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SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: JANUARY 12, 2010 
 
Summary: Coverage of Senators Carl Levin and Al Franken's meeting 
with Prime Minister Gilani dominated front-page headlines in all 
mainstream dailies Tuesday morning.  Newspapers reported that, 
during the meeting, PM Gilani underscored the need to bridge the 
trust deficit between the two countries, urging the U.S. to expedite 
CSF reimbursements, share drone technology, and remove Pakistan from 
the list of countries subject to new screening measures.  The issue 
of harassment of U.S. diplomats re-emerged with reports of the 
Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman's statement that the U.S. Embassy 
in Islamabad has not requested special privileges for American 
diplomats at checkpoints and that U.S. diplomats are not being 
harassed in Pakistan.  Negative reaction to new U.S. airport 
screening regulations continued to receive wide coverage.  All major 
English dailies reported PML-N leader, Ahsan Iqbal's statement that 
Pakistan should be treated as a partner, not a problem. Dailies also 
carried statements of Pakistani senators who termed the new security 
measures an insult to Pakistan.  The media reported a wide variety 
of statements by American military official on progress in 
Afghanistan and Pakistan. General Petraeus remarked to CNN that 
considerable pressure has been brought on Al Qaeda leadership. 
Admiral Mullen echoed signs of progress in both countries, while 
General McChrystal stated that the U.S. surge in Afghanistan is 
succeeding.  "Daily Times," quoted Secretary Clinton remarks that 
the "Obama administration has concluded that the best way to 
pressure Iran to come clean on its nuclear ambitions is to impose 
sanctions aimed at the country's ruling elite." Some English 
language papers penned editorials on General Petraeus' comments on 
possible bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, calling the remarks 
"very provocative," and "most irresponsible." "The Business 
Recorder," in a comment titled "Our tax to GDP ration is indeed 
abysmal," argued that Ambassador Patterson's remarks to the OICCI in 
Karachi on the state of Pakistan's economy were correct, but, 
despite U.S. financial assistance, "demanding military operations" 
and "increased drone attacks" are not winning the hearts and minds 
of the Pakistani people.  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: PM Urges U.S. To Bridge Trust Deficit - "Dawn" (01/12) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani called on Monday for U.S. 
steps to bridge a trust gap in its relations with Pakistan in the 
interest of long-term strategic partnership. Talking to a U.S. 
delegation led by Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of U.S. Armed 
Services Committee, Mr. Gilani reiterated Pakistan's demand for 
early disbursement of payments under the Coalition Support Fund, 
transfer of drone technology, sharing of credible and actionable 
intelligence and removal of Pakistan from the list of countries 
whose citizens were required to undergo special screening at U.S. 
airports. These steps, he said, would improve the public image of 
U.S. in Pakistan." 
 
News Story: Gilani Deplores U.S. Doubts Over Pak Sincerity - "The 
News" (01/12) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday regretted the doubts 
emanating from the U.S. over Pakistan's sincerity in the war against 
terror and asked as to which other country of the world has made 
more sacrifices than Pakistan in the campaign to eradicate 
terrorism. Talking to the U.S. delegation, led by Senator Carl 
Levin, Chairman of Armed Services Committee, at the Prime Minister 
House, Gilani refuted the misperceptions about the existence of the 
Quetta Shura or the Afghan Taliban leadership in Pakistan. He 
reiterated Pakistan's desire to fence its border with Afghanistan in 
case the U.S. could persuade the Afghan government to do so." 
 
News Story: U.S., German Delegations Meet Kayani - "The Nation" 
(01/12) 
 
"Chairman of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Carl 
Levin, has appreciated the services and sacrifices of Pakistan Army 
in the war against terrorism saying his country would continue its 
cooperation in this subject. The visiting dignitary, heading a 
congressional delegation, made these remarks during a meeting with 
Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani at GHQ on Monday." 
 
 
News Story: Consider Pakistan A Partner, Not A Problem, PML-N Tells 
U.S.  - "The News" (01/12) 
 
"Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ahsan Iqbal has said 
that the United States should consider Pakistan its partner to 
resolve all issues in the region instead of taking it as a problem. 
Talking to a U.S. congressional delegation lead by Senator Carl 
Levin in the Punjab House, Islamabad on Monday, he said the 
screening process of Pakistani nationals at U.S. airports had 
created serious reservations in the people of Pakistan. 'The U.S. 
should avoid taking such measures which could damage trust of the 
people of Pakistan,' he added." 
 
News Story: Drone Attacks Intensified After Khost Blast: U.S. - 
"Dawn" (01/12) 
 
"A U.S. general, who oversees America's war efforts in the 
Pakistan-Afghan region, has acknowledged that there has been an 
increase in drone attacks at suspected militant targets inside Fata 
since the assassination last month of seven CIA agents. Separately, 
the U.S. Military Chief has said that a relationship with Pakistan 
is 'absolutely critical' to the United States and that's why he has 
invested so much in grooming up this relationship. 'We don't talk 
about the source of the explosions in western Pakistan. But 
certainly, many commentators have noted the considerable pressure 
that has been brought on the leadership, in particular, of Al Qaeda 
and also of some other important extremist elements there,"' Gen. 
David Petraeus told CNN when asked if the United States had 
increased drone attacks inside FATA after the CIA blast." 
 
News Story: No Deal With U.S. Over Checking Of Americans - "The 
Nation," "The Post" (01/12) 
 
"Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit has categorically denied that 
he has received any request from the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad with 
regard to special privileges for American diplomats at checkpoints 
set up across the country for security reason. Talking to a private 
TV channel, Basit said American officials and diplomats are not 
being harassed in Pakistan but there are some issues on which they 
were in touch with the U.S. government and their Embassy in 
Islamabad." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: AfPak Strategy Greatest Challenge: Mullen - "The Nation" 
(01/12) 
 
"Executing the President's strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan 
presents his biggest challenge, said the Chairman of the U.S. Joint 
Chiefs of Staff. However, Navy Admiral Mike Mullen said he sees 
progress being made in both countries." 
 
News Story: U.S. Surge In Afghanistan Succeeding: McChrystal - "The 
News" (01/12) 
 
"The commander of NATO troops in Afghanistan said on Monday that a 
U.S. troop build-up in Afghanistan had started to turn the tide 
against the Taliban. 'We have been at this for about seven months 
now and I believe we have made progress,' General Stanley McChrystal 
said in an interview with ABC Television. But he added: 'It is not a 
completed mission yet.'" 
 
News Story: U.S. Rushing More Drones To Afghanistan: Report - "The 
Nation" (01/12) 
 
"The increasing number of U.S. drones over Afghanistan are producing 
so much video intelligence that military analysts are finding it 
hard to keep up, a leading American newspaper reported Monday. Air 
Force drones collected nearly three times as much video over 
Afghanistan and Iraq last year as in 2007 - about 24 years' worth if 
watched continuously, the New York Times said in a dispatch. That 
volume is expected to multiply in the coming years as drones are 
added to the fleet and as some start using multiple cameras to shoot 
in many directions." 
 
News Story: U.K., U.S. Officials' Visits Criticized In Senate: Call 
For Judicial Probe Into Karachi Incidents - "Dawn" (01/12) 
 
"Senators called on Monday for a judicial inquiry into the Karachi 
attack on an Ashura procession and subsequent acts of arson and loot 
and target killings and expressed concern over the deteriorating law 
and order situation in the city.... Mian Raza Rabbani of the ruling 
Pakistan People's Party stunned the house when he condemned frequent 
visits to Islamabad by American and British officials, like Richard 
Holbrooke and David Miliband, and termed their statements as 
interference in internal affairs of the country. He asked the 
Foreign Office to take notice of such statements which infringed on 
the independence and sovereignty of Pakistan. Mr. Rabbani and Deputy 
Chairman of Senate Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali moved an adjournment 
motion condemning harsh security checks introduced by the United 
States at its airports for citizens of several countries, including 
Pakistan. They called upon the government to give a matching 
response to the humiliating steps introduced for Pakistanis 
travelling to the U.S." 
 
News Story: Pay U.S. In The Same Coin, Senators Demand - "The 
Nation" (01/12) 
 
"The Senate members also expressed great concern over the enhanced 
screening procedures including full-body pat-downs and extra hand 
luggage searches for Pakistanis flying to America and called for the 
similar treatment with the U.S. nationals. The members were of the 
view that such a treatment is tantamount to insult to the whole 
nation and the country." 
 
News Story: Complete Shutter Down In Quetta - "The Nation" (01/12) 
 
"A complete shutter-down and wheel jam strike was observed in Hub 
town while protest rallies were taken out in different districts of 
Balochistan by Baloch nationalist parties and student organizations 
to protest the alleged target killings of Baloch in Karachi 
allegedly by Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM)." 
 
News Story: Six NATO Troops Killed In Afghanistan - "Daily Times" 
(01/12) 
 
"Six members of the NATO-led military force in Afghanistan were 
killed on Monday in battles with Taliban insurgents and a roadside 
bomb attack, making it one of the bloodiest days for foreign troops 
in months." 
 
News Story: Troops Kill Eight Taliban In South Waziristan - "Daily 
Times" (01/12) 
 
"Security forces on Monday killed eight Taliban while a soldier was 
martyred in clashes with terrorists in the ongoing operation in 
South Waziristan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations." 
 
 
News Story: Moot Urges U.S. To Hold Talks With Taliban - "Daily 
Times" (01/12) 
 
"Speakers at a seminar on Monday said the U.S. should negotiate with 
the Taliban before it ended up in another Vietnam-like situation. 
According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Institute of 
National Affairs (PINA), Lahore, the seminar was attended by a 
number of retired army officers, political personalities and 
citizens." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: World Talks On Afghanistan, Pakistan Today - "Daily 
Times" (01/12) 
 
"Delegations from 40 nations will meet in Abu Dhabi today (Tuesday) 
to discuss the problems currently being faced by Afghanistan and 
Pakistan, an Emirati official said on Monday. The official said the 
Foreign Ministers of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan, Qatar and the 
United Arab Emirates would also attend the gathering." 
 
News Story: Row In NA Over 'Fight-Back' By Zardari - "Dawn" (01/12) 
 
 
"The government and the opposition crossed swords over a perceived 
political fight back by President Asif Ali Zardari at the start of a 
National Assembly session on Monday after both sides agreed to put 
off a debate on Karachi violence until Wednesday." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
News Story: Pakistan Expects $1.8 Bn From Fodp By June: Tarin - "The 
News" (01/12) 
 
"Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin has said Pakistan expects to get 
U.S. $1.8 billion by June this year. 'We are gradually and slowly 
receiving pledges and commitments from the Friends of Democratic 
Pakistan and by June 2010, we will get U.S. $1.8 billion,' he said 
while addressing a press conference at the Ministry of Finance in 
Islamabad on Monday." 
 
News Story: Terminally Ill Pak Steel Displays Might Of Corruption In 
Pakistan - "The News" (01/12) 
 
"Corruption has been taken to new heights in Pakistan as Prime 
Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's government has allowed key accused 
persons in corruption cases worth billions of rupees registered by 
his own government to continue managing the affairs of the 
collapsing and bankrupt Pakistan Steel. The business group accused 
by the government investigators of causing billions of rupees of 
losses to the national institution has not been blacklisted or even 
barred from doing business with Pakistan Steel." 
 
News Story: Steel Mills Corruption Being Legalized - "The News" 
(01/12) 
 
"Top secret official documents to be unfolded in the Economic 
Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet here Tuesday (today), 
reveal how conveniently a 'clean chit' was now quietly being given 
to the dismissed top management of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSP) by 
none other than Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on corruption 
charges. The PSP, according to these papers, had earned a profit of 
Rs2.4billion in 2007-2008 but suffered a mind-boggling loss of Rs20 
billion in the following year (2008-2009)." 
 
News Story: Gas Supply To Textile Units Stopped - "Dawn" (01/12) 
 
"Textile mills and other production units in Punjab and the NWFP are 
facing a grim situation because of the suspension of supply of 
natural gas by the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL). 
Criticizing the suspension, chairman of the Punjab chapter of the 
All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Gohar Ejaz called for direct 
intervention of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum and Natural 
Resources and restoration of gas supply." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Fake Passports Issued To Indians By Mission In Houston - 
"Dawn" (01/12) 
 
"Pakistan's Consul General in the U.S. city of Houston appeared in 
an accountability court in Rawalpindi on Monday as a witness and 
confirmed that fake Pakistani passports had been issued to Indian 
citizens." 
 
News Story: U.S. On Verge Of Iran Sanctions, Says Clinton - "Daily 
Times" (01/12) 
 
"The Obama administration has concluded that the best way to 
pressure Iran to come clean on its nuclear ambitions is to impose 
sanctions aimed at the country's ruling elite, Secretary of State 
Hillary Clinton said on Monday." 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Our Tax To GDP Ratio Is Indeed Abysmal, an editorial in 
the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (01/12) 
 
"Patterson reiterated the Obama administration's commitment to the 
development of Pakistan - a strategy considered to be targeted 
towards ending fundamentalism and terrorism. She added that the U.S. 
government was working closely with farmers on a cost-sharing basis 
to replace or repair 11000 tube wells in the country as well as 
underwriting several significant quick-impacting energy projects. 
The U.S. public and private investment in Pakistan is considerable, 
especially in comparison to other countries. And yet few in this 
country endorse the drone attacks or indeed what they perceive as 
American intransigence in insisting that the Pakistani armed forces 
take on the Haqqani group in North Waziristan - or the Taliban, who 
are targeting Afghanistan and not Pakistan. This makes it evident 
that the U.S. strategy of extending financial assistance on the one 
hand and demanding military operations on their targets, on the 
other, coupled with increased drone attacks is not winning the 
hearts and minds of the people of this country. Perhaps, financial 
assistance, coupled with military assistance on the same pattern as 
that provided by Bush to India may help to placate the people of 
this country." 
 
Editorial: President Zardari's Appeal Against Terrorism, an 
editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 
55,000) (01/12) 
 
"During the course of the ongoing war on terror, the U.S.-Britain 
alliance has assumed the status of a very dangerous and organized 
imperialism. In Pakistan, U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson enjoys 
more freedom in her movements than the envoys of our brotherly 
Muslim countries. Due to her unrestricted strolls in the corridors 
of power as well as in other political powerhouses in the country, 
including Nine-Zero in Karachi and Raiwind in Lahore, majority of 
Pakistani people considers her the reminiscent of the viceroys 
during the 'British Raj' in the Sub-continent. On the other hand, 
the U.S. has made it mandatory for the Pakistani air travelers to 
undergo an intense body-screening at its airports. We think that the 
indomitability of China, North Korea and Iran must serve as a model 
for our rulers in order to get rid of the American high-handedness." 
 
 
Editorial: Threats On The Afghan Border, an editorial in the 
Lahore-based independent Urdu daily "Din" (cir. 5000) (01/10) 
 
"It is not surprising if President Zardari is demanding that the 
Pak-Afghan border be secured. Heroin, Kalashnikov, anti-human jihad 
and illegal trade have all entered Pakistan through this border.... 
Pakistan forces have made full-fledged efforts to stop the movement 
of terrorists along the Afghan border. For this purpose, Pakistan 
has built 189 check-posts along the border even where the terrain is 
difficult to navigate. On the other hand, Afghan and Allied forces' 
check-posts are only a few dozen in number. There have also been 
some reports that India is involved in creating unrest and 
instability in Pakistan through Afghanistan. The international 
community must give serious thought to President Zardari's demand if 
it wants to save the region from a new crisis, and wants more 
cooperation from Pakistan." 
 
Editorial: "David Petraeus' Remarks, And The Point To Understand, an 
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000) (01/10) 
 
 
"According to David Petraeus' strange logic, while the Al Qaeda 
leadership is shifting from South Asia to Yemen, Pakistan and 
Afghanistan's tribal areas will remain the terrorist hub. This shows 
that American policymakers are not serious in withdrawing troops 
from Afghanistan, and they will continue to create problems in 
Pakistan's tribal areas. [In contrast] what is actually needed is an 
improvement in monitoring the routes Al Qaeda members and terrorists 
use to go from one place to another. Al Qaeda can be dealt a severe 
blow if these routes are checked thoroughly. The U.S. should pay 
attention to this important point." 
 
Editorial: General Petraeus' Threats: OIC Should Wake Up, an 
editorial in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily 
"Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) (01/12) 
 
"U.S. CENTCOM Chief General Petraeus has said that the focus of U.S. 
war on terror are the tribal areas between Afghanistan and Pakistan, 
not Yemen.... It was only by declaring the war on terror a Crusade 
that Bush secured the support of more than two dozen Christian 
states.... Islamic countries and the OIC need to be cautious in this 
scenario. OIC should unite the Muslim countries to fight these 
conspiracies." 
 
Editorial: The 'What Ifs', an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (01/12) 
 
 
"The world is awash with 'what ifs' and our part of it rather more 
than many others. The plethora of conspiracy theories that swirl 
around our ankles are a subset of the 'what if' school of thought, 
and now we have General Petraeus diving in. He tells CNN in an 
interview aired on Sunday that Iran's nuclear facilities...'can be 
bombed.'... The aftershocks, were the U.S. to bomb Iranian nuclear 
facilities, may well trigger the definitive break between it and the 
Muslim world. One might wonder if the 'what ifs' of that scenario 
have been the subject of a table-top exercise or computer modeling." 
 
 
Editorial: U.S. Adventurism, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (01/12) 
 
"A most irresponsible statement has come from General Petraeus, head 
of U.S. Central Command, in which he has declared that Iran's 
nuclear sites can be bombed and that the Pentagon has plans for such 
a contingency....  With such adventurism coming from the CENTCOM 
Commander, the political route of dialogue with Iran already stands 
undermined." 
 
Editorial: An Unwise Petraeus, an editorial in the Lahore-based 
liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 10,000) (01/12) 
 
"General David Petraeus, who heads the U.S. Central Command 
overseeing U.S. forces in the Middle East, Gulf, and Central Asia, 
has made a very provocative statement regarding Iran.... It is 
usually said that war is too serious a business to be left to the 
generals. The same could be said of politics, which should not be 
left to the generals either. General Petraeus has proved this 
point.... The U.S. should work towards solving the issue through 
diplomacy. An aggressive posture by the U.S. is bound to push the 
world into chaos and disaster." 
 
Editorial: Serious Implications Of Bombing Iran's N-Sites, an 
editorial in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan 
Observer" (cir. 5,000) (01/12) 
 
"Head of the U.S. Central Command General David Petraeus told CNN 
television that his country can bomb Iranian nuclear sites and has 
considered the impacts of any action taken there. Though it is an 
open secret that the United States has serious reservations about 
Iranian nuclear program but it is for the first time that a top U.S. 
Commander has hurled naked threat of this kind. This shocking 
statement clearly points out that Washington is bent upon making 
mischief and its misadventure could further imperil the already 
fragile peace in the region.... It, however, appears that the United 
States is eager to find excuses to trigger a wider and deeper 
conflict in the region to advance its nefarious designs." 
 
Editorial: Possibility of U.S. Military Intervention in Yemen, an 
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (01/12) 
 
"It seems that for the time being the U.S. and its closest ally 
Britain have postponed the idea of undertaking any adventure in 
Yemen. Due to the fast-deteriorating security situation in 
Afghanistan, Washington badly needs the Pakistan army's help to get 
out of this quagmire. After military actions against Afghanistan and 
Pakistan, the U.S. designs against Yemen must be an eye-opener for 
the Muslim world. We think it is high time for the Muslims to forge 
unity to foil the American conspiracies." 
 
Editorial: Use Of The Word Allah, an editorial in the center-right 
Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (01/12) 
 
"According to an AFP report, angry protestors set another two 
churches on fire in Malaysia on Sunday. The reason for this anger is 
that according to some people, non-Muslims cannot use the term 
"Allah."...  One verse of the Holy Quran enjoins Prophet Muhammad 
(peace be upon him):" Ask the non-believers Who created the earth 
and the skies, and they will cry out, 'It is Allah.'" If [the Holy 
Quran] permitted the non-believers of Makkah to call the Creator 
"Allah," what is the justification of stopping non-Muslims from 
using this term?" 
 
Opinion: McCain's Visit, A Letter to the Editor by Brig (Retd) 
Liaqat Ali in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" 
(cir. 5,000) (01/12) 
 
"The leader of the visiting four member delegation of American 
Congress, Senator John McCain has stated that drone strikes are an 
important tool in the overall U.S. strategy for victory and that 
they have been very effective so far.... The Senator's 'proven 
effective tool' of drone strikes will do no less, he may rest 
assured. I am compelled to say this because the minimum damage to 
innocent civilians (which he indirectly admits is caused by his 
country's drones) does have the potential to germinate a desperate 
urge for revenge in the hearts of the surviving kith and kin of 
those innocent victims. And some part of what is fashionably called 
'terrorism' in today's political jargon, does originate from this 
urge for revenge. This is the reason that America must reconsider 
her strategy of using drone strikes as a tool for winning the global 
war on terror." 
 
 
Opinion: U.S. Barricades Itself Into Self-Imposed Siege! Ominous 
Beginning For New Year 2010!, an op-ed by Wajid Naeemuddin in the 
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (01/12) 
 
"The new security measures will increase by a factor of hundreds 
(maybe thousands), the resentment ordinary people will feel as they 
are subjected to hours' long delays at airports, as well as the 
humiliation of a body search by prying and intrusive hands. It is in 
such an environment of pervasive hatred that the germs of terrorism 
are born and thrive. America appears to be unmindful of the fact 
that the restrictions of this kind are a two-edged sword and have an 
unpleasant, both-ways impact.... By such Draconian measures, America 
is increasingly putting itself under a self-imposed siege and is 
itself getting a taste of the deprivation of freedom imposed in the 
recent past on dozens of Asian and African countries, through 
colonization and exploitation of every kind which has been a 
prerogative of the West.... Perhaps the biggest blow dealt to date 
to the American dream of subduing Afghan resistance was struck on 29 
December 2009, when a CIA base in Afghanistan - the holy of holies 
in terms of security - was penetrated by one, who was ostensibly 
working for CIA, the powerful, biggest-ever, 
clandestine-operations-specialist, super-secret American 
organisation. Humam Khalil Abu-Mulal Al Balawi hated America for its 
anti-Muslim policies and actions and struck when he saw his 
long-awaited chance to deal a deadly blow aimed at CIA's very 
heart." 
 
Opinion: When Will They Learn?, an op-ed by Shaima Sumaya in the 
Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" (cir. 
5,000) (01/12) 
 
"The Pakistani people in millions have no voice, no say, not even a 
ripple effect in the running of the State. They must be provided 
that. Pakistan must be run to their wishes and not to the wishes of 
a political royalty. Most Pakistanis are enraged and offended by the 
U.S. intervention in Pakistan. When the question was asked that will 
Barak Obama's election boost democracy in Pakistan? Pakistanis 
responded that any President means the same to them as the U.S. 
threatens Pakistan's sovereignty. The "educated and moderate" class 
of Pakistanis said that how can the U.S. be of any help to Pakistan 
when they are in debt of U.S. $13 trillion and have a budget deficit 
of U.S. $1 trillion FY 2009? However, it is essential that Pakistan 
act like a responsible nation and assist the U.S. in the 'War on 
Terror' without compromising their sovereignty, which it is at the 
moment." 
 
Opinion: Obama: Rhetoric Vs Reality, an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi 
in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (01/12) 
 
"In the transition from a powerful orator of soaring campaign 
rhetoric to the real world of tough policy choices, questions were 
raised about whether Obama had the determination to pursue the 
agenda he had set. And priorities there were aplenty, inviting the 
charge that he had scattered his focus. Critics portrayed him as a 
leader good at launching initiatives but inconsistent in executing 
or making them work. Meanwhile, his "lenient" treatment of bankers 
in the financial bailout, failure to close down Guantanamo and 
watering down of the healthcare plan evoked dismay within the 
Democratic base, amid cries of betrayal of the 'transformational 
agenda.' This was exemplified by an editorial in the New Republic 
which said: 'A presidency that was born in enthusiasm has displayed 
little evidence of it' in the first year." 
 
Opinion: Lessons We Must Learn, an op-ed by Rahimullah Yusufzai in 
the populist, often sensational national English daily "The News" 
(cir. 55,000) (01/12) 
 
"There are lessons to be learnt from the recent suicide bombing at 
the secret CIA station in Afghanistan's Khost province bordering 
Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region.... It showed how 
widespread the animosity is among Muslims against the U.S. given its 
policies and explained the way Islamic militants transcending 
borders are increasingly joining hands to fight what they perceive 
as a common enemy.... It should worry the U.S. and its allies that 
Muslims the world over find it difficult to trust western nations. 
This is benefiting the militants and providing justification to 
their cause. The CIA agents were attacked because they were 
directing U.S. drone attacks that kill some Al Qaeda and Taliban 
members and many more civilians in Pakistan's tribal areas. The fact 
that Islamic militants from different countries and cultures have 
been planning and conducting joint operations against western 
targets should be a matter of concern for the U.S. and its friends. 
There should be some soul-searching on the part of all sides to the 
conflict to think of other and preferably peaceful options instead 
of embarking on revenge and continuing this vicious circle of death 
and destruction." 
 
Opinion: History Of The U.S. Afghan War, an op-ed by Arif Ayub in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/12) 
 
"Normally, one would expect a history to be written after the war is 
over but the unusual step by the U.S. military basically illustrates 
the strength of the U.S. institutions and the resilience of its 
system. All bureaucracies make mistakes and the larger the 
bureaucracy the bigger the mistake.... The history is a remarkable 
document that provides an extremely frank assessment of the U.S. war 
effort in Afghanistan; however, it suffers from a basic flaw that it 
is essentially a military document and guerrilla warfare which 
requires a political strategy.... There is a failure to admit that 
the U.S. troops have essentially become sandbags for the Northern 
Alliance. The objectives of counter terrorism and nation building 
should never have been allowed to morph into a counter insurgency 
operation. The security interests of Iran and Pakistan have been 
completely ignored." 
 
Opinion: One Day We All Will Be Terrorists!, an op-ed by Dr. Haider 
Mehdi in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (01/12) 
 
"What we need is a revolutionary political leadership in this 
country. We deserve a change in the political mindset and political 
conduct of this nation's leaders. We need fresh leadership in 
Pakistan. We all do not need to be politically loyal to our 
contemporary political dispensation or to our present political 
allies. We must completely reject a global political system of 
U.S./West's dominance. We all ought to be political dissidents! 
After all, dissent is a vital element of the democratic political 
process. It is a duty of an engaged citizenry! One day we all might 
be considered terrorists by our western 'friends.' Never mind. So be 
it!" 
 
Opinion: A New Terrorist Orient, an op-ed by Shahbaz Ahmed Cheema in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(01/12) 
 
"Identity of individuals in this modern age is dependent on their 
citizenship/nationality, which is being represented by passports. So 
the passport is one of the very important identity markers in our 
world.... One may ask that there are so many countries which have 
not been included in that list and is this not sufficient to show 
that this list has been prepared after extensive research and 
analysis. Issue is not this that many countries have not been in the 
list rather it is that why the whole population of any single 
country is being portrayed as possessing same capacities and 
potential just because of their geographical identity based on 
passport. To me, it is not less than shaping and constructing of a 
'New Terrorist Orient.'" 
 
Opinion: Quadrilateral Ties, an op-ed by Shahid Javed Burki in the 
Karachi-based center-left independent national English daily "Dawn" 
(cir. 55,000) (01/12) 
 
"One important component of the developing global structure is the 
evolving relationship among four countries: China, India, Pakistan 
and the U.S. Three of these countries are in Asia, the fourth is 
still the only superpower in the global economic and political 
systems. The most important of these relations are between the U.S. 
and China, between India and China, between India and the U.S., 
between Pakistan and the U.S. and between India and Pakistan. Each 
of these has its own dynamics. That said they together form a 
quadrilateral relationship that is inherently unstable. The 
challenge for these countries is to bring about stability to this 
relationship in a way that it serves the interest of all four 
countries.... The quadrilateral relationship can become stable if 
the four countries sit around the table - a G-4 arrangement - to 
work out how they can move forward so that none is hurt and all 
benefit." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson