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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000176 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 23-25, 2010 
 
Summary:  Coverage of a suspected U.S. drone crash in Miranshah on 
Sunday and reports that, across the North Waziristan Agency, the 
Taliban killed seven people suspected of spying for the U.S. made 
front page headlines on Monday morning.  Newspapers highlighted 
reports Osama Bin Laden's claim of responsibility for the 12/25 
failed attack on a U.S.-bound plane.  Dailies also carried reports 
that "Al Qaeda-trained female bombers may attack in the West." 
Prime Minister Gilani's statement that a clash of institutions is 
"wishful thinking" also received front page coverage.  Newspapers 
reported that Interior Minister Malik denied the existence of 
Blackwater in Pakistan, and reiterated his "commitment to resign if 
any such agency will be found working in the country."  U.S. Defense 
Secretary Gates' recent visit continued to garner attention both in 
print and electronic media over the weekend.  Headlines included: 
"U.S. (is) not seeking Pakistan nukes, bases control" (The News); 
"Al Qaeda (is) in no mood to quit region," (Dawn); "Gates strives to 
build trust with Pakistan military," (Daily Times). The controversy 
over the presence of the Blackwater generated from remarks 
attributed to Mr. Gates continued over the weekend.  "Dawn" 
front-paged a report that the "U.S. Embassy tried to paper over 
Defense Secretary Gates' diplomatic faux pas of confirming 
Blackwater presence in Pakistan by putting the blame on the media." 
Media also reported State Department spokesman Crowley comments that 
"the U.S. continues to have a 'significant dialogue' with India, 
Pakistan and Afghanistan on how to stabilize the region and defeat 
and deter extremists."  In an exclusive interview, "The News" quoted 
National Security Council spokesman Hammer's statement that the 
"U.S. is interested in providing material that helps out Pakistan to 
carry out its war against Al Qaeda."  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Gates Faux Pas Opens The Door To Criticism - "Dawn" 
(01/24) 
 
"The U.S. Embassy on Saturday tried to paper over Defence Secretary 
Robert Gates's diplomatic faux pas of confirming Blackwater presence 
in Pakistan by putting the blame on the media, but it found few 
takers. Secretary Gates's impromptu comments in a television 
interview have renewed the focus on seething rage among Pakistanis 
about the involvement of private U.S. security companies, 
particularly Blackwater, in the country. The Embassy, in a statement 
on Secretary Gates's remarks, accused the television station and 
newspapers of inaccurate and dishonest reporting." 
 
News Story: Distrust Of U.S. Dogged Gates During Pak Visit - "Dawn" 
(01/24) 
 
"U.S. Defense Secretary Roberts Gates has urged Pakistani leaders to 
go after the extremists who threaten both Pakistan and the United 
States, says a senior White House official. U.S. National Security 
Council spokesman Mike Hammer told a briefing at Washington's 
Foreign Press Centre on Friday afternoon that the Obama 
administration was looking forward to further deepening its 
partnership with Pakistan and Mr. Gates's visit was linked to those 
efforts." 
 
News Story: War On Terror - "The News" (01/24) 
 
"Michael Hammer, spokesman for the United States National Security 
Council (NSC), has said the U.S. was interested in providing 
material that helps Pakistan to carry out its war against al-Qaeda. 
In an exclusive interview with Geo News and The News/Jang, here on 
Friday afternoon, Michael Hammer was answering a question on 
provision of the drone technology to Pakistan. Hammer said U.S. 
Secretary Defense Robert Gates had already spoken on this issue the 
other day in Pakistan but it was very important to recognize that 
the U.S. was interested in supplying such material to Pakistan." 
 
News Story: Drone Crashes In North Waziristan - "Dawn" (01/25) 
 
"A U.S. drone crashed in Hamzoni area of North Waziristan on Sunday 
evening, but local tribesmen claimed to have shot down the pilotless 
aircraft.... Pakistan Army rejected similar claims after a drone 
crashed in South Waziristan in 2008, saying it was a technical 
problem." 
 
News Story: Taliban Claim Shooting Down U.S. Drone In NWA - "The 
News" (01/25) 
 
"Taliban in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) on Sunday claimed to have 
shot down a U.S. drone in Hamzoni village near Miramshah and got 
hold of its wreckage." 
 
News Story: Seven 'U.S. Spies' Killed In North Waziristan - "Dawn" 
(01/25) 
 
"Taliban have shot dead seven people in North Waziristan after 
accusing them of being U.S. spies. Officials said in Miramshah on 
Sunday that five of the people killed were Afghans." 
 
News Story: Usama Claims Attempt To Attack U.S. Plane  - "Dawn" 
(01/25) 
 
"Usama bin Laden claimed responsibility for the December 25 failed 
bombing of a U.S.-bound plane and promised more attacks on the 
United States, in an audio tape Al Jazeera said on Sunday was of the 
Al Qaeda leader. Usama, speaking days ahead of major international 
meetings on how to deal with militancy in Afghanistan and Yemen, 
said the attempt to blow up the plane as it neared Detroit was a 
continuation of Al Qaeda's policy since Sept 11, 2001 attacks." 
 
News Story: Al Qaeda-Trained Female Bombers May Attack West - "Daily 
Times" (01/25) 
 
"Women with "non-Arab" appearances and travelling on Western 
passports might have been trained as suicide attackers to carry out 
terror attacks in the West, The Telegraph said in a report on 
Sunday." 
 
News Story: Substantial Drone Technology Given To Pakistan: Malik - 
"The News" (01/25) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has again denied the existence of 
Blackwater in Pakistan, reiterating his commitment to resign if any 
such agency will be found working in the country. Talking to media 
persons outside the Governor's House on Sunday, the Interior 
Minister said neither any U.S. security agency was working in the 
country nor any such agency would be allowed to work in future, 
adding U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates had also endorsed the 
fact but his statement was distorted." 
 
News Story: Gates' Visit Fails To Remove Irritants In U.S.-Pakistan 
Ties - "Dawn" (01/25) 
 
"U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates' visit to Pakistan was an 
important friendly gesture but it did not lead to the removal of the 
irritants that continue to mar relations between military 
establishments of the two allied nations, diplomatic sources told 
'Dawn.'" 
 
News Story: Petraeus Wants Partnership With Pakistan - "The News" 
(01/25) 
 
"Pakistan is taking on militants effectively and the U.S. must show 
that it is going to be a steadfast partner of the key South Asian 
country that Washington abandoned in the past, Gen. David Petraeus, 
chief of the Central Command, said. 'Our task, which Secretary 
(Robert) Gates reaffirmed during his visit, has to be to show that 
we are going to be a steadfast partner; that we are not going to do 
to that country what we have done twice before, which is to provide 
a substantial amount of assistance - in some cases, create issues 
and challenges that they have to deal with in the future, like 
Mujahideen, and then leave precipitously and leave them with those 
problems,' he told a Washington think tank, the Centre for Strategic 
and International Studies." 
 
News Story: 3,000 Bulletproof Jackets Held At Karachi Port - "The 
News," "Mashriq" (01/25) 
 
"About 3,000 bulletproof jackets imported by U.S. Embassy have been 
stopped at the Karachi Port due to fear of slipping these things 
into wrong hands, sources said on Sunday. Well-placed sources told 
the NNI that these jackets had been lying in the port for a month 
due to non-clearance from security agencies. The sources said these 
jackets were held at the port after growing suspected activities of 
the U.S. nationals and import of bulletproof vehicles into the 
country." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: U.S. Not Seeking Control Of Pak Nukes, Bases: Gates - 
"The News" (01/23) 
 
"U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on Friday said the United 
States was seeking no military bases and had no desire to control 
Pakistan's nuclear weapons. 'Let me say definitively that the United 
States does not covet a single inch of the Pakistani soil. We seek 
no military bases here and we have no desire to control Pakistan's 
nuclear weapons,' Gates said while addressing at the National 
University of Defense (NUD) in Islamabad." 
 
News Story: Gates Strives To Build Trust With Pakistan Military - 
"Daily Times" (01/23) 
 
"U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday sought to build 
bridges with the next generation of Pakistan's military leaders and 
end a 'trust deficit' he said had hampered cooperation against 
militancy. Addressing military officials at the National Defense 
University, Islamabad, Gates said distrust between the allies had 
been compounded by an organized propaganda campaign orchestrated by 
their common enemy." 
 
News Story: U.S. To Boost Civilian Presence In Pakistan, Afghanistan 
- "Daily Times" (01/23) 
 
"The United States will maintain a civilian presence in Pakistan and 
Afghanistan for a long time, even after American combat troops leave 
the region, a State Department report said on Thursday. 'While our 
combat mission in Afghanistan is not open-ended, we will remain 
politically, diplomatically and economically engaged in Afghanistan 
and Pakistan for the long-term to protect our enduring interests in 
the region,' Reuters quoted the report as saying." 
 
News Story: U.S., U.K. Seek To Integrate Taliban Into Mainstream  - 
"Dawn" (01/23) 
 
"The United States on Friday announced plans to reintegrate Taliban 
fighters into the political mainstream in Afghanistan, with the 
process envisaged to achieve success by July 2011. 'Our new strategy 
recognizes the political dimensions of the conflict and that only 
the Afghan people can secure their own country,' said U.S. Secretary 
of State Hillary Clinton while outlining the new strategy." 
 
News Story: Malik Insists No Blackwater In Pakistan - "The News" 
(01/24) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik has, once again, ruled out the 
presence of Blackwater in Pakistan. He was talking to media persons 
after handing over scanners to the Federal Capital Police at a 
ceremony held at the Sports Complex on Saturday. The minister said: 
'I state again with full responsibility and in the perspective of 
available record that there is no Blackwater in the country,' adding 
that a hype was being created by his political opponents. Malik 
challenged those claiming the presence of Blackwater to prove it 
through documents." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Reaching Out To Afghan Taliban, Says FO  - 
"Dawn" (01/24) 
 
"Pakistan is reaching out to "all levels" of the Afghan Taliban in a 
bid to encourage reconciliation in its war-torn neighbor, the 
foreign ministry said on Saturday. U.S. President Barack Obama has 
said a political solution is needed to stabilize Afghanistan and 
emphasized that success would not be possible without the support of 
Pakistan." 
 
News Story: Pentagon Wants South Asian Balance Of Power  - "Daily 
Times" (01/24) 
 
"U.S. military officials have said the Pentagon was being careful 
not to alter the balance of power in South Asia while providing F-16 
fighter jets to Pakistan, the LA Times said in a report on Saturday. 
'Another squadron of F-16s means they [Pakistan] will lose the next 
war with India a little slower,"' a U.S. military official in 
Islamabad told the paper on condition of anonymity." 
 
News Story: Gen. Kayani To Attend NATO Meeting - "Dawn" (01/24) 
 
"Chief of the Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani will leave for 
Brussels on Monday to attend the NATO's Chiefs of defence staff 
meeting, informed sources said." 
News Story: Paramilitary Man Held For WFP Suicide Bombing  - "Dawn" 
(01/24) 
 
"Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday that a paramilitary 
soldier had been arrested for his alleged involvement in the October 
5 suicide attack on the UN food agency's office in Islamabad that 
killed five of its staffers. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan had 
claimed responsibility for targeting the World Food Program, saying 
the agency's work was not in 'the interest of Muslims.'" 
 
News Story: CIA May Step Up Drone Attacks: NYT  - "The Nation" 
(01/24) 
 
"The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency is likely to step up its drone 
strikes in Pakistan in reaction to Pakistan Army's stand not to open 
any new front against militants in the coming months, The New York 
Times reported Saturday." 
 
News Story: Blackwater-Trained Officials Providing Security To PM? - 
"The News" (01/25) 
 
"Security officials, mostly women, trained by the notorious U.S. 
security company Blackwater, have been providing security to Prime 
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, putting the security of VIPs and the 
country at stake, informed sources disclosed on Sunday." 
 
News Story: Drone Attacks To Figure In Talks With U.S. - "The News" 
(01/25) 
 
"The crucial issue of U.S. drone attacks along the Pak-Afghan border 
area is expected to dominate the discussions between top Pak-U.S. 
officials during the forthcoming Islamabad visit of U.S. National 
Director of Intelligence (NDI) Dennis Blair. A top U.S. official 
confirmed on condition of anonymity here on Sunday that Dennis Blair 
is expected to arrive in Islamabad in the next few days." 
 
News Story: Five U.S. Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan - "Dawn" 
(01/25) 
 
"Five U.S. soldiers have been killed in bombings over the past 24 
hours in Afghanistan, NATO's International Security Assistance Force 
(ISAF) said on Sunday. Two of the troopers were killed in a 
home-made bomb explosion in the south, where the insurgency is most 
intense, the force said in a statement." 
 
News Story: ANP Calls For Expulsion Of Foreign Militants - "Dawn" 
(01/25)" 
 
"The Awami National Party said on Sunday that the country could get 
rid of extremism and terrorism by following the philosophy of 
non-violence.... They asked the Pakhtuns to get united against the 
'outside forces' that were using Waziristan for their motives to 
spread terrorism and extremism." 
 
News Story: Girls' School Blown Up  - "Dawn" (01/25) 
 
"The Taliban blew up a girls' school on Sunday in a town near 
Peshawar, police said." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: U.S. In Talks With Pakistan, India, Afghanistan On 
Regional Stability - "Daily Times" (01/24) 
 
"The Obama administration is continuing 'significant' discussions 
with Pakistan, India and Afghanistan on ways to achieve regional 
stability, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday. Assistant 
Secretary of State Philip J. Crowley cited senior U.S. officials' 
continuing engagements with the regional governments towards the 
goal of cooperation and stability." 
 
News Story: Gilani Trashes Talk Of Institutions' Clash  - "Dawn" 
(01/25) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Sunday that people 
who were waiting for a clash between institutions and subsequent 
army intervention were mistaken and they would be disappointed. 
Addressing a public gathering in his hometown (Multan), Mr. Gilani 
emphatically stated that there would be no clash of institutions and 
the army which was rendering sacrifices and combating terrorists 
would protect the country." 
 
News Story: Non-Implementation Of SC Verdict On NRO  - "The News" 
(01/25) 
 
"The Lawyers National Coordination Council on Sunday warned the 
government that if the Supreme Court verdict on the NRO was not 
implemented the legal fraternity would stage a protest against the 
government on January 28." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
News Story: U.S. Unveils Civilian Aid Strategy For Pakistan - "Dawn" 
(01/23) 
 
"Helping Pakistan address immediate energy, water, and related 
economic crises was top on a list of priorities U.S. Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton outlined on Thursday while unveiling a new 
strategy for enhancing America's engagement with Pakistan and 
Afghanistan. Helping Pakistan overcome these problems will 'deepen 
our partnership with the Pakistani people and decrease the appeal of 
extremists,' the secretary said." 
 
News Story: Economic Shocks In Store For Pakistan  - "The News" 
(10/25) 
 
"Tense ties with Washington in the wake of visa issuance scrutiny 
placed by Islamabad for U.S. officials and screening of Pakistanis 
in the United States will not only lead to more mistrust between the 
two countries, it can also eclipse the future economic outlook for 
Pakistan. The U.S. is reluctant to give the already delayed $1.4 
billion under the head of the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) against 
the expenditures being incurred on the war against terrorism. This 
has really enlarged the stress manifold on the ongoing budgetary 
year." 
 
News Story: WB To Continue Funding Punjab Govt.  - "Dawn" (01/25) 
 
"The World Bank (WB) Mission has agreed to continue providing 
assistance to the Punjab government in health, education and 
agriculture sectors and Barrages Rehabilitation Project's Phase-II, 
covering Jinnah and Taunsa barrages. The mission headed by WB 
country director Yusupha Crookes called on Punjab Planning and 
Development Board chairman Sami Saeed in Lahore on Sunday for 
consultation on formulation of New Country Partnership Strategy for 
2010-13." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Becky Gates Visits Lok Virsa - "The News" (01/23) 
 
"U.S. Defense Secretary's wife Becky Gates paid a visit to the Lok 
Virsa here on Friday, which was coordinated by the U.S. Embassy in 
Islamabad.... She greatly lauded Lok Virsa's efforts in documenting 
and preserving the indigenous folk culture of Pakistan through 
three-dimensional cultural displays. In her comments in the 
visitors' book, Mrs. Gates thanked Lok Virsa for a wonderful visit." 
 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Gates's Visit, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(01/23) 
 
"The defense 'suits' may not be as eye-catching as a rock-star 
secretary of state or uniformed military chiefs but make no mistake 
- in terms of substance it doesn't get much weightier than the 
high-powered delegation U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates brought 
to Islamabad on Thursday.... Second, Mr. Gates's visit was timed to 
discuss the modalities of Pak-U.S. cooperation in the run-up to the 
American 'surge' in Afghanistan.... The Americans have long been 
insisting that Pakistan take a 'holistic approach' to fighting 
militancy, i.e. the Pakistan Army should discard its 'prioritization 
approach', which, the Americans believe, disregards the threat posed 
by the Haqqani network in particular." 
 
Editorial: Dialogue with Gates, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/23) 
 
 
"Terrorism and all the complex issues around it topped the agenda 
for the visit to Islamabad by the U.S. Secretary of Defense and his 
flurry of meetings with the president, the prime minister, the COAS 
and other key officials. Robert Gates mixed praise for Pakistan's 
efforts against militancy with warnings of the need for still more 
Endeavour to defeat the militants. His carrot-and-stick strategy was 
obviously designed to maximize pressure on Pakistan.... Some of 
these stem from the unjust U.S. policies pursued in the region for 
decades. Simply issuing warnings or suggesting more emphatic 
military action will serve little purpose. In this context, Pakistan 
needs to come up with a blueprint for action and persuade its key 
allies that this needs to be followed if there is to be any headway 
against terrorism and an end to the internal threat it poses to the 
people of Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: Total U.S. Insensitivity, an editorial in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/23) 
 
"U.S. Defense Secretary Roberts Gates was given a clear cut message 
from the Pakistan military that it will not extend its operations 
into North Waziristan as South Waziristan will take at last a year 
to secure. Additionally the Pakistan Army has made it clear that it 
does not want to be over-stretched.... Unless the U.S. can 
understand the Pakistan-India dynamics from Islamabad's perspective, 
it can never create the trust it needs to further its contentious 
regional agenda." 
 
Editorial: Pak-U.S. Gulf, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/24) 
 
"The increasing anti-U.S. sentiment within Pakistan was palpable 
during U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates' visit to Pakistan. The 
tone was set by his statement in Delhi prior to visiting Pakistan 
that he could understand that India will feel pushed to the limit if 
there is another Mumbai-like attack by terror groups based in 
Pakistan. Islamabad feels irked because it has continued to insist 
since 26/11 that 'non-state actors' carried out that attack and that 
Pakistan was in no way involved in it. In Pakistan's view, if the 
U.S. and India still doubt these assertions, it means we are being 
held hostage to the agenda of the terrorists, whose most coveted 
dream is pitching the two neighbors against each other once again." 
 
 
Editorial: Twisting The Truth, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/25) 
 
"As the State Department and U.S. Embassy at Islamabad desperately 
try to perform an impossible trick of retrieving the words of 
Defence Secretary Robert Gates, recorded by a private TV channel 
during his visit to Pakistan, admitting the presence of Blackwater 
and Dyncorp here.... Nevertheless, this obvious admission has not 
embarrassed Minister Malik. He has, in fact, once again come out 
with denying the presence of this murderous outfit.... Once again, 
the free media did a national service of crucial significance.... 
the ill-famed outfit must be made to pack up and go before it could 
do any serious harm to our security interests." 
 
Editorial: Blind to Pak Interests, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/25) 
 
"The U.S. is clearly in no mood to accommodate Pakistan's interests 
or sensitivities as it goes about its already-failed 
military-centric 'war on terror' in this region. Having failed to 
push the Pakistan Army into a premature and disastrous operation in 
North Waziristan Agency (NWA), it has now decided to increase the 
already intolerable drone attacks against Pakistani territory and 
people.... For anyone in this country who still feels U.S. interests 
coincide with Pakistan's security interests, this latest move on 
drone attacks should be the final eye opener." 
 
Editorial: Apprehensive Report of an American Newspaper, an 
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/25) 
 
"According to a recent report published in an American newspaper, 
Pakistan Army's refusal to expand its military operation in the 
tribal areas may incur the wrath of the CIA which will result in 
more drone attacks. This report shows that the U.S. is not convinced 
to respect the territorial integrity of Pakistan. In this scenario, 
we think that our ties with the Afghan people and the resistance 
forces are vital for Pakistan's own security and these relations 
need to further strengthened." 
 
Editorial: The U.S. Will Have To Stop This Bloodshed Now, an 
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (01/25) 
 
"According to New York Times, America can double the number of drone 
attacks on Pakistan's tribal areas following Pakistan Army's 
announcement to not initiate a new military operation for one 
year....  The suicide attacks in Pakistan are happening in Pakistan 
in retaliation to the drone attacks.  Ostensibly, the suicide 
attacks will increase if the drone attacks are to be increased.... 
America knows that its thirst for blood caused the unforgettable 
defeat in Vietnam and that moment is approaching in Afghanistan." 
 
Editorial: "Blackwater In Pakistan: News Reports And Clarifications, 
an editorial in the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) 
(01/25) 
 
"Clarifications of statement by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, 
in which he had admitted existence of Blackwater in Pakistan, still 
continue.  The U.S. Embassy issued a clarification accusing a TV 
station and some newspapers of wrong and dishonest reporting.... 
According to a newspaper, U.S. Defense Department website report, 
contrary to the clarification by the Embassy, admitted that 
Secretary Gates had said, 'yes, they are working in Pakistan, 
Afghanistan and Iraq as individual companies, for America is part of 
the war theater over there.'  Prior to that Mr. Gates had clarified 
that, 'the Defense Department hasn't employed Blackwater services in 
Pakistan.  We have nothing to do with Blackwater in Pakistan.' Some 
political observers have pointed out that there is no technical 
difference between Secretary Gates statement and then clarification. 
 He (Gates) did not categorically deny the existence of Blackwater 
and kept this statement limited to his department.... 
Clarifications by the American Embassy and the Defense Department 
confirm that 'Blackwater' DynCorp exists in Pakistan and this can't 
be denied....  The government of Pakistan should inform the nation 
about Blackwater and other such war companies.  Defense Department's 
(Pakistani) comprehensive statement on the issue will be in order 
and it should be tabled in the National Assembly." 
 
Editorial: Plain Talk, an editorial in the country's premier 
business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (01/25) 
 
"Prime Minister Gilani did well to tell Robert Gates, without 
mincing words, that Islamabad could offer no guarantee to India or 
U.S. regarding there being no repeat of a Mumbai-like attack. New 
Delhi might not like the position taken by Islamabad, but it is 
quite realistic.... The jingoistic statement implying that India 
might attack Pakistan in case of another Mumbai-like incident is 
indicative of short-sightedness.... One had expected that Robert 
Gates, who is supposed to have a more comprehensive view of things, 
would impress upon the Indian leadership the dangerous consequences 
of any flare-up in South Asia, which would be detrimental not only 
to the interests of Pakistan and India, but also the U.S. That he 
should agree to be the carrier of ultimatums of the sort is highly 
unfortunate." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Efforts For Reconciliation With The Taliban, an 
editorial in liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/25) 
 
"After over 8 years of war in Afghanistan America has reached a 
stage where it is mulling over dialogue with Afghan rebels. 
Afghanistan's Karzai government is playing an important role in this 
respect....  Pakistan has always taken the stand that aggressive 
policy cannot succeed in Afghanistan.  Now that America has changed 
its policy in view of the situation then it can only be described as 
positive." 
 
Opinion: Gates Visit Created More Misunderstanding, an op-ed by Dr. 
Samiullah Koreshi in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily 
"Pakistan Observer" (cir. 5,000) (01/25) 
 
"It is most unusual for a foreign minister on a visit to that 
country to speak on behalf of his host. The host has a tongue and he 
also could say what the occasion required. However, as if speaking 
on behalf of India- most Gates warned Pakistan that if an incident 
like Mumbai happened again India may react against Pakistan.... Was 
Gates statement made to underline a fact that despite Pakistan 
fighting American ignited war in this region on Pak-Afghan border, 
suffering a loss of around $11 billion U.S. is more allied to India 
than cares for Pakistan part in the war on terrorism. This statement 
underlined India-U.S. strategic alliance even against Pakistan. How, 
need be explained: America's total identification with India over 
even Pakistan.... The routine contact persons like Holbrooke who 
come with a readymade plan to which Pakistan must comply, they come 
to sell the plans and thus convey orders; the other are high powered 
like Gates who create more misunderstandings than harmony and 
Hillary Clinton, who at least have a n attitude of persons of good 
will, and try to learn what is the public opinion. They have their 
own agenda but at least they create a good impression of friendly 
understanding or an attempt to understand what Pakistanis want and 
why, even if they have their own mandate. The less there are such 
visits as Gates the better." 
 
Opinion: Drones And Droves!, an op-ed by Khalid Iqbal in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/25) 
 
"Sending droves of neither drones nor visitors would solve the 
problem. The Americans have to take into account the ground 
realities as the time for a military surge is over. Likewise, 
arm-twisting maybe counterproductive for coaxing Pakistan into any 
arrangement that is perceived by the people of Pakistan as 
incompatible with its national interests. America needs to measure 
its brinkmanship in keeping with the gathering storm of the 
anti-American sentiments in Pakistan. The Pak-U.S. bilateral 
relations and associated multilateral interactions are beneficial to 
both. These must be preserved and sustained on a long-term basis. 
The onus surely rests on American statesmanship; it is time to make 
a departure from Bush era policies and follow an objective and 
constructive approach." 
 
Opinion: U.S. Should Revisit Its Policies, an op-ed by Ijaz Khan 
Yousufzai in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" 
(cir. 20,000) (01/25) 
 
"The ongoing war has far reaching effects on the foreign forces. 
Physical loses and psychological illness of the troops has also been 
reported and most of the allied nations are hesitating from sending 
their troops to the southern provinces of Afghanistan because the 
recently staged operation (as code name operation sword) in Helmend 
has failed to show its stipulated results.... That foreign forces 
didn't plan to establish any proper economic plans till Oct 8, 2001 
for rehabilitation of the destructed areas, this could be another 
factor behind failure of NATO troops.... In such a crucial economic 
conditions, U.S. should revisit to its policies and must follow the 
mediating way to face the problems." 
 
Opinion: U.S. Nuclear Duplicity, an op-ed by Asif Ezdi in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (01/25) 
 
"Like Musharraf, Zardari has not taken up the question of Pakistan's 
access to civilian nuclear technology in his meetings with U.S. 
leaders. Nor has Nawaz Sharif raised it. Our 'sovereign' Parliament 
has not discussed it either.... If Gilani is serious, he should now 
write to the U.S. president to emphasize that if this partnership is 
to be meaningful, it must include access for Pakistan to civilian 
nuclear technology. The prime minister should also urge Obama to 
take the lead in getting Pakistan a waiver from NSG guidelines 
similar to that given to India. This issue should be made a priority 
item of the bilateral agenda, starting with the talks being hosted 
by Hillary Clinton in Washington next month. Gilani should similarly 
take it up with other leading NSG members." 
 
Opinion: Territorial Integrity And Sovereignty, an op-ed by Prof. 
Majeed Khalid Ch. in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The 
Post" (cir. 5,000) (01/26) 
 
"The government seems to be finally realizing the negative blow-back 
of the U.S. policies and behavior towards Pakistan, ranging from the 
drone attacks to the screening of Pakistani citizens entering the 
U.S. and host of offensive policies in-between. That's why, the 
Government has come out strongly against the policies and stated in 
no uncertain terms that Pakistan was not interested in aid at the 
cost of its dignity and sovereignty, and in any case, it was trade 
not aid that was being sought.... As the Prime Minister and the 
Government have realized, that the U.S. cannot win in Afghanistan 
without Pakistan's support, it is time we demanded right price for 
this support rather than continuing to sell ourselves short. So with 
opportunity, credentials, performance against the war on terror and 
militancy, could it be expected to take up the issue of sovereignty 
and territorial integrity seriously, with U.S.?" 
 
Opinion: National Interests And Diplomacy, an op-ed by Shahid M. 
Amin in the Karachi-based center-left independent national English 
daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) (01/25) 
 
"Pakistan's foreign policy, like that of other states, has sought to 
secure its national interests. Diplomacy has indeed acted as the 
first line of defence for Pakistan.... When the Soviet withdrawal 
was achieved in 1989, Pakistan and the U.S. moved away from each 
other. However, 9/11 again induced them to work in tandem in the war 
against Al Qaeda and the Taliban. Pakistan's support was secured by 
Washington on the plank of 'either you are with us or against us.' 
Opposing the U.S. in such a scenario would have brought unacceptable 
consequences for Pakistan's national interests. However, unlike the 
Pakistani government, the Pakistani 'street' has been more 
influenced by emotionalism and has not supported this alliance. This 
dichotomy continues to create misgivings and mutual doubts even 
though both countries have a common objective - countering religious 
extremism which is destabilizing Pakistan. Pakistani foreign policy 
has also focused on promoting the country's economic welfare. Over 
the years, significant economic aid has been obtained by Pakistan 
from its foreign friends. The U.S. and the West have been the 
principal aid givers." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson