
dependent on the goodwill of the sole superpower. As for drone 
attacks, some time ago, a Google Earth image of the Shamsi airbase 
in Balochistan was uncovered. It showed that the U.S. was secretly 
flying unmanned drones from there. Though both the Americans and the 
Pakistanis have denied that Washington ever used Pakistani bases for 
drone attacks, the image - which was later removed - clearly 
demonstrated that the U.S. was operating a drone base from Pakistan 
itself. The hue and cry about sovereignty is just for public 
consumption. The Americans could not have built a drone base on 
Pakistani soil without the knowledge of those in power. The drone 
attacks cannot be carried out from within the country without the 
complicity of the authorities.... If truth be told, these drone 
attacks are beneficial for Pakistan's sovereignty as they are 
successful in knocking out militants who pose a danger to Pakistan's 
security.... The drone attacks are a necessary evil, but a word of 
caution to the Americans may be in order." 
 
Editorial: Mind The Gap, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/07) 
 
"America and the western coalition in Afghanistan has just presided 
over one of the most corrupt elections in the history of democratic 
process; and kept in power a man long-past his sell-by date and 
hostage to the deeply conflicted tribal forces that bind him. The 
entire country is mired in corruption and if anybody believes that 
30,000 troops are going to do anything transformative to 
Afghanistan, they need to think again. The failure to create the 
space in which the peace may be won is going to widen the gap into 
which we will find ourselves dragged." 
 
Editorial: Resolution Needed To Face Difficult Situation, an 
editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" (cir. 
10,000) (12/07) 
 
"The New Afghan strategy of President Barack Obama implies that the 
U.S. wants to turn Pakistan into a battlefield in order to cover up 
the shame of its humiliating defeat in Afghanistan.  Top American 
officials issue threatening statements, almost daily, aimed at 
exerting pressure on Pakistan to toe the U.S. line.  All countries 
in the region would have to suffer irreparably if they do not get 
united to foil Washington's nefarious design." 
 
Editorial: Determination to Live And Die For Islam And Pakistan, an 
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (12/07) 
 
"Recent reports suggest that not only the insurgents in our tribal 
areas, but also external powers and their security agencies, are 
targeting our armed forces after labeling them as the sponsors of 
terrorism. These attacks on our top security personnel provide 
sufficient evidence regarding the extent of our enemies' meddling in 
our internal affairs." 
 
Editorial: General's Resolve To Live And Die For Pakistan, an 
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (12/07) 
 
"Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani's statement that 
Pakistan is a fortress of Islam and we will live and die for Islam 
is a slap on the face of those who are trying to make Pakistan a 
secular state at the U.S. behest....  Pakistan Army has gained 
success in Swat and Waziristan, but it cannot entangle itself in 
this war to fulfill anti-Pakistan elements designs.  The Pakistan 
Army has done its duty by paying heavy costs in GHQ, Parade Lane and 
other incidents....  Despite all this neither America nor government 
allies are happy....  Pak Army is facing U.S. pressure and 
protecting Pakistan's ideological identity, which is actually the 
job of the elected government....  Pakistan Army should be brought 
to the eastern border and given the task to liberate Kashmir." 
 
Editorial: Nuclear Responsibility, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (12/07) 
 
"Now after the statement of James Jones, who is an important person 
in the U.S. administration, the negative propaganda against Pakistan 
nuclear installations should come to a stop. Pakistan has the right 
to obtain and pursue its nuclear capability for generating power and 
other peaceful purposes. The very idea of tinkering with the control 
of Pakistan's nukes is fraught with dangers. Instead of bringing 
peace, it would lead to trouble on multiple fronts, not the least of 
which is the front against the terrorist menace. The so-called 
'nuclear club' must abandon its ambitions of stopping other states 
from acquiring nuclear weapons, while keeping their own nuclear 
arsenals intact. If there is to be nuclear disarmament, it should be 
undertaken across the board and with full consent of all nuclear 
states." 
 
Opinion: Perils of Obama's Surge, an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in 
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/07) 
 
"President Barack Obama's much awaited speech announced a military 
strategy to turn the tide in Afghanistan, but no political plan. The 
absence - thus far - of a political approach to underpin the 
military effort makes the new strategy defective. Military 
escalation in Afghanistan and the expansion of aerial strikes in 
Pakistan is fraught with great danger for this country, which is 
already confronted with mounting security challenges - a 
consequence, not a cause, of the prolonged strife in Afghanistan.... 
It is therefore imperative for Islamabad to seek to minimize the 
negative fallout and try to persuade the U.S. to modify its strategy 
to accommodate Pakistan's concerns.... He can make good on his 
rhetoric of seeking a partnership based on "mutual respect" by 
listening to Pakistan. Unless this indispensable partner's doubts 
and misgivings about the new strategy are allayed and Washington is 
prepared to adapt its policy accordingly, the relationship will run 
into more problems and tensions. Cooperation has to be predicated 
not just on common objectives but the strategy and tactics needed to 
achieve them." 
 
Opinion: Employing The Surge Gainfully, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(12/07) 
 
"Pakistan has an important role to play in the outcome of surge 
operations. Hence, there is a need to firm up our priorities and 
have them incorporated at the operational level to generate 
requisite synergy. It is through intricate and elaborate real-time 
sharing of intelligence info that NATO/ISAF and the armed forces of 
Pakistan can act in their respective areas of jurisdiction.... 
Conjointly with American participation, Pakistan is better placed to 
carry on performing this noble role even after the withdrawal of 
occupation forces. Therefore, the culture of blaming Pakistan for 
NATO and ISAF inadequacies must come to a close, while the 'do more' 
mantra needs to be replaced with 'let's do more.'" 
 
Opinion: New U.S. Strategy In Afghanistan, an op-ed by Bassam Javed 
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (12/07) 
 
"Finally, the much-awaited Afghan strategy was unfurled by President 
Obama in a speech delivered at the United States Military Academy on 
1st December 2009.... The speech left Pakistan with many 
apprehensions. Islamabad seeks to discuss the hidden implications of 
some elements of the speech. One thing is certain that with the 
induction of more troops and their deployment in the Pashtun 
dominated areas of Qandahar, Helmand etc. the Taliban would enter 
Pakistan and add to the instability factor of Pakistan's tribal 
areas and Balochistan. The induction implies that given a timetable 
of 18 months, there will be strong military actions to achieve the 
aim in minimum possible time." 
 
Opinion: New Strategy: Obama's Afghan Endgame, an op-ed by Gen. 
Mirza Aslam Beg in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily 
"Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (12/07) 
 
"If winning the war was so vital for the sake of American interests, 
then 30,000 were not enough. At least 300,000 troops were needed to 
gain a favorable balance of power against the resistance, which 
according to CIA reports, is organized as Shadow Army, with 
seventeen divisions under command, each division having a number of 
Lashkars.... Thus the resistance has grown into a formidable force - 
a die-hard, committed force - fighting for freedom, against the 
occupation forces, who have no ideological commitment as such.... 
The surge of 30,000 troops in Afghanistan poses no threat to 
Pakistan, because these troops will be lost in the rocky wilderness 
of Afghanistan. The real threat is the consistent blame on Pakistan, 
by Obama, Manmohan Singh and Gordon Brown, for protecting Al-Qaeda 
safe havens, in our tribal areas, and the threat to strike such safe 
havens. The Government of Pakistan must tell them in very strong 
terms, that there are no safe havens on the Pakistani soil, and if 
they dare take action, they themselves will be responsible for the 
consequences. If the government of Pakistan does not pick-up the 
courage to say so, let the armed forces of Pakistan, serve such a 
warning. And that warning must be served now. Soviets suffered about 
15000 dead. The American deaths have yet not reached the figure of 
¶900. Soviets called their exit as 'our bleeding wound.' For the 
Americans the situation is not that bad, yet they cannot win the 
war." 
 
Opinion: Obama Too Blows Hot & Cold, an op-ed by M. Ashraf Mirza in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (12/07) 
 
"Obama wants to 'finish the job in Afghanistan,' but deployment of 
additional troops present totally different indications. Increase in 
the induction of more troops rather raises doubts and misgivings 
about his intentions. It's, in fact, proven that oil is Washington's 
major weakness irrespective of Bush or Obama administrations. U.S. 
has its eyes on the Central Asia's oil and, therefore, it's there 
'for a long haul.'" 
 
Opinion: Inconvenient Truths, an op-ed by Ikram Sehgal in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (12/07) 
 
"Taking cognizance of the requirement for more boots on the ground 
as recommended by his commander in Afghanistan, U.S. President Obama 
commissioned an exhaustive review of the situation. He has now given 
the go-ahead for a 'surge' of 30,000 more U.S. troops.... One agrees 
with the 'surge,' and though its success will create more problems 
for Pakistan, if it brings the Taliban to the table maybe a peace 
can be worked out that includes all the stakeholders in Afghanistan, 
and satisfies their supporters in Pakistan. Pakistan should be ready 
to bear more pain in the foreseeable future, the question is, even 
though the U.S. is ready to reciprocate, can our leadership stand up 
and ask for enough in return as compensation?" 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson