VZCZCXRO1248
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #2459/01 3431101
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091101Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8833
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RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4406
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002459 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: NUCLEAR ISSUES, AFGHANISTAN- 
PAKISTAN, COPENHAGEN; NEW DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
-------------- 
NUCLEAR ISSUES 
-------------- 
 
¶1. "DEAL OF EQUALITY," editorial in December 8 right- 
of-center Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "The India-Russia 
nuclear deal further strengthens the close relations 
between the two nations, while uncertainty still looms 
over the implementation of the U.S.-India nuclear 
initiative. The pact with Russia is trustworthy, and 
could soon be operationalized. Unlike the U.S., Russia 
will also give reprocessing technology and rights to 
India. Above all, it is a pact between two equals!" 
 
¶2. "BEYOND AMERICA," editorial in December 9 right-of- 
center Urdu daily, HINDUSTAN EXPRESS: "The historic 
nuclear agreement with Russia is far ahead of the 123 
civil nuclear agreement signed between India and the 
United States. One of the most important points of the 
Russian agreement is that reprocessing and fuel supply 
will not be interrupted even if India conducts nuclear 
tests." 
 
¶3. "INDO-RUSSIAN AGREEMENT," editorial in December 9 
right-of-center Urdu daily SIASAT: "India-Russia 
relations, on a decline of late, have picked up with 
the signing of the historic nuclear agreement. PM 
Manmohan Singh has even stated that our new 
relationships will never be at the cost of our time- 
tested relationship with Russia. There was much 
opposition to the U.S.-India nuclear deal, but none on 
the deal with Russia because it is an agreement on an 
equal basis." 
 
-------------------- 
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN 
-------------------- 
 
¶4. "OBAMA'S NEW STRATEGY TO CURB TERRORISM," op-ed in 
December 8 Hindi daily, RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "Although 
President Obama's Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy 
received a lukewarm response, it is an important plan 
to fight the world's biggest challenge -- terrorism. A 
surge in U.S. and NATO troops will weaken the Taliban 
and step up the pressure on terrorists worldwide. But 
the root of the problem is Pakistan. The U.S. strategy 
heavily depends on cooperation of Pakistan and its 
intelligence agency ISI. This is the biggest loophole 
in the policy. India should send it best wishes to 
President Obama. After all, the Af-Pak strategy is in 
our interest." 
 
¶5. "OBAMA'S AFGHAN GAMBLE," op-ed in December 9 
centrist Gujarati daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "One fails to 
comprehend whether the U.S. will succeed in flushing 
out the Taliban in another 18 months, a task that it 
 
NEW DELHI 00002459  002 OF 002 
 
 
has been involved in since past eight years.  The new 
Af-Pak strategy might also boomerang on Pakistan as the 
terrorists may spill over to Pakistan. The Afghan army 
is still not adequately equipped. Only time will tell 
if Obama's Af-Pak gamble will pay off." 
 
---------- 
COPENHAGEN 
---------- 
 
¶6. "FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY TOMORROW," editorial in 
December 9 right-of-center Gujarati daily, MUMBAI 
SAMACHAR: "While the Copenhagen summit on climate 
change will discuss and decide on measures to curb the 
global warming, the pertinent question is:  who will 
make the first move?  The answer is every one of us 
needs to pitch in. A country with a billion plus 
population like India can make a huge difference. Let 
India set an example and become a role model by 
adopting eco-friendly measures." 
 
¶7. "UPHILL TASK AT COPENHAGEN," op-ed in December 9 
centrist Marathi daily, Maharashtra Times: "What would 
happen if under the pretext of saving the environment 
the developed countries start impeding the progress of 
the developing countries? It is feared that that is 
what the U.S. and Europe may be out to do in 
Copenhagen. Many countries, including the US, imposed 
sanctions on India after its nuclear test, but we did 
not give in. We have not crumbled to pressure from the 
U.S. on issues like the CTBT. We have proved that if we 
stay firm, the world will relent." 
ROEMER