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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002987 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: DECEMBER 14, 2009 
 
Summary:  Matters involving the troubled U.S. - Pakistan 
relationship dominated the headlines in most media this weekend, 
with many different stories converging around the theme of 
relentless U.S. pressure on Pakistan -- and the trend continues 
Monday morning.  News that Congress passed the 1.5 billion dollar 
aid package for Pakistan received relatively limited coverage. 
Rather, front pages dramatized President Obama's call for Pakistan 
to "do more" against al Qaeda in a CBS interview.  The headlines 
coincided with reports that a drone strike killed a top al Qaeda 
operative and al Qaeda's statement that it is not behind Pakistan 
attacks.  The Frontier Post anticipated that upcoming visits by 
Admiral Mullen and General Petraeus would push Pakistan to "do 
more," extending drone attacks to Balochistan.  Monday headlines 
carried General Petraeus' call for Pakistan to increase pressure on 
the Afghan Taliban.  Reports covered Secretary Clinton's remarks in 
New York that the U.S. is Pakistan's "partner, not patron", helping 
Pakistan to counter extremists in "new and vigorous" ways, along 
with Ambassador Holbrooke's assertion that the U.S. is coordinating 
the Afghan troop surge with Pakistan.  Several newspapers covered 
Defense Secretary Gates' praise for the Pakistani military in 
forcing al Qaeda out of South Waziristan and back to Afghanistan. 
Despite these affirmations, newspapers widely reported Brig General 
Michael Linnington's citing "lack of coordination" on U.S troop 
repositioning on the Afghanistan - Pakistan border "unfortunate." 
Ambassador Patterson's meeting with President Zardari received 
wildly speculative and inaccurate coverage.  The Post reported that 
in the meeting, Zardari asked the U.S. to respect [Pakistani] laws. 
These reports came in the midst of extensive coverage of suspected 
Blackwater activities.  While some papers reported the CIA cancelled 
its Blackwater contract, the New York Times story affirming 
Blackwater involvement in CIA operations was also highlighted.  The 
harassment of US Mission vehicles in Lahore continued to make news, 
often run side-by-side with Blackwater stories.  Against a 
background of fictitious stories proliferating around the 
incarceration in Sargodha of alleged American Jihadis, headlines 
like The Nation's, "Americans continue mocking Pakistani law," are 
gaining traction. End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Obama Repeats 'Do More Mantra' "Dawn" (12/13) 
 
"U.S. President Barack Obama has said there are people in 
Afghanistan who want Americans to stay there forever, but the 
American people are against such an open-ended commitment. In an 
interview to CBS to be broadcast on Saturday night (Sunday in 
Pakistan), Mr. Obama also described FATA as the epicenter of violent 
extremism and urged Pakistan to do more to uproot Al Qaeda from the 
tribal belt." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Must Pressurize Afghan Taliban: Petraeus "Dawn" 
(12/14) 
 
"Pakistan needs to put pressure on the leadership of the Afghan 
Taliban operating inside its borders for long-term progress to be 
made in Afghanistan, General David Petraeus said on Sunday. '(To 
make) the really significant progress in Afghanistan that will be 
necessary over time... it would be very helpful if additional 
pressure could be put (by Pakistan) on the leadership of the 
elements that are causing problems in Afghanistan,' the head of the 
U.S. Central Command told reporters on the sidelines of the sixth 
Manama Dialogue security conference." (Story also covered in all 
newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Helping Pakistan In New, Vigorous Ways: Hillary 
"Dawn" (12/14) 
 
"Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the United States 
is supporting Pakistan in 'new and vigorous' ways to ensure that it 
wins the war against extremists. In an interview to Al Jazeera 
television, Secretary Clinton insisted that the wars against 
extremists in both Afghanistan and Pakistan were interconnected." 
(Story also covered in all newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Coordinating Troop Surge With Pakistan: Holbrooke 
"Daily Times" (12/13) 
 
"The US is working aggressively with Pakistan to prevent a spillover 
effect of an American troop surge in Afghanistan, US special envoy 
Richard Holbrooke has said. According to a Bloomberg report, 
Holbrooke also said that while pressure on Al Qaeda had intensified 
under U.S. President Barack Obama, the capture or killing of Osama 
Bin Laden should not be a 'single factor' in fighting terrorism." 
 
News Story: Gilani Calls For Pak-U.S. Coordinated Strategy "Dawn" 
(12/14) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said in Multan on Sunday that 
Pakistan and the United States needed to adopt a coordinated 
strategy to win the war against terrorists. Talking to reporters at 
the airport, he said the U.S. had consulted Pakistan while 
formulating its new Afghan strategy." (Story also covered in all 
newspapers) 
 
News Story: U.S. Congress Approves Spending Bill "Dawn" (12/14) 
 
"The U.S. Congress on Sunday sent President Barack Obama a giant 
spending bill that includes annual foreign aid packages, mild 
sanctions aimed at Iran, and money for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The 
Senate by a vote of 57 to 35 approved the legislation, which now 
will go to Mr. Obama for his expected signature. The package, which 
had already cleared the House of Representatives, includes $447 
billion in annual expenses, plus more than $600 billion in health 
care expenditures." 
 
News Story: U.S. Aid Package To Focus On Water, Power Projects 
"Daily Times" (12/14) 
 
"Power and water projects would be an early priority for nearly $1.5 
billion a year in new U.S. non-military aid for Pakistan, which was 
to be passed by the Senate on Sunday, senior U.S. officials said.... 
Congress has pushed for strict safeguards for the money and the 
State Department is due to file a report on Monday to key committees 
on Capitol Hill, outlining how the aid will be spent and detailing 
controls to curb wastage." 
 
News Story: No Blackwater In Pakistan, Insists Malik "The Nation" 
(12/14) 
 
"Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday again maintained 
that Blackwater is not operating in Pakistan rather it is active in 
Afghanistan and Iraq only, while talking to journalists in 
Gujranwala." 
 
News Story: Row Between Interior Ministry, U.S. Embassy "The Nation" 
(12/14) 
 
"Interior Ministry and the U.S. Embassy are at the loggerheads over 
use of non-registered vehicles with different number plates by the 
Embassy. Well-placed sources told 'The Nation' on Sunday that a 
serious row has erupted between the Interior Ministry and the U.S. 
Embassy after the Lahore incident on Saturday in which Lahore Police 
had impounded a non-registered vehicle which the U.S. Embassy 
claimed was its property." 
 
News Story: 17 Top Officials Supporting U.S. Interests In NWFP  "The 
Nation" (12/14) 
 
"Seventeen officials serving in NWFP on various important posts are 
active members of the notorious American Khyber Club (AKC) that is 
believed to be a hotbed of conspiracies against Pakistan, highly 
placed sources informed 'The Nation' on Sunday. These officials are 
facilitating American diplomats, operatives of CIA and mercenaries 
of Blackwater in their activities stretched across the province and 
FATA. In reciprocation, the local officials get full support in 
getting lucrative postings, transfers and getting away with 
inquiries, etc, sources disclosed and added they are taken care by 
Americans who have tones of money on their disposal." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Qaeda Operative Killed By U.S. Missile "Daily Times" 
(12/13) 
 
"A U.S. drone strike in FATA is believed to have killed a senior Al 
Qaeda leader responsible for plotting attacks beyond the 
Afghan-Pakistan region, a U.S. counterterrorism official said on 
Friday." 
 
News Story: U.S. Mounts Pressure On Govt. For Drone Attacks On 
Balochistan "The Frontier Post" (12/13) 
"United States has decided to mount pressure on Pakistani government 
to permit them for extending their drone strikes against alleged 
terrorists' hideouts in Balochistan province. The Frontier Post 
learned. Sources privy to the Ministry of Interior said that the top 
U.S. military command due to Pakistan by next week including Admiral 
Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff and General David 
Petraeus, chief of the U.S. Central Command would try to force 
government to grant the permission for the extension of drone 
attacks to Balochistan to reportedly target the suspected Al Qaeda 
and Taliban hideouts in the province in account of new U.S. Afghan 
policy." 
 
News Story: Al-Qaeda Fleeing SWA, Says Gates  "The News" (12/12) 
 
"U.S. intelligence shows militants linked to al-Qaeda and other 
groups have been fleeing South Waziristan in the face of a Pakistani 
military offensive, Defence Secretary Robert Gates told U.S. troops 
during a visit to Kirkuk, Iraq. on Friday.... Gates praised what he 
called 'significant military operations by Pakistan that have only 
increased in size and tempo' in recent months. 'The Pak forces are 
doing a good job of putting pressure on their side of the border and 
we are obviously going to do an even better job of putting pressure 
on the Afghan side of the border,' Gates said." 
 
News Story: Lack Of Coordination With Pakistan Unfortunate: U.S. 
General "The News" (12/13) 
 
"A senior U.S. military official Saturday termed lack of 
coordination with Pakistan army over 'repositioning' of its troops 
along the Pak-Afghan border 'unfortunate.' Brig General Michael 
Linnington, the chief planner at the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) 
Headquarters, Kabul, did acknowledge that 'three U.S. border posts 
were re-positioned for more effective coordination' in the recent 
past. 
 
News Story: Respect Laws, Says Asif "The Post" (12/13) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari has made it clear that the decision to 
deport arrested U.S. national terror suspects would be taken after 
completion of investigation, adding U.S. visitors in Pakistan should 
collaborate with Pakistani security departments for security 
reasons.  He said this during a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to 
Pakistan Anne W. Patterson in Islamabad at Awan-e-Sadr on Saturday." 
 
 
News Story: CIA Terminates Contract With Blackwater "Daily times" 
(12/13) 
 
"The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has cancelled a contract 
with a security company - formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide - 
that allowed the company to load bombs on CIA drones in Pakistan and 
Afghanistan, The New York Times reported on Friday." 
 
News Story: U.S. Unsure About Status Of Suspects Held In Sargodha 
"Dawn" (12/14) 
 
"The U.S. State Department seems reluctant to define the five 
American Muslims arrested in Pakistan even as suspects and says that 
questions about their possible return to the United States should be 
directed at their families as there are no charges against them so 
far. The department's spokesman Ian Kelly told a briefing in 
Washington that a U.S. consular officer recently visited the 
Americans detained in Pakistan, checked on their welfare, provided a 
list of attorneys, and offered to facilitate communication with 
their families.... But when the State Department official was asked 
to explain their position, he said: 'We confirm that all six of the 
detainees have U.S. citizenship.'" 
 
News Story: No Terror Charge Against Six U.S. Citizens Yet "Dawn" 
(12/14) 
 
"The question of extradition of the six U.S. nationals held in 
Sargodha on December 9 will only arise after Pakistani authorities 
manage to establish their alleged involvement in terror activities 
in the country, legal experts say." 
 
News Story: Troops Kills At Least 22 Militants In Kurram "Dawn" 
(12/14) 
 
"Troops killed at least 22 militants in Pakistan's Kurram tribal 
region, officials said on Sunday. Troops backed by artillery and 
fighter aircraft attacked militants in Kurram late on Saturday and 
on Sunday and destroyed 10 of their hideouts, administration 
officials and intelligence agents said." 
 
News Story: U.S. Exporting Terrorism To Pakistan: Marvi "Daily 
Times" (12/14) 
 
"Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) parliamentarian Marvi Memon on 
Sunday accused the U.S. of exporting terrorism to Pakistan. A 
statement issued by Memon said the U.S. had contradictory policies 
in the war against terror. 'There is major contradiction in the 
statements of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the 
transgression of U.S. citizens in Pakistan. If the U.S. does not 
wish to act as a patron, then it has no business exporting terrorism 
to Pakistan in the form of U.S. nationals recently caught in 
Pakistan planning terror attacks along with Al Qaeda,' she said. She 
demanded the government provide parliament with complete details of 
the 9,236 visas issued by Pakistan to U.S. nationals during the last 
four months." 
 
News Story: JI Blames Terrorism, chaos in Pakistan on U.S. "Daily 
Times" (12/14) 
 
"Floating the idea of a change in the Pakistani society, 
Jamaat-e-Islami's (JI) top leadership at a congregation of the 
Jamaat-e-Islami's workers unanimously blamed the United States' 
agencies for terrorism, chaos and anarchy in Pakistan, said JI's 
Chief Munawar Hassan at a one-day training congregation held at 
Nishtar Park, Karachi on Sunday." 
 
News Story: India Behind Terrorist Attacks, Says Qureshi "Dawn" 
(12/14) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Pakistan was 
not involved in Mumbai terror attacks. However, Islamabad has 
substantial evidence to prove India's involvement in terror 
activities in the country. In an interview with an Arab television, 
Mr. Qureshi said the international community supported Pakistan's 
stand that it was not involved in the Mumbai attacks." 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Widening Offensive, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/14) 
 
"The military's operations have been steadily widening to other 
agencies from South Waziristan. Actions against militants are 
ongoing or being planned in the following agencies: Kurram, Khyber, 
Bajaur, Mohmand, and in the Lower Dir area. This is an indication 
that the militants, to escape the military's onslaught, are 
dispersing to other agencies and carrying out attacks in those 
areas, partly to divert the main thrust of the military's offensive 
by forcing a dispersal of troops, partly to keep the impression of a 
live and active movement intact." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Demands To 'Do More', an editorial in the liberal 
Urdu daily "Express" (circ.25, 000) (12/14) 
 
"In an interview, President Obama has once again asked Pakistan to 
take more steps against Al Qaeda.... Let it be remembered that on 
Saturday, 2 U.S. Consulate vehicles with fake number plates were 
stopped for checking in Lahore. The persons in the vehicle refused 
to [let the vehicle be checked]. The government must find out what 
mysterious activities the Americans are engaged in, and what their 
objectives are. On the other hand, the Blackwater issue has 
resurfaced.... According to a British newspaper, Blackwater was 
hired to load missiles on the drones in Pakistan.... All these 
issues paint a very complicated scenario, which is causing concern 
among the Pakistanis. Circumstances demand that the government stop 
dubious activities [of the Americans] and also give an appropriate 
response to [U.S.] demands to do more." 
 
Editorial: Bridging Trust Deficit?, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (12/14) 
 
"For all the risks that Pakistan has taken and the sacrifices it has 
made in toeing the American line in the war on terror, it is hard to 
find any U.S. official uttering a word of unqualified praise for 
it.... One expected that the Obama Administration, having been 
actively involved in the region for so long, would by now have known 
the political as well as military limitations beyond which it would 
be difficult for Pakistan to go in pursuit of the war in FATA; yet 
the U.S. expects more help from us than what we are doing for it.... 
The Pakistan authorities must remain wary of further American 
demands like extending the military operation, involving Balochistan 
and southern Punjab, as well as the threat of the U.S. acting on its 
own, if Pakistan would not." 
 
Editorial: Vanishing Trick, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) 
 
 
"The government has for as long as anybody can remember denied the 
existence of the Quetta Shura (QS). Presidential spokesmen and 
government ministers are all on record to the effect that the QS is 
a figment of an overheated media imagination and the Americans. 
Conversely, the Americans appear never to have any doubt as to its 
existence and have recently hinted that unless Pakistan addressed 
the problem of the QS then Uncle Sam may decide to address it 
himself - an option we would prefer he did not take up. Enter our 
esteemed Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar appearing on a private TV 
channel last Friday. Tapping the table with his magic wand to get 
our attention he announced that the QS is no longer a threat to 
Pakistan as our security forces have 'significantly damaged it.'... 
All levity aside, the institutionalized denial of manifest realities 
does no more than make us look like fools rather than magicians, and 
yet those who lead and govern us are unable to understand this 
simple fact." 
 
Editorial: A Clandestine Affair,  an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (12/14) 
 
"The whole Blackwater affair is proving to be quite intriguing, 
especially for Pakistan. Every other day, vehicles bearing 
foreigners (read Americans) are being stopped at check-posts, yet 
they refuse to let the security forces search the cars. Despite the 
fact that these foreigners have diplomatic immunity, their 
uncooperative attitude with the law enforcement agencies has led to 
a lot of speculation. Even if we concede that there is nothing worth 
searching for in these vehicles, considering the amount of suspicion 
against the U.S. it would be advisable that the Americans do not 
make such a hue and cry when stopped at security check-posts. 
Instead, they should let themselves be searched to silence their 
critics. By pressuring the government to let the Americans go 
scot-free after violations of security arrangements, the U.S. itself 
is eroding its stance on Pakistan being a sovereign country. This 
weakens the alliance in the war against terrorism. The very presence 
of Americans anywhere can act as an open invitation to terrorist 
attacks. This poses a serious threat to Pakistan's security." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Must Respect Pak Laws, Sovereignty, an editorial in 
the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (12/14) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari during a meeting with Ambassador Anne 
Patterson has made it clear that the decision to deport U.S. 
nationals arrested in Sargodha for their terror related activities 
would be taken after completion of investigations.... In this 
perspective the President has done well by strongly raising the 
issue with Ambassador Patterson yet we are of the firm opinion that 
if the violation of our laws continues, he raises the matter with 
President Obama. Side by side the political leadership, civil 
society and media should also join hands against this unethical 
practice of violating Pakistani laws and oppose it forcefully. At 
the same time it would be advisable for the United States to listen 
Pakistan's view point, respect its laws and sovereignty and give up 
the attitude of a colonial power if it wants to work as a partner in 
the war on terror." 
 
Editorial: Dubious Activities Of American Diplomats, an editorial in 
the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (12/14) 
 
"In his meeting with U.S. Ambassador Patterson, the other day, 
President Zardari has said that the foreign diplomats should abide 
by the law of the land. According to reliable sources, the U.S. 
diplomatic facilities in Pakistan have become strongholds of the 
Blackwater agents. Despite the repeated denials of our rulers, the 
American media has exposed the covert links of the CIA with this 
infamous security agency. We think that it is high time that the 
government take some visible and effective steps to counter the 
anti-Pakistan activities of the foreign powers." 
 
Editorial: Mysterious Activities Of American Nationals In The Garb 
Of Diplomats; Interior Minister's Logic, And Demands Of National 
Interest, an editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (12/14) 
 
"According to a report in the New York Times, Blackwater personnel 
are deputed at the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, which has also 
been confirmed by CIA Director Leon Panetta.... Any American or any 
other foreigner should not be allowed to indulge in any activity 
that harms our national interests or integrity. Strict action in 
accordance with national and international laws must be taken 
against any Americans involved in such activities and they must be 
deported immediately." 
 
Editorial: Admission Of Blackwater Activities, an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (12/14) 
 
"According to a New York Times report, CIA has cancelled a contract 
with Blackwater Worldwide security agency, under which it had been 
deputed to load bombs on drones for attacks in Pakistan and 
Afghanistan. The surprising aspect of this issue is that up until 
yesterday, the U.S. government was constantly denying that 
Blackwater Worldwide was carrying out war operations in Pakistan.... 
This revelation by the New York Times also shows that private 
companies using mercenaries are operating on some Pakistani bases 
along with U.S. army. In recent days, some vehicles were spotted in 
Lahore and Islamabad whose movements were suspect. These vehicles 
also had tinted glass. The vehicle [occupants] resisted when asked 
to stop by the police, but were later on released at U.S. diplomats' 
request. Such mysterious activities and reports are a cause of 
extreme concern for the Pakistani nation.  The government must 
direct the parliamentary committee on security to immediately inform 
the nation of the real situation." 
 
Editorial: Violation Of Pakistani Laws: Government Should Take 
Notice, an editorial note an editorial in the Lahore-based populist 
center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (12/14) 
 
"A few days ago, when U.S. personnel were stopped [in Lahore] they 
were filming some sensitive areas. Would these diplomats not have 
been blamed directly if a tragedy had taken place in that area? 
There is a need to determine the limits of U.S. diplomats.... It is 
extremely condemnable that American personnel threatened the police 
that they would fire if they were stopped again or tried to be 
checked.... According to Geneva Conventions, diplomats have to obey 
the laws of the host country. Hence, the Americans' statement that 
they are not bound by Pakistani laws is wrong. They are bound to 
abide by Pakistani laws, as well as to cooperate with the local 
administration." 
 
Editorial: Porous Indeed, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) 
 
"The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan is almost invariably 
described as 'porous' - as in allowing a constant flow of people, 
goods, contraband and arms to pass between the two. There is a 
difference between having a border which is porous and leaving a gap 
in your border through which anybody and anything may freely pass, 
yet this is what appears to have been the case at the Torkham 
crossing.... It is beyond comprehension that this has been allowed 
to continue as it has for as long as it has. No doubt money has 
changed hands to ensure this laissez faire continued and no doubt we 
as a populace have suffered, and suffered terribly, as a result of 
this misguided and dangerous policy of free movement. Let us hope 
that our common border is from today a little less porous." 
 
Editorial: Operation Against Terrorists: Take Parliament On Board 
Once Again, an editorial in the leading mass circulation populist, 
often sensational Urdu daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (12/14) 
 
"It goes without saying that extremists are hell-bent to impose 
their agenda upon the whole of Pakistan; that is why they have sped 
up their terrorist activities in response to the military operation 
in tribal areas. But everybody knows that the militancy cannot be 
uprooted through military means alone, and the government must also 
address the causes which give rise to this menace. We think that the 
rulers must take the elected Parliament on board in order to 
formulate a broad-based strategy to eliminate terrorism from the 
country." 
Opinion: New U.S. Strategy And Pakistan's Response, an op-ed by 
Munir Akram in the populist, often sensational national English 
daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (12/14) 
 
"There are good reasons to conclude that the 'new' U.S. strategy for 
Afghanistan and Pakistan announced by President Obama on 1 December 
will fail. But it could have serious consequences for Pakistan and 
the region.... From Pakistan's perspective, it would be unwise to 
agree to a blanket escalation of military and police action 
simultaneously against all Taliban and militant groups. Pakistan's 
priority must be to finish the job of putting down the anti-Pakistan 
TTP militants. Pakistan must also display determined opposition to 
wider, unilateral U.S. air strikes on its territory and insist on 
joint control of all strikes against jointly determined Al Qaeda 
targets." 
 
Opinion: Anti-Americanism, an op-ed by Talat Masood in the populist, 
often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) 
(12/14) 
 
"Anti-Americanism continues to rise unabated in Pakistan. It is not 
confined to fringe elements alone but is spreading in the 
mainstream. A few recently retired military officers and politicians 
have gone as far as accusing U.S. for abetting and supporting acts 
of terror that have engulfed the country.... Cynicism and dislike 
for America has reached a point of no return among a certain class 
in Pakistan, and from their point of view nothing that U.S. does can 
possibly be good for the country. And they cling to the mantra, 
despite repeated assurances, that Washington's interest only lies in 
taking out our nuclear assets.... Any major power, when it adopts a 
security or foreign policy, always weighs the flip side of 
everything. If Washington were to destabilize Pakistan as a 
deliberate policy, then the ensuing chaos will create a vacuum that 
would surely be filled by the Taliban and Jihadi forces, posing a 
far greater danger to the U.S., India and the rest of the world. It 
would be absurd for the U.S. to simultaneously fight the militants, 
be it the Taliban or Al Qaeda, and support them." 
 
Opinion: U.S. Withdrawal And Thereafter!, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal 
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (12/14) 
 
"America is lucky to have Pakistan as a suitable partner for 
developing Afghanistan. This arrangement will be acceptable to the 
common Afghan as well. Undoubtedly, Pakistan will be able to carry 
on these development tasks even after the departure of Americans. 
What the Americans need to do is open up their coffers, and be rest 
assured that the investment is worth it. If a composite plan for 
rebuilding Afghanistan starts concurrently with the military surge, 
a bulk of outlined tasks can be completed prior to total withdrawal 
of the U.S./NATO forces, which President Obama will be under 
pressure to complete before kicking off his re-election campaign." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson