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SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 15, 2010 
 
Summary: Coverage of a drone strike that killed several militants in 
South Waziristan dominated front pages this morning. Several 
newspapers reported rumors that Chief of Tahrik-i-Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) Hakimullah Mehsud may be among those killed in the attack, 
simultaneously carrying the TTP's statement that Mehsud is "alive, 
safe and traveling."  Prime Minister Gilani's address to the 
National Assembly was also featured in today's headlines.  The Prime 
Minister condemned new U.S. screening measures as "humiliating and 
against [Pakistan's] self respect," and stated that the U.S. cannot 
win in Afghanistan without Pakistan's support.  Dailies also 
highlighted the Prime Minister's call for the U.S. to end drone 
strikes and increase trade opportunities for Pakistan.  Media also 
reported opposition leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali's statement that "no 
official delegation from Pakistan should visit the U.S. unless 
screening goes."   U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke's Pakistan visit 
continued to garner media coverage for the second consecutive day. 
His trip to Swat valley and meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General 
Kayani were highlighted in nearly all major dailies, and his praise 
 
for the people of Swat and the Pakistan Army received extensive 
coverage. "Dawn" reported that, "according to a senior Finance 
Ministry official," delays in Kerry-Lugar disbursements are caused 
by "lack of coordination between U.S. administration officials." 
Newspapers also reported Defense Minister Mukhtar's statement that 
American forces used several bases in Pakistan for overt and covert 
operations inside Afghanistan, but that the U.S. has now vacated all 
airbases including Shamsi Airbase in Balochistan. Senator Carl 
Levin's comments that Pakistani leaders privately back drone strikes 
while publicly denouncing them continued to receive coverage. Urdu 
daily, "Express," carried the U.S. Embassy's clarification that the 
"U.S. is not pressuring Pakistan to abandon the Iran gas pipeline 
project."  The day's editorials echoed several themes raised in 
Prime Minister Gilani's address to the National Assembly: respect 
for Pakistan ("Nisar's Passion, Gilani's Pragmatism, Nation's 
Disappointment" in "The News"); U.S. assistance and Pakistani 
sovereignty ("Friends, Masters, and Bullies" in "The Daily Times"); 
and Pakistan's role in the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan ("The 'Do 
More' Mantra" in "The Business Recorder").  Continuing the 
condemnation of U.S. screening measures, Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" 
published a paranoid description of the security procedures in an 
editorial entitled "U.S. Leader Richard Holbrooke's Lie."  End 
Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Hakimullah Safe, Say Taliban: U.S. Drone Targets TTP 
Chief - "Dawn" (01/15) 
 
"A U.S. drone attacked a militants' hideout near the Afghan border 
in South Waziristan on Thursday, killing 12 people and wounding 
eight others. The pre-dawn attack in Shaktoi area triggered rumors 
that Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of the banned Tahrik-i-Taliban 
Pakistan, had been killed. But TTP spokesman Azam Tariq dismissed 
the reports as 'baseless.'... Anwer Iqbal adds from Washington: 
Official U.S. sources refused to confirm or deny reports that 
Hakimullah had been killed in the attack. "We don't know," said an 
official when asked about the reports. AFP adds: Visiting U.S. envoy 
for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke told reporters that 
he could not comment on reports of Hakimullah's death." 
 
News Story: PM Links U.S. Afghan Success To Pak Support; Gilani To 
Take Up U.S. Screening Of Pakistani Nationals At Diplomatic Level - 
"The News" (01/15) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has made it clear to the United 
States that Islamabad is no mood to accept screening of its citizens 
at American airports. 'The matter will be taken up at the diplomatic 
level to seek reversal of this decision, as we will not compromise 
on the country's self-respect, dignity, integrity and sovereignty,' 
he declared in the National Assembly while responding to the points 
raised by the opposition leader Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan.... The 
Prime Minister said the United Stated cannot win the war in 
Afghanistan without Pakistan's cooperation and it is well aware of 
this fact." 
 
News Story: No Official Delegation Should Visit U.S. Until New 
Screening Laws Withdrawn  - "Daily Times" (01/15) 
 
"No official delegation from Pakistan should visit the U.S. until 
the Obama administration withdraws Pakistan's name from a list of 14 
countries, whose citizens are subjected to full-body searches at 
U.S. airports, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, leader of the Opposition in 
the National Assembly, said on Thursday." 
 
News Story: Holbrooke Happy With Successes In Swat  - "The News" 
(01/15) 
 
"The United States Special Envoy to Pakistan and Afghanistan, 
Richard Holbrooke, on Thursday visited Swat and expressed 
satisfaction over the achievements made by the Pakistan Army in the 
operation Rah-e-Raast in the Malakand Division. Talking to local 
Nazims and a delegation of hotels association, he said his 
government would not leave Pakistan alone at this critical juncture 
and would help in the reconstruction of the area and rehabilitation 
of the victims of militancy. The U.S. envoy said the U.S. government 
had provided $175 million for rehabilitation and reconstruction of 
the damaged infrastructure, especially the schools and roads." 
 
News Story: U.S. Used Pakistan Airbases For Afghan Operations - 
"Dawn," "Daily Times" (01/15) 
 
"Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar conceded on Thursday that 
several bases in Pakistan had been used by American forces for overt 
and covert operations inside Afghanistan, but claimed that all 
airbases, including the Shamsi airbase in Balochistan, had been 
completely vacated by the U.S. Answering questions in the Senate, he 
also admitted that the bases had been used by U.S. drones. 'No U.S. 
planes were now flying from Shamsi, Jacobabad and Pasni,' the 
Minister said." 
 
News Story: Lack Of Coordination Delaying Kerry-Lugar Funds  - 
"Dawn" (01/15) 
 
"Lack of coordination among the authorities concerned in Pakistan 
and the United States is delaying the disbursement of funds under 
the Kerry Lugar Law (KLL). Although the law was passed by the U.S. 
Senate on Sept 24, progress on implementation has been slow, sources 
in the finance ministry told 'Dawn.'... According to a senior 
Finance Ministry official, the main hurdle for the approval of 
projects was lack of coordination between U.S. administration 
officials. 'Robin Raphael, David Lipton and Richard Holbrooke have 
different approaches about allocation of funds,' the officials said. 
Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, 
supports the idea of executing all projects through the NGO sector 
in Pakistan." 
 
News Story: Pak Urged To Acknowledge Role In Drone Strikes  - "Dawn" 
(01/15) 
 
"A senior U.S. senator urged Pakistan on Wednesday to publicly 
acknowledge its role in drone attacks but other experts said they 
did not see either Washington or Islamabad owning up the air 
strikes. In a conference call with reporters from Dubai, Senator 
Carl Levin scolded Pakistan's leaders for privately supporting U.S. 
drone strikes while publicly denouncing them. 'What troubles me is 
the public attack on these drone attacks,' he said. 'While at the 
same time they've privately obviously not told us that we must 
stop,' Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Kayani Briefs Holbrooke on Anti-Terror Fight - "Daily 
Times" (01/15) 
 
"U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard 
Holbrooke called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Ashfaq Parvez 
Kayani and discussed various issues of interest with him on 
Thursday. Sources said the COAS briefed him about the ongoing 
military campaign against terrorism and successful operation in Swat 
and South Waziristan." (Story not available online) 
 
News Story: Sherry Seeks NA Debate On U.S. Screening Rules  - "The 
News" (01/15) 
 
"Former Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Sherry 
Rehman on Thursday submitted an adjournment motion in the National 
Assembly Secretariat on the new screening regulations by the U.S. 
Transportation Security Administration. While submitting an 
adjournment motion on the subject for debate in the National 
Assembly, Ms. Sherry Rehman said that these regulations not only 
violated the fundamental human entitlements and the right to 
privacy, these would also cause discomfort to the U.S.-bound 
passengers." 
 
News Story: JI Tribal Jirga Dubs Af-Pak Policy 'War Declaration' - 
"Dawn" (01/15) 
 
"A tribal Jirga organized by the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in Lahore on 
Thursday rejected the new U.S. Pak-Afghan policy as "declaration of 
war and an aggression against the tribal people.' A declaration 
adopted at the Jirga said the U.S. after facing a clear defeat in 
Afghanistan, was targeting the tribal areas in revenge and the 
imprudent Pakistani rulers were a victim of a conspiracy to chop off 
this 'sword arm' of Pakistan only to please Washington." 
 
News Story: JuD Declares Suicide Bombings Un-Islamic - "The News" 
(01/15) 
 
"The Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) has declared suicide bombings un-Islamic 
and said those involved in killing of Muslims were playing in the 
hands of the U.S., India and Israel. 'Gun, grenade and suicide 
attack is no solution to any problem in Pakistan,' said JuD Central 
Vice-President Col (Retd) Nazir Ahmad Chaudhry while speaking at a 
news conference in Peshawar on Thursday." 
 
News Story: Blast Kills Up To 20 Civilians In South Afghan Bazaar - 
"The News" (01/15) 
 
"A suicide attack in a crowded bazaar killed as many as 20 civilians 
and wounded 13 more in Afghanistan's restive southern Uruzgan 
province on Thursday, government and army officials said." 
 
News Story: Banned Outfits Working At Foreign Quarter's Behest - 
"Daily Times" (01/15) 
 
"In his opening address to the National Assembly, Interior Minister 
Rehman Malik on Thursday described the recent spike in bombings as 
'war against Pakistan,' and said banned organizations - such as the 
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, the 
Jaish-e-Muhammad and Al Qaeda - are working against Pakistan at the 
behest of foreign quarters." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: U.S.-India Deal; Pakistan Not To Accept Restrictions: PM 
- "The News" (01/15) 
 
"Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Thursday ruled out U.S. win in 
Afghanistan without Pakistan's help and that U.S. attitude of 
imposing restrictions on Pakistan after striking a deal with India 
is unacceptable. He said this while addressing the National Assembly 
session in Islamabad. The Prime Minister admitted that despite 
60-year long relations with the U.S., trust deficit exists between 
the two countries." 
 
News Story: Diplomats Now Need Permission To Move Beyond Prescribed 
Limits - "Daily Times" (01/15) 
 
"The government - in light of the prevailing security situation - 
decided on Thursday that diplomats must obtain formal permission 
from the Interior Ministry, through the Foreign Affairs Ministry, 
for movement beyond the prescribed limits. The decision - which is 
in line with the Vienna Convention - was made at an Interior 
Ministry meeting to ensure appropriate security arrangements for 
diplomats. The high-level meeting - presided over by Interior 
Minister Rehman Malik - also decided that the use of vehicles by 
diplomats must be in line with the prescribed procedure." 
 
News Story: Zardari Reposes Trust In Sharifs - "Dawn" (01/15) 
 
"'Reconciliation' was the agenda as President Asif Ali Zardari gave 
his first audience to senior journalists in the city at a meeting on 
Thursday. 'I trust them even if they do not trust me,' he told the 
select gathering at the Governor's House, in reference to the 
Sharifs of Lahore who have of late been again heard accusing the 
president of breaking his promises." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
U.S. Embassy Rejects Report on alleged pressure to discard Iran gas 
pipeline project - "Express" (01/15) 
 
"The U.S. Mission in Islamabad has rejected a news story published 
in an English-language daily that in meetings with the Minister of 
Petroleum Wednesday, American officials threatened to end support 
for Pakistan's electricity projects and end assistance to facilitate 
the importation of liquefied natural gas (LNG) if Pakistan proceeds 
with a planned pipeline project with Iran. In a press release issued 
on Thursday, the embassy rejected the report as completely baseless, 
and untrue saying that, in fact, Mr. Holbrooke presided at a 
ceremony launching a $16.5 million project to upgrade the Tarbela 
Dam power plant." 
 
News Story: Work On Diamer-Bhasha Dam To Begin This Year - "Dawn" 
(01/15) 
 
"Federal Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf said on 
Thursday that work on Diamer-Bhasha dam would begin this year and 
the Asian Development Bank had given assurance of financing the 
project. Presiding over a meeting of ministerial committee on the 
project, he said the dam would open a new era of economic 
development and prosperity." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Americans To Hold Anti-Drone Sit-In Before CIA HQ - "The 
Nation" (01/15) 
 
"An American national and anti-war activist, Cindy Lee Miller 
Sheehan, has announced to stage a sit-in in front of CIA 
headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on January 16 to protest against 
the growing drone attacks in Pakistan. In an exclusive interview to 
'The Nation' from Texas, USA, on Thursday, Cindy Lee Miller said, 
'We strongly condemn the killings of our brothers and sisters in 
Pakistan and everywhere.'" 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Red Lines Of Little Value, an editorial in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/15) 
 
"While one would not doubt that Foreign Minister Qureshi discussed 
with U.S. Special Envoy Holbrooke some clear 'red lines' in the 
American-Pakistan relations, it is evident that his interlocutor 
treated them with little respect.... It should be obvious to the 
government that things would not change unless it puts its foot down 
to make the U.S. realize how the 'key ally' in the war on terror 
ought to be treated.... We must not be duped by the declaration of a 
billion dollar of help in the execution of energy projects; the quid 
pro quo should be simply unacceptable. It is to sacrifice the 
Iranian gas pipeline project, as reportedly Mr. Holbrooke demanded 
at the time of making the offer of assistance." 
 
Editorial: Holbrooke Accosted, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/15) 
 
 
"U.S. Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke seems to be having a torrid 
time in Pakistan. This comes as no surprise to us since reservations 
and even anti-U.S. feeling are growing throughout the country. The 
government, whatever its real views, seems also to feel the need to 
placate angry public opinion by taking a tougher stance against U.S. 
policies to visiting American dignitaries.... The issues that glue 
together the tenuous alliance between Pakistan and the U.S. are 
negated by the issues that divide them. The unstated difference that 
is the subtext of all diplomatic engagements between the two sides 
is the contradiction at the heart of Pakistan's policy of supporting 
the Afghan Taliban, or at the very least turning a blind eye to 
their activities from Pakistani soil, while initiating military 
campaigns to crush their Pakistani counterparts.... Both Washington 
and Islamabad need to address this invisible 'gulf' honestly if the 
alliance is to endure." 
 
Editorial: Ambassador Holbrooke's Rebuff To Foreign Minister 
Qureshi, an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily 
"Ausaf" (cir. 10,000) (01/15) 
 
"Responding to Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi's demand that 
the U.S. must repeal the enhanced screening procedure for Pakistani 
citizens at its airports, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke said that he 
himself undergoes this procedure, therefore Pakistanis cannot be 
exempted from these rule. But this flat refusal failed to constrain 
Mr. Qureshi to feel any qualms. Let aside the foreign minister, 
everybody knows how the U.S. responds to the statements of our 
president and prime minister in which they demand Washington to stop 
the drone attacks. Is it possible for the financial largesse and 
self-respect to go side by side?" 
 
Editorial: U.S. Leader Richard Holbrooke's Lie, an editorial in the 
second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(01/15) 
 
"There is a difference between screening and strip search.  The 
travelers coming to America from 14 countries including Pakistan are 
subjected to stripped inspection at American airports.  People 
coming from America tell that passengers from Pakistan are 
specifically stripped naked and made to sit in a special room for 
hours.  American inspectors come to the room after many hours to ask 
humiliating questions....  Holbrooke tried to be evasive by 
describing the humiliating strip search as screening; he in fact 
lied as per American tradition." 
 
Editorial: The 'Do More' Mantra, an editorial in the country's 
premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) 
(01/15) 
 
"Speaking to the CNN upon their return home from last week's visit 
to Pakistan, Senators Joe Lieberman and John McCain expressed 
satisfaction over Pakistan's commitment to the war against 
terrorists. Lieberman, who is also Chairman of the Senate Committee 
on Homeland Security, said that Pakistan is a full-partner in the 
war on terrorism. And that Pakistanis are beginning to understand 
the U.S. position that the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban are 
inter-linked; and to defeat one, it is also important to fight the 
other. As expected, the Senator did not merely show appreciation he 
also made the usual 'do more' demand. He was more circumspect, 
though, in making the demand as he said 'there's a possibility that 
we'll see some more movement in North Waziristan.'" 
 
Editorial: The Taliban, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(01/15) 
 
"Clearly, the Americans have extended some cooperation to Pakistan 
in the fight against the TTP: Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a drone 
strike, military equipment was rushed to Pakistan to aid its 
counter-insurgency operations over the last year and aerial 
surveillance has been shared. The problem though is the way the 
Americans and the Pakistani sides approach the Taliban problem: each 
is obsessed with only part of the Taliban 'spectrum' and looks at 
the rest as incidental to its concerns. But the distinctions are 
artificial and meaningless in many respects - there are only 
Taliban, and they need to be defeated." 
 
Editorial: Pakistan Is Not Ignoring Its Defense, an editorial in the 
Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily "Khabrain" (cir. 
50,000) (1/15) 
 
"While chairing a meeting of the National Command Authority, Prime 
Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani has said that Pakistan is a 
nuclear power. He added that there will be dangerous consequences if 
India engages in any adventurism.... The fact is that some powers 
are prodding India towards adventurism against Pakistan. India must 
act wisely and understand the ground reality.  Instead of being used 
by another power, India should hold its national interests 
paramount." 
 
Editorial: PM's Timely Warning To India: India Will Be Responsible 
For Devastation Caused By The Nuclear Bomb, an editorial in the 
second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(01/15) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that India should not go 
for an adventure with Pakistan, for it would be dangerous for 
India....  Prime Minister Gilani has rightly made it clear to India 
that any adventure with nuclear Pakistan could prove to be very 
costly for India." 
 
Editorial: Pakistan's Timely Warning To India, an editorial in the 
center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (01/15) 
 
"Pakistan has rightly made clear Pakistan's strategy for peace in 
comparison to India's war mongering.  Now we have to see what help 
our war on terror 'companion' America offers to Pakistan and how 
does it stop India from nurturing war ambitions." 
 
Opinion: Nisar's Passion, Gilani's Pragmatism, Nation's 
Disappointment, an op-ed by Mohammad Malick in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/15) 
 
"It was a good suggestion by Nisar that for starters unless U.S. 
reviewed this decision all parliamentary visits to United States 
should be stopped. A similar view was also expressed by Senator 
Mushahid and MNA Ahsan Iqbal on Tuesday eve in Geo's weekly program 
'Kehnay may kya hurj hai' (there is no harm in saying this).... In 
his latest visit, a somewhat sincere sounding Ambassador Holbrooke 
was repeatedly heard asking people about the causes of growing 
American unpopularity despite all that America was doing in this 
area. The answer is misleadingly simple actually and one also 
spelled out later by the Prime Minister when he advised the 
Americans to concentrate on giving more respect to the people and 
the country, instead of relying on the factor of increasing 
financial assistance." 
 
Opinion: Friends, Masters And Bullies, an op-ed by Zafar Hilaly in 
the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (01/15) 
 
"Friend, master or bully, Pakistan's establishment is ever welcoming 
of U.S. assistance. This suits our psyche. We have always sought to 
gratify our desires with the least exertion. This accounts somewhat 
for our lack of success economically.... Hence, today our dependence 
on the U.S. assistance is well nigh total. Military assistance, the 
Kerry Lugar handout, U.S.-solicited help in the form of IMF bailouts 
and access to the U.S. market and - at the US's urging - that of the 
EU, is what is keeping Pakistan's economy afloat.... Nor does the US 
influence stop at the economy. In our internal affairs too the U.S. 
has primacy. Holbrooke assumed as much when he said last week that 
if necessary, the U.S. would be happy to play a role in bringing 
about better understanding between rival political forces within the 
country. And it takes only a cursory knowledge of our political 
set-up to realize that all major parties - including the armed 
forces, which are the largest political party in the country - are 
decisively swayed by American desires.... Obama is far too busy 
trying to prove that he is not a wimp to act as a statesman. 
However, had Pakistan spelt out the terms for its cooperation, a 
great deal of the political pressure on the government not to toe 
the disastrous U.S. policy of continuing to expand the war would 
have abated.... Instead, our lack of a coherent policy suggests that 
given sufficient American pressure Pakistan will assuredly relent; 
and that whatever we may say about U.S. incursions into Pak 
territory, we are malleable. All of this bodes ill for the future 
and, worse, confuses the public what precisely is the government's 
position." 
 
Opinion: Peace, But Only With Honor, an op-ed by M.A. Niazi in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/15) 
 
"The peace moves have to be seen in the context of an overwhelming 
U.S. desire to end disputes between the two countries on any basis 
that would satisfy India, which is supposed to be the United States' 
main counterweight to China in the region. The U.S. does not grasp 
that the Indian establishment wants to achieve the freedom of action 
that is supposed to come with great-power status, and does not want 
the U.S. tutelage beyond a certain point. Be that as it may, the 
U.S. wants Pakistan to settle its disputes with India, on Indian 
terms if necessary.... However, if it rubberstamps an unjust 
solution cobbled together in New Delhi and approved in Washington, 
with no input from Muzaffarabad or Srinagar, it will not solve the 
problem, but merely provide the grounds for another grievance." 
 
Opinion: Obama's Rhetoric And Reality, an op-ed by Aijaz Zaka Syed 
in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (01/15) 
 
"America's wars and empire project seem to be expanding under its 
Nobel laureate president. While Iraq and Afghanistan are still 
burning and Pakistan is hurtling down the precipice, the hawks at 
Pentagon and Capitol Hill are sharpening their claws for Yemen and 
Somalia.... Unfortunately, what's happening today in Iraq, 
Afghanistan and Pakistan and the rest of the Muslim world is 
happening on Obama's watch. He may not like it but it's past time he 
took responsibility for America's policies and actions. We cannot go 
on blaming everything on Bush, especially when he isn't around. Will 
this ever change? As Obama completes one year in White House next 
week, it is time for him to think long and hard where the U.S. and 
the world are headed under his leadership. However, it's still not 
over yet. He can still take charge of his administration and free it 
from the oppressive legacy he's inherited. Obama can still lead the 
world to the dawn of hope and peace that he once promised us." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson