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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000222 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 28, 2010 
 
Summary:  Coverage of Prime Minister Gilani's statement reiterating 
the government's commitment to implement the Supreme Court's 
nullification of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) 
dominated headlines in all major newspapers on Thursday morning. 
Newspapers also reported that the government will not reopen the 
Swiss cases against President Zardari as he enjoys immunity granted 
by the Parliament. Several dailies highlighted reports that NATO, 
Russia and Pakistan gave "unanimous backing" to the new 
international strategy in Afghanistan.  Newspapers widely covered 
U.S. CENTCOM chief General Petraeus' remarks lauding Pakistani 
forces for their operations against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan 
(TTP) and its affiliates in Malakand and South Waziristan. "Dawn," 
reported the Pentagon spokesman's statement urging India to be 
"transparent with Pakistan about its activities in Afghanistan." All 
major newspapers reported that the UN lifted sanctions on five 
former Taliban officials ahead of International Conference in 
London.  Ambassador Holbrooke's statement that the U.S. will support 
Taliban reintegration was also displayed prominently.  "The News," 
reported that talks are underway between the NWFP administration and 
the U.S. regarding massive hydroelectric power projects.  Media 
extensively covered the unanimous approval of the anti-money 
laundering bill by the National Assembly.  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Only Parliament Can Withdraw Presidential Immunity  - 
"The News" (01/28) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday reiterated his 
commitment to implement the detailed judgment of the Supreme Court 
on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) except for the part 
pertaining to the reopening of the Swiss cases owing to 
constitutional immunity enjoyed by the president. It is only 
Parliament that can withdraw this immunity and if this is done I am 
ready to take action. Nobody can rewrite the Constitution as this is 
the sovereign right of Parliament, he said while addressing the 
National Assembly on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: NATO, Russia And Pakistan Back New Afghan Plan  - "Dawn" 
(01/28) 
 
"NATO said on Wednesday it had secured new pledges of support for 
its Afghan operation, and its top military officer said he believed 
international solidarity meant the tide had turned in the struggle 
against the Taliban. 'The mood has changed, the tide has changed: we 
will succeed, we are convinced we will succeed,' Admiral Giampaolo 
Di Paola said after a meeting of all countries contributing to the 
NATO-led military effort in Afghanistan." 
 
News Story: COAS Asks NATO To Understand Pak Perspective  - "Dawn" 
(01/28) 
 
"... General Kayani stressed on NATO to realize Pakistan's strategy 
and perspective on region's security situation and called for 
enhancement of Pakistan's role in finding a solution to the 
Afghanistan problem. Addressing the two-day session of the NATO's 
Military Committee here on Wednesday, General Kayani said in order 
to win the war on terror, confidence between NATO and Pakistani 
forces is needed, along with cooperation in intelligence sectors. 
NATO and Pakistan can only defeat their common enemy if both sides 
have confidence on each other. Sharing of intelligence can play a 
vital role, the Army Chief said." 
 
News Story: Petraeus Sees Deal In South Waziristan - "Dawn" (01/28) 
 
 
"Pakistan may now be able to reach a deal in South Waziristan that 
allows traditional tribal elements to return to the area, says U.S. 
Central Command Chief Gen. David Petraeus. Speaking at the Institute 
for the Study of War, Washington, Gen. Petraeus also noted that the 
Pakistani military had caused considerable setback to the 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan forcing them to withdraw some from some of 
their key strongholds." 
 
News Story: Indian Role In Afghanistan Needs To Be Spelt Out: U.S. 
- "Dawn" (01/28) 
 
"The United States urged India on Wednesday to be transparent with 
Pakistan about their activities in Afghanistan. At a briefing at the 
Pentagon, spokesman Geoff Morrell also discounted Indian role in 
training Afghan security forces. The Pentagon press secretary said 
that U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates had discussed the Afghan 
situation with Indian leaders, including the issues that concerned 
Pakistan, when he visited New Delhi last week." 
 
News Story: UN Sanctions On 5 Afghan Taliban Leaders Lifted  - 
"Dawn" (01/28) 
 
"A UN Security Council panel said on Tuesday it had removed five top 
Taliban officials from its list of individuals subjected to 
sanctions imposed over their links with Al Qaeda. The move coincided 
with an announcement by Afghan President Hamid Karzai that he would 
press for Taliban names to be removed from the UN blacklist at a 
major conference on Afghanistan in London on Thursday." 
 
News Story: U.S. To Back Taliban Reintegration: Holbrooke - "Daily 
Times" (01/28) 
 
"The U.S. will support a plan to reintegrate Taliban fighters set to 
be announced by Afghan President Hamid Karzai at an international 
conference in London, U.S. Special Representative Richard Holbrooke 
on Wednesday. Holbrooke said Karzai will outline the plan on 
Thursday to convince low-level and midlevel Taliban fighters who 
don't back Al Qaeda to give up their fight against U.S. and NATO 
forces." 
 
News Story: NWFP Talking To U.S. For Massive Hydel Power Projects  - 
"The News" (01/28) 
 
"As federal authorities are bent upon obtaining expensive rental 
power projects, the Frontier government, on the other hand, has 
sought massive U.S. investment for much cheaper hydroelectric power 
in the provincial jurisdiction. 'We are shortly submitting before 
the U.S. authorities, the power projects, besides identifying sites 
for maximum electricity from our province having potential of up to 
48,000 megawatts (MW),' a member of the NWFP's special body on 
energy and power told The News. U.S. Special Envoy Richard 
Holbrooke, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson and U.S. Embassy 
Economic Wing's Ms. Robin Raphael are prominent American authorities 
with whom the Frontier government contacted and 'received an 
encouraging response.'" 
 
News Story: NA Approves Anti-Money Laundering Bill Unanimously  - 
"The News" (01/28) 
 
"The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed Anti-Money 
Laundering Bill 2009, which provides for maximum punishment of 
imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 1 million." 
 
News Story: U.S. Presses Pakistan To Sign N-Deal  - "Dawn" (01/28) 
 
"The United States is pressing Pakistan to sign the Fissile Material 
Cutoff Treaty without delay but Islamabad insists that India must 
also be asked to reduce its nuclear stockpile, the U.S. media 
reported on Wednesday. U.S. officials have urged Pakistan to 'drop 
all resistance to the FMCT,' warning it was imperative that the 
measure move forward in 2010.... The U.S. media reported President 
Obama had pushed for the ban, and his administration had urged a key 
UN disarmament body to persuade Pakistan to join the FMCT talks in 
Geneva." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Malik Says No Xe-Trained Officials In PM Squad  - "Dawn" 
(01/28) 
 
"U.S. private security contractor Blackwater, formerly known as Xe 
Security, was neither operating in Pakistan nor its trained security 
officers were part of Prime Minister's safety escort, Federal 
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: No Sight Of Drones In NWA After 'Crash'  - "The News" 
(01/28) 
 
"Following the crash of two U.S. drones in North Waziristan in just 
one week, the tribesmen were surprised on Wednesday when they could 
not see any spy aircraft during the past two days." 
 
News Story: Taliban Unimpressed With United Nation's Gesture - "The 
News" (01/28) 
 
"In a decision that should have been taken much earlier, the names 
of five former Taliban ministers were removed from the UN Security 
Council's 'blacklist' after having been sanctioned in late 2001 for 
having links with al-Qaeda but the move failed to have any impact on 
some of those whose names were deleted and was summarily rejected by 
the mainstream Mullah Omar-led Taliban movement." 
 
News Story: Call To Stop NATO Supplies Through Balochistan  - "Dawn" 
(01/28) 
 
"The Jamaat-i-Islami has urged the government to change its policy 
of facilitating through Balochistan supplies for NATO forces in 
Afghanistan. Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Party's 
Provincial Chief Abdul Matin Akhundzada said the fact that several 
trucks carrying fuel for NATO forces had been attacked in the 
province could be used by the United States as the basis for 
launching drone attacks in Balochistan." 
 
News Story: North Waziristan Elders Warned Against Sheltering 
Taliban  - "Daily Times" (01/28) 
 
"The political administration has warned tribal chieftains of a 
military operation if they do not take action against terrorists who 
have fled Mehsud areas of South Waziristan and taken refuge in North 
Waziristan, tribal and official sources said on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: 15 Killed In Bajaur Clashes  - "The News" (01/28) 
 
"Fifteen militants were killed during clashes with security forces 
and Salarzai Lashkar and air raids and artillery shelling in various 
areas of Bajaur Agency on Wednesday, official sources said. One 
soldier also lost his life in the clashes." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: London Conference Marks Sea-Change In Afghan Approach  - 
"Dawn" (01/28) 
 
"A conference which only a week ago looked like the political stunt 
of an enfeebled British government now looks like it could mark the 
beginning of the end of the war in Afghanistan. This week saw an 
unexpected groundswell of support - including from top military 
commanders - for an eventual political settlement with the Taliban. 
'There seems to be an emerging consensus that when all is said and 
done, the Afghan Jihadi movement - in one form or another - will be 
part of the government in Kabul,' U.S. think tank Stratfor said." 
 
News Story: London Talks - Handover To Afghan Control In Focus  - 
"The Nation" (01/28) 
 
"Strengthening Afghanistan's army ahead of handling security to 
local control will be the focus of a 60-nation conference in London 
on Thursday, alongside President Hamid Karzai's peace moves." 
 
News Story: U.S. Will Fail To Split Taliban: Ex-ISI Official  - 
"Daily Times" (01/28) 
 
"Attempts by the Afghan government and its allies to split the 
Taliban by luring away foot soldiers and isolating leaders will 
fail, former official of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), 
Brigadier (r) Sultan Amir Tarar said on Wednesday. Afghan President 
Hamid Karzai is expected to present details of his plan to reach out 
to the Taliban at an international conference in London on Thursday. 
But Tarar, who knows Taliban leaders, said Taliban fighters would 
not break with their leader, Mullah Omar." 
 
News Story: Afghan Reintegration Plan A 'Trick': Militants  - "Daily 
Times" (01/28) 
 
"Militants on Wednesday dismissed an Afghan government plan aimed at 
persuading fighters to lay down their arms in return for cash as a 
'trick,' saying the only solution to the war would be the withdrawal 
of foreign troops. They also dismissed a London conference on 
Afghanistan's future as 'a waste of time.'" 
 
News Story: London Meet On Afghanistan Will Fail  - "The Nation" 
(01/28) 
 
"Iran said on Wednesday it will not attend an international meeting 
on Afghanistan being held in London, saying it will be a failure. 
"Iran does not consider this meeting to be purposeful and useful and 
so it will not participate in it," Iranian Foreign Ministry 
spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying by Mehr news 
agency." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
News Story: U.S. To Help In Upgrading Agriculture Technology  - 
"Dawn" (01/28) 
 
"The U.S. has assured to continue support for the development of 
agriculture technology in Pakistan to boost productivity and improve 
farmers' income. 'Growth in the agriculture sector would lead to the 
prosperity in Pakistan,' said the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore 
Bryan D. Hunt in Islamabad on Wednesday." 
 
News Story: No Pressure To Drop Pak-Iran Gas Project: Qamar  - 
"Dawn" (01/28) 
 
"Petroleum Minister Syed Naveed Qamar has said there is no pressure 
from the United States or any security agency to abandon the 
Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. Talking to journalists in 
Islamabad on Wednesday, the minister said a technical agreement 
between Pakistan and Iran would be signed before Feb 15 when a gas 
sale-purchase deal between the two countries would expire." 
 
News Story: Cabinet Okays 8 Rental Power Projects  - "Daily Times" 
(01/28) 
 
"The Federal Cabinet has given the go-ahead to eight Rental Power 
Projects (RPPs) following the approval of an Asian Development Bank 
(ADB) report presented in the cabinet meeting, Federal Minister for 
Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on Wednesday.... He said 
the ADB has also asked the government to review its options before 
any further action on six RPPs with a capacity of generating 838MW 
that were signed but not yet effective." 
 
News Story: Over 30pc Uplift Funds Earmarked For Security  - "Dawn" 
(01/28) 
 
"The Cabinet decided on Wednesday to make major budgetary 
adjustments, including diversion of more than 30 per cent (Rs170 
billion) from development and income support program for the poor 
towards security expenditure, changes in macroeconomic estimates and 
at-source deduction of provincial electricity bills." 
 
News Story: Plan To Sell Farmland To Foreigners Intact: FM  - "Dawn" 
(01/28) 
 
"Pakistan will press ahead with plans to lease or sell farmland to 
foreign investors despite United Nations concern over such deals, 
arguing the land would otherwise lie fallow, Foreign Minister Shah 
Mehmood Qureshi said." 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Weaving Peace, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/28) 
 
 
"The many threads that when woven together make up the Afghan 
conundrum come together today in London with the opening of the 
conference hosted by the British. For the first time in many years 
there is a concerted international effort to find a way out of war 
and into peace.... At some point Afghanistan is going to have to be 
handed back to the Afghans - and that has to include the Taliban. 
Karzai is not a 'forever' figure and foreign troops are not there 
forever either. The London conference is about honorable exits on 
one side and dignified entrances on the other. Team Taliban are 
probably deep in their briefing papers at this very moment." 
 
Editorial: Taliban As Part Of An Afghan Solution, an editorial in 
the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (01/28) 
 
"The Western military leaders insist that talks can succeed only if 
the allies are able to speak from a position of strength. This was 
made clear by British Army Chief General Sir David Richards, CENTCOM 
chief General David Petraeus and commander U.S. and NATO forces in 
Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal, who spoke ahead of the 
conference in London. It remains to be seen if the Taliban are 
willing to hold peace talks with Karzai and the allied powers. They 
have, in the past, demanded an immediate return of the allied troops 
from Afghanistan and a payment of full costs for rebuilding the 
country as the minimum price for a deal. A lot of background 
diplomatic activity has, however, been going on recently involving 
Saudi Arabia and a number of other Gulf countries to bring the 
Taliban to the peace talks." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Agenda Has Been Followed A Lot, an editorial note in 
the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 
150,000) (01/28) 
 
"Addressing an American think tanks, the American Progress the U.S. 
National Security Advisor James Jones said that American success in 
Afghanistan is dependent upon Pakistan's resolve and cooperation in 
the war against extremism....  The U.S. Security Advisor seems to be 
worried more about Pakistan....  In Afghanistan American officials 
are advising President Karzai to initiate dialogue with the Taliban 
and extremist groups, but American authorities are pressing Pakistan 
for accelerating the fight against extremists....  The Pakistan Army 
has decided correctly that it will not launch a new military 
operation for one year....  America should solve its problems in 
Afghanistan itself and pave the way for the return of 3 million 
Afghan refugees, who are the cause of disputes between the two 
countries." 
 
Editorial: Dialogue With Taliban: Get Prepared First, an editorial 
in the leading mass circulation populist, often sensational Urdu 
daily "Jang" (cir. 300,000) (01/28) 
 
"The Karzai formula unveiled in the Istanbul Conference, which 
necessitates the urgency to engage Taliban politically, reflects the 
thinking of the U.S. and other foreign powers present in 
Afghanistan, therefore it certainly has the backing of these 
countries. But all the stakeholders need to thoroughly delve into 
the modes to implement this formula and weigh the chances of its 
success or failure. Any effort to divide the Afghan resistance 
forces into the 'Bad Taliban' and 'Good Taliban' may lead to more 
bloodshed in the country. Besides, the international community must 
also take Pakistan and Iran on board because these two neighboring 
countries are directly affected from any change in the internal 
situation of Afghanistan." 
 
Editorial: Indications Of Taliban's Coming To Power In Afghanistan, 
an editorial in the popular rightist Urdu-language daily "Ausaf" 
(cir. 10,000) (01/28) 
 
"In the Istanbul Conference, the world powers have agreed to hold 
negotiations with the Taliban. It is  a clear manifestation that 
Washington and its allies have finally reach the conclusion that 
Taliban can no longer be ignored when it comes to stabilizing 
Afghanistan. In this scenario, we will, once again, see the Taliban 
at the helm of power in Afghanistan in near future. To withdraw its 
forces from Afghanistan, Washington will badly need our help. The 
fast-changing geo-political situation of Afghanistan has provided 
Pakistan a golden chance to force the U.S. to help resolve the 
Kashmir issue. Hence, the government should fully exploit this 
much-awaited opportunity." 
 
Editorial: Afghan Reconciliation, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/28) 
 
"Whether it has Washington's blessings or not, Pakistan would have 
to devise a plan of winning over the angry tribesmen that serves its 
national interests. The U.S. would do well to honor its commitments 
about development projects in FATA. It is close to four years when 
President Bush first talked of reconstruction opportunity zones, but 
still the U.S. Congress has not passed the required bill. If the 
U.S. and Western allies are sincere in seeing Pakistan develop, they 
must listen to its repeated calls for investment in the country and 
provide it market access." 
 
Editorial: Sound Advice, an editorial in the Karachi-based 
center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" (cir. 55,000) 
(01/28) 
 
"Any kind of public accusations or public finger-pointing, quite 
frankly, that does not serve any of us well. That doesn't mean we 
won't have disagreements. But I hope that we can do that privately, 
and not publicly. We could not agree more with Admiral Mike Mullen 
and urge Pakistani, Indian and American officials to take note of 
his comments.... Once again, unnecessary and unwanted - and perhaps 
even self-defeating for the Americans. We are not suggesting that 
Pakistani, Indian and American officials start doing everything in 
secret and hide even more than they already do from the public. 
Transparency and openness are foundational. But so is common sense, 
and that is what seems to be lacking on occasion. Our advice: listen 
to Admiral Mullen." 
 
Editorial: Why Is India Building Tension?, an editorial in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (01/28) 
 
"We apprehend that India, in collusion with its Western mentors, was 
on a collision path and bent upon doing some mischief. This was 
evident from the recent statement of American Defence Secretary 
Robert Gates in New Delhi about danger of action against Pakistan by 
India if there was re-run of Mumbai like incidents in future. This 
is highly regrettable as Pakistan has diverted its military sources 
from the Eastern to the Western borders at the instance of the 
United States and Western countries, which want presence of 
Pakistani troops in good numbers on the Western front to make life 
easier for their occupation troops in Afghanistan.... There are, 
therefore, reasons to believe that India was gradually building 
tension to put Pakistan under more pressure and this calls for a 
comprehensive review of our military strategy and the need for a 
diplomatic offensive to expose Indian designs." 
 
Editorial: Indian Aggressiveness, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/28) 
 
"It is time Pakistan took a clear cut and strong position on all the 
legal and military infringements India is indulging in at will. The 
dark shadow of U.S. support also looms behind these infractions of 
India since the former has not said a word in protest to New Delhi 
despite being a strategic partner of India's. Pakistan needs to also 
put the U.S. on notice regarding India. Pakistan should take every 
threatening move by India seriously as our history has shown India 
never wastes an opportunity to undermine our existence. Nothing has 
changed in the Indian psyche." 
 
Editorial: Response To The Enemy, an editorial in the 
second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(01/28) 
 
"Indian designs against our security are not hidden.  Under American 
patronage it has already increased its military capability three 
times more than us thus becoming a threat for our as well as 
region's security....  The Indian military's repeated shelling on 
the Line of Control is a link in the chain of events....  Being soft 
to the enemy is tantamount to being killed by it.  We should respond 
to the enemy in the language it understands." 
 
Editorial: Indian Firing On Pakistani Check-Posts, an editorial in 
the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (01/28) 
 
"America, Britain and other world powers should think over Indian 
attitude and press India for implementing the UN resolutions on 
Kashmir....  The Pakistan Army and the people cannot pay required 
attention to the war against terrorism if their eastern border is 
not peaceful." 
 
Editorial: [India's] Violation Of The Working Boundary And Demands 
Of The Situation, an editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" 
(cir. 25,000) (01/28) 
 
"It is possible that the recent incidents of border violations [by 
India] were the result of some misunderstanding. However, in the 
current climate, with terrorists running rampant in the region and 
wanting to foment a confrontation between the two countries, it is 
imperative that both sides exercise caution.... Another aspect of 
the working boundary's violation is that it could be the starting 
point of a major adventure by India.... If the Indian government is 
thinking of such an adventure, it should review its decision because 
such an adventure by India would not remain limited. Such an 
adventure can also backfire when the two countries in question are 
armed with nuclear weapons. American officials -- who support Indian 
policies and talk like Indians -- should also play a role in this 
regard." 
 
Editorial: India's Heinous Ambitions Are Dangerous For The World, an 
editorial in the Lahore-based populist center-right Urdu daily 
"Khabrain" (cir. 50,000) (01/28) 
"Pakistan government should immediately inform the UN, China, 
Britain, Russia and friendly Islamic states of India's dangerous and 
heinous designs. Pakistan should inform the international community 
that Indian ambitions could endanger the entire world. Pakistan 
would be compelled to respond if India does not stop its provocative 
acts, and once this happens, there could be a likelihood of a 
nuclear war as well." 
 
Editorial: India Should See Reason, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
independent Urdu daily "Din" (circ. 5000) (01/28) 
 
"If India does not change its track, its provocative acts [reference 
to the shelling] and baseless allegations could trigger a war in the 
region. In such a scenario, bilateral relations could take a 
dangerous turn - leading 1.5 billion people of the region to end up 
dead, hunger-stricken, or victims of radiation." 
 
Opinion: Stinging Rebuke, an op-ed by M. Saeed Khalid in the 
populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 
55,000) (01/28) 
 
"By not giving a date for the completion of the withdrawal, Obama is 
signaling to the Taliban that the final position would depend on the 
outcome of efforts to reach a negotiated settlement in some kind of 
power-sharing arrangement. If that goal remains unachievable, then 
Obama may want to carry out a low-intensity war with a tolerable 
level of losses to prevent the Taliban from overrunning the urban 
centers, especially the provincial capitals and Kabul. Will 2010 
bring a significant change in the Taliban's attitude to negotiations 
with the U.S.? If their declaration to mark 30 years of 
Afghanistan's invasion by the Soviets is an indicator, there can be 
little hope for resolution of the conflict. The only way of 
de-escalation in Afghanistan can be the reduction of foreign forces 
and the interposing of a peacekeeping force with an international 
mandate." 
 
Opinion: Karzai's Bulky Baggage, an op-ed by I. M. Mohsin in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/28) 
 
"Like other powers who got entangled with Af-Pak, due to the 
geopolitical paradigm or otherwise, the U.S. cannot conquer this 
area. Secretary Gates on his recent visit bemoaned the mistake made 
by his country in the 1990 when it abandoned its 'partners' against 
the Soviets; being flush with the excitement of becoming the 'only 
superpower'. He assured the people of Pakistan, like Hillary Clinton 
did on an earlier visit that the U.S. would stick around this time 
in a friendly and helpful role. The game is now swinging towards 
diplomacy, despite the fagade of expansion of the U.S. troops. Both 
the sides are trying various tactics to get their pound of flesh. 
While the U.S. is the superpower, the other party has stood by their 
history/tradition. Peace and justice must team up. United States' 
focus on India and China notwithstanding, only Pakistan can help the 
U.S. out; more so if it has transparent governance." 
 
Opinion: Cold And Blinkered In London, an op-ed by Syed Talat 
Hussain in the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily 
Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/28) 
 
"U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates' visit to India and Pakistan 
last week was a classic study in contradictory behavior. He praised 
India's role in Afghanistan and mouthed the usual rhetoric about 
Pakistan being the epicenter of global terrorism.... At a general 
level, no one was surprised at a U.S. diplomat massaging India's ego 
and running down Pakistan. This has been the pattern for long. But 
what was really surprising was the timing of it all: just when 
Pakistan is poised to become the world's best bet to restore some 
sanity to Afghanistan's madness, a top-ranking U.S. official chooses 
to encourage Islamabad's traditional enemy to keep the heat on.... 
It is regrettable that all the world's supposed best brains cannot 
comprehend the simple point that in Pakistan's desire to see 
non-hostile borders with Afghanistan and India lies the key to 
building consensus on lasting peace for Afghanistan. Powerful world 
capitals continue to see this demand as a sinister plot to keep the 
Taliban in Afghanistan's power play. It will be interesting to see 
whether the outcome of the London Conference would depart from this 
blinkered approach or not." 
 
Opinion: A Growing Gulf,   an op-ed by Tariq Fatemi in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (01/28) 
 
"The growing anti-American sentiments in Pakistan are not confined 
to the parties; these are shared by many liberals. The Pakistani 
leadership has demonstrated naivety in its dealings with the U.S., 
with many of our leaders convinced that the road to power in 
Islamabad lies through Pennsylvania Avenue. They have therefore 
ignored the counsel of their own professionals. Of course, this has 
been more pronounced with the authoritarian rulers. It is therefore 
not surprising that while Pakistan has 'served' America's interests 
at critical times, forging strategic ties has been a difficult 
exercise. In particular, the Americans have tended to take Pakistan 
for granted.... Robert Gates wrote about the U.S. 'commitment to a 
stable, long-term, strategic relationship, based on shared interests 
and mutual respect that will continue to expand and deepen the 
profile of Pakistan.' If that is the case then the U.S. must 
appreciate Pakistan's security concerns on its eastern frontier and 
help it overcome its debilitating energy shortage, by the sale of 
civilian nuclear technology, of course with the necessary 
safeguards. Pakistan, too, will have to reinforce its struggle 
against the militants, pursue a dialogue with India and promote 
peace and stability in Afghanistan." 
 
Opinion: Meeting India's Military Challenge, an op-ed by Muneer 
Akram in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The 
News" (cir. 55,000) (01/28) 
 
"During U.S. Defence Secretary Gates' recent visit, we have again 
heard the refrain of our Western friends that terrorism and the 
Taliban, not India, pose an 'existential' threat to Pakistan. But 
India's own actions and pronouncements belie these Western 
assertions. For the past year, India has refused to resume 
'composite dialogue' and has regularly threatened military action 
against Pakistan in the event of another Mumbai-like incident.... 
Following the post-Mumbai situation and the emergence of India's 
Cold Start strategy, Pakistan's armed forces have undertaken 
extensive war games to counter this threat.... Numerous media 
stories have mentioned the existence of U.S. plans to seize or 
neutralize Pakistan's nuclear weapons in the event of their 
threatened take over by Islamic radicals. These plans, if they 
exist, could be executed also in the context of an Indo-Pakistan 
conflict.... Despite the present counter-terrorism alliance with the 
U.S., Pakistan needs to factor in these scenarios into its 
deterrence posture and doctrine.... A clear and visible response by 
Pakistan is essential to convince India, and the international 
community, that Pakistan is determined to defend its independence, 
sovereignty and territorial integrity and that 'cold start' could 
end in a hot finish." 
 
Opinion: Anger Sans Reason, an op-ed by I.A. Rehman in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (01/28) 
 
"If earnest efforts to revive normal relations between India and 
Pakistan are not mounted soon the demons of hate will push them 
further away from each other.... An immediate objective before New 
Delhi and Islamabad should be the reactivation of the hotline 
between their top leaderships. They can have better success in 
damage control than the bureaucrats who mostly specialize in stoking 
up bitterness without reason." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson