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SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 04, 2010 
 
SUMMARY:  Coverage of the terrorist attack in Lower Dir that killed 
three U.S. soldiers dominated front pages in all newspapers on 
Thursday.  Reports included official statements by the U.S. Embassy 
and Special Representative Holbrooke. Newspapers published the 
Taliban's statement claiming responsibility for the attack and 
alleging that the "Americans killed were members of the Blackwater 
group."  The English daily, "The News," noted that the three 
American soldiers "were part of [a] 100-strong commando 
unit,...which has been training the Pakistani Frontier Corps." 
Reports of the conviction of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui also made front-page 
news, including a comment in the "The Nation" by Shireen Mizari 
blaming "the vindictive mindset of the U.S. public post-9/11" and 
"the Pakistani state and government" for its complicity in what she 
termed a "judicial farce." All newspapers highlighted remarks by the 
Director of U.S.  National Intelligence Dennis Blair that "Al Qaeda 
is poised to attempt an attack on the United States within three to 
six months." Dailies also reported U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency 
director, Lt-Gen Ronald Burgess's statement expressing confidence in 
Pakistan's ability to safeguard its nuclear arsenal, "though 
vulnerabilities exist." General Petraeus's support for Pakistan's 
efforts to reach out to the Afghan Taliban also received wide 
coverage.  Other morning headlines included Chief of Army Staff 
General Kayani's statement that the "ISI is not playing a double 
game in the war on terror," and reports that security forces killed 
15 militants in Bajaur. Minister Counselor for Public Affairs, Larry 
Schwartz's address to information officers at the Public Service 
Academy also received coverage in Thursday's papers. End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Dir attack Kills U.S. Troops, Schoolgirls  - "Dawn" 
(02/04) 
 
"Three American soldiers were among eight people killed in a suicide 
attack in Lower Dir district on Wednesday. It is the first time U.S. 
soldiers have been killed in the tribal region, near the Afghan 
border, in an attack that drew attention towards a little-known 
program involving the U.S. army training Frontier Corps personnel, a 
senior security official said." 
 
News Story: Pakistan And U.S. Condemn Bombing  - "Dawn," "Jang," 
"Nawa-i-Waqt," "Express," "Khabrain," "Aaj-Kal," "Islam," "Ausaf," 
"Jinnah," "Pakistan," "Mashriq" (02/04) 
 
"The Foreign Office (FO) and the U.S. on Wednesday condemned the 
attack in Lower Dir that killed three American soldiers, an FC 
personnel, four schoolgirls and another person. The White House said 
President Barack Obama condemned the attack that killed innocent 
schoolgirls. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the U.S. embassy in 
Islamabad said the carnage 'shows the vision of the terrorists ... 
the U.S. and Pakistan are partners in fighting terrorism.' 
Separately, U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke also condemned the attack, 
and said the U.S. soldiers appeared not to have been directly 
targeted,' and denied Taliban charges they worked for Blackwater." 
 
News Story: Taliban Claim Responsibility For Suicide Bombing: Dir 
Attack Kills U.S. Troops, Schoolgirls  - "Dawn" (02/04) 
 
"Three American soldiers were among eight people killed in a suicide 
attack in Lower Dir district on Wednesday.... According to AFP news 
agency, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack and 
alleged that the dead Americans belonged to U.S. security company 
Blackwater Worldwide, now known as Xe. Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan 
spokesman Azam Tariq said in a call from an unspecified place." 
 
News Story: Killed Americans Were Part Of 100-Strong Commando Unit 
"The News" (02/04) 
 
"The three U.S. soldiers who lost their lives on Wednesday in a 
school bombing incident in Dir Lower were members of the Army 
Special Forces, which has been training the Frontier Corps to 
improve its intelligence and combat tactics to effectively fight 
al-Qaeda and the Taliban insurgents in the Pak-Afghan tribal belt." 
 
 
News Story: Jury Finds Aafia Guilty  - "Dawn" (02/04) 
 
"Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani neuroscientist, was found guilty of 
attempted murder charges on all seven counts listed in the complaint 
against her. She was tried on charges of trying to kill American 
soldiers in Afghanistan on July 28, 2008." 
 
Comments: Cycle Of Injustice Complete, by Shireen M. Mazari - "The 
Nation" (02/04) 
 
"The New York jury's decision finding Dr. Aafia guilty on seven 
charges did not really surprise anyone familiar with the vindictive 
mindset of the U.S. public post-9/11. Yet as the trial progressed, 
some hope seemed to appear since most of the crucial evidence 
against her proved false or confused. There were no fingerprints on 
the gun allegedly used on the U.S. soldiers for instance. Other 
accusations also proved inconsistent so one thought that perhaps the 
U.S. citizens on the jury would not show the bias and bigotry shown 
to so many Muslims in the U.S. post-9/11. But alas that was not to 
be. Despite serious doubts about the evidence - the most obvious one 
being her weak physical frame, which would never have allowed her to 
snatch the heavy gun and target the U.S. soldier -the jury convicted 
her. But the main issue is that the Pakistani state and government 
were complicit in this judicial farce." 
 
News Story: Al Qaeda Attack On U.S. In Three To Six Months  - "Dawn" 
(02/04) 
 
"Al Qaeda is poised to attempt an attack on the United States within 
three to six months, America's top intelligence officials have 
warned Congress. The intelligence chiefs also warned that militant 
groups in Pakistan were coordinating their attacks with Al Qaeda, 
which had led to an increase in terrorist attacks inside Pakistan as 
well as rising concerns the groups might expand their ambitions to 
attack outside Pakistan. Director of U.S. National Intelligence 
Dennis C. Blair told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Al Qaeda 
and its affiliates had made it a high priority to attempt a 
large-scale attack on American soil." 
 
News Story: Army Serious About Security  - "Dawn," "Daily Times" 
(02/04) 
 
"Pakistan's military knows there will be 'catastrophic consequences, 
primarily for Pakistan," if any of its nuclear bombs falls into the 
wrong hands, the top U.S. Intelligence Chief said on Wednesday. 
Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair's comments came one 
day after another top U.S. national security official told the 
Senate Intelligence Committee that 'vulnerabilities exist' in 
Pakistan's nuclear safeguards." 
 
News Story: Pakistani N-Arsenal Safe But Vulnerable: U.S.  - "Dawn" 
(02/04) 
 
"The United States believes Pakistan can protect its nuclear weapons 
but vulnerabilities remain, according to the director of the U.S. 
Defence Intelligence Agency. Lt-Gen Ronald Burgess told the U.S. 
Senate Intelligence Committee that the Pakistani government and the 
military establishment both came under repeated pressure from the 
Taliban extremists last year, including an attack on the army 
headquarters." 
 
News Story: Petraeus Backs Pakistan's 'Constructive Involvement'  - 
"Dawn," "Daily Times" (02/04) 
 
"U.S. General David Petraeus voiced support for Pakistan's 
'constructive involvement' in reaching out to Afghan Taliban to 
encourage reconciliation, saying its past ties to militants could 
prove helpful. But the head of U.S. Central Command, who is 
overseeing a surge of 30,000 additional U.S. forces into 
Afghanistan, cautioned in an interview that prospects for 
reconciliation among senior leaders were slight, at least for now." 
 
 
News Story: ISI Not Playing Double Game: Kayani  - "Daily Times" 
(02/04) 
 
"Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani has strongly 
rejected allegations that Pakistan's premier intelligence agency - 
the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) - is pursuing double standards 
in the war on terror, reported a private TV channel on Wednesday. 
Addressing senior journalists in Kakool, Gen. Kayani said that 
Pakistan Army had made more sacrifices than the coalition forces in 
the war on terrorism. He said Pakistan and the U.S. had 'different 
long-term goals' in Afghanistan." 
 
News Story: Fifteen Militants Killed In Bajaur  - "Dawn" (02/04) 
"Troops supported by planes and helicopter gunships mounted fresh 
attacks in Bajaur and killed 15 militants on Wednesday, sources 
said." 
 
NRO Pakistan's Internal Issue: Larry Schwartz - "Express" (02/04) 
 
"Larry Schwartz, the Public Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy in 
Islamabad, has said that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) 
is Pakistan's internal issue therefore he would not comment on it. 
He said that different institutions have different opinions 
regarding the NRO. Larry added that the United States wants to see 
democratic stability in Pakistan and would continue its full 
cooperation with the present government. He urged the Pakistani 
people to undertake the task of leveling global opinion about their 
country. Speaking to Information Officers at the Public Service 
Academy, the U.S. diplomat said that in the perspective of the 
future importance of Asia, it is the need of the hour that Pakistan 
be introduced as a powerful country." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: U.S. Takes Torture Claims Seriously  - "Dawn," "Daily 
Times" (02/04) 
 
"The U.S. State Department has said it would raise with Islamabad 
the claim by five American nationals, apprehended last year in 
Sargodha, that they were tortured by Pakistani agencies. 'We take 
seriously all reports of abuse and torture and will raise such 
allegations with the government of Pakistan,' a statement issued by 
the department said." 
 
News Story: Coalition Troops Brace For Biggest Offensive Since Start 
Of Afghan War  - "Daily Times" (02/04) 
 
"The U.S.-led coalition troops are planning their biggest joint 
offensive since the beginning of the Afghan war, officers said on 
Wednesday. They are aiming to target a town in the south of 
Afghanistan, which is not only considered a Taliban stronghold but 
also a hub of their lucrative opium trade. Due to security reasons, 
no exact date for the launch of the offensive has been released as 
yet but U.S. Commanders have said they plan to capture the town of 
Marjah, 380 miles southwest of Kabul during this winter." 
 
News Story: NATO Planes Violate Pak Airspace  - "The Nation" (02/04) 
 
 
"The NATO fighter planes reportedly violated Pakistan's airspace for 
almost thirty minutes in the Zhob district, some 300 kilometers away 
from Quetta, on Pak-Afghan border on Wednesday, according to 
sources." 
 
News Story: Govt. to Wipe Out Extremism: Qureshi  - "The News" 
(02/04) 
 
"Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday reaffirmed the 
government's commitment to wipe out the menace of extremism and 
terrorism from the country. He, however, said there is a need to win 
the hearts and minds of the people to completely overcome the 
menace." 
 
News Story: Hakeemullah May Have Survived Drone Attack: Official  - 
"Dawn" (02/04) 
 
"A senior government functionary has told 'DawnNews' on condition of 
anonymity that Hakeemullah Mehsud may have survived a drone strike. 
The government has not officially confirmed the speculations about 
his death." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: Senate Asked To Debate U.S. Strikes, Karachi Killings  - 
"Dawn" (02/04) 
 
"Two adjournment motions were submitted in the Senate on Wednesday, 
seeking debate on recent target killings in Karachi and Tuesday's 
U.S. drone strikes in North Waziristan. These were submitted by 
three Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) senators - Prof Khurshid Ahmad, Prof 
Mohammad Ibrahim Khan and Aafia Zia." 
 
News Story: Kayani Spells Out Threat Posed By Indian Doctrine  - 
"Dawn" (02/04) 
 
"While the Pakistan Army is alert to and fighting the threat posed 
by militancy, it remains an "India-centric" institution and that 
reality will not change in any significant way until the Kashmir 
issue and water disputes are resolved, according to Army Chief Gen. 
Kayani." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
News Story: NGOs Allowed In Conflict Zones After Scrutiny   - "Dawn" 
(02/04) 
 
"The government has been issuing no-objection certificates to 
non-governmental organizations for working in conflict-affected 
districts after strict scrutiny to ensure that peace is maintained 
there, sources said. The sources said 65 NGOs were working in 
health, education, water and sanitation and other sectors in Swat. 
Most of these organizations, they said, had signed agreements with 
government departments for completion of certain projects over a 
period of time." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: Ahmadinejad To Visit Pakistan - "The News" (02/04) 
 
"Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will soon visit Pakistan to 
develop a joint action plan to boost bilateral ties and strengthen 
tripartite contracts with Afghanistan on security issues, Iranian 
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told visiting Pakistani 
journalists." 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: U.S. Furious On Pakistan's Refusal, an editorial in the 
Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily "Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (02/04) 
 
"On the one hand, the U.S. wants to politically engage the Afghan 
Taliban while, on the other, it has increased the frequency of drone 
attacks in North Waziristan which implies that Washington is working 
on an agenda to pitch the tribal people against the Pakistan Army, 
which has refused to open a new front in this area. This 
contradiction in the U.S. policy casts doubts on the war against 
terrorism. Moreover, the U.S. has also refused to give drone 
technology to Pakistan and is using this weapon ungrudgingly against 
the innocent people of North Waziristan with an aim to increase 
pressure on Pakistan. The government needs to unequivocally ask the 
U.S. to stop these attacks." 
 
Editorial: Death & Confusion, an editorial in the populist, often 
sensational national English daily "The News" (cir. 55,000) (02/04) 
 
"The bomb blast that has killed at least nine people in Lower Dir 
and injured perhaps 100 others - most of them schoolgirls -- could 
be the first in what some security experts have warned may be 
retaliatory action following the possible death of Hakimullah 
Mehsud. Three foreign nationals were reported killed.... Tragic as 
the loss of young life is, we wonder why 'U.S. army trainers' were 
present at the inaugural ceremony of a girls' school that had 
apparently been built by our own armed forces after the previous 
school had been demolished. It may also be wondered how the 
terrorists were able to place their IED - reportedly of 70kg, a very 
large device.... It is obvious that the terrorists have no scruples 
about attacking schools or other soft targets even though they are 
aware that it is civilians who will die.... Continued bombings 
detract from the confidence of the public at large that the Taliban 
can be overcome." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Drone Terrorism, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/04) 
 
"The U.S. is raining drones on Pakistani soil with a vengeance. On 
Tuesday alone the drones' death toll has reached 30.... The fallout 
for Pakistan is dreadful, Not only does it show that the Pakistani 
government is allowing its citizens to be killed by the U.S. on 
Pakistani territory, it also creates more recruits for the 
extremists and militants and makes the job of winning over the 
tribals so as to isolate the hardcore militants that much more 
difficult. It would appear that that is the U.S. insidious design 
against Pakistan, since they also know that such strikes not only 
add to the locals' resolve to fight the Americans, but they also 
undermine the credibility of the Pakistan military and the state.... 
So, if the U.S. is not prepared to accept our demand and stop 
violating our sovereignty with the drone attacks, then we need to 
demonstrate intent and will through actions." 
 
Editorial: Planned Increase In U.S. Drone Attacks, an editorial in 
the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(02/04) 
 
"According to reports emanating from Washington, the new U.S. 
defence budget seeks more funds to enhance drone operations by 75%, 
citing its success in targeting militants in Afghanistan and 
Pakistan's tribal region.... Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed to 
Washington that these attacks amount to undermining the sovereignty 
of the country and these are counterproductive to the stated 
objective of winning hearts and minds of the people, which is 
necessary to achieve victory against war on terror. It is also 
strange that on the one hand the United States is directly or 
indirectly approaching Taliban for talks, facing domestic pressure 
for bringing back Marines and is engaged in finalizing an exit 
strategy but on the other hand it is planning to increase drone 
attacks which would increase temperature both in Afghanistan and 
Pakistan and mar chances for initiating any meaningful dialogue. 
Unfortunately, President Obama has become a lackluster leader and 
his policies are devoid of coherence and logic and these would lead 
the U.S. to nowhere." 
 
Editorial: Has America Been Given A License To Kill?, an editorial 
in the second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 
150,000) (02/04) 
 
"American drones fired 18 missiles at five places in North 
Waziristan killing 17 people and wounding many....  Pakistani rulers 
are demanding the American administration for halting the done 
attacks, but to no avail.  The administration has rather intensified 
the attacks.  A better option for Pakistan is to start shooting down 
drones like the tribal people have done.  This missile strikes 
campaign by America can be described as the target killing of 
Pakistanis and Pakistani President and the Prime Minster should 
lodge a strong protest with America.  A mysterious silence by the 
government of Pakistan and meek protest shows that the government 
has given a license to kill to America." 
 
Opinion: Afghanistan:  At A Turning Point, an op-ed by General 
(Retd) Mirza Aslam Beg in the center-right national English daily 
"The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/04) 
 
"Obama announced the New Strategy for Afghanistan, and "has come to 
the determination through a series of deliberations, and getting a 
strategy for how to go forward in Afghanistan" with the intention 
'to finish the job.' He has thus ordered a surge of 30,000 troops, 
increasing the total U.S. commitment to about 100,000, bolstered by 
45,000 NATO troops.... On the face of it, this strategy is flawed, 
because the 30,000 troops surge will not help win the war. Rather, 
they would need 10 times more troops to achieve a semblance of 
success. Since they cannot afford such a large mobilization of 
troops, they can, at best maintain the no-win-situation, with 30,000 
troops 'to hold the existing important population and communication 
centers, while the air power will be used to flush-out the 
Taliban.'... The United States of America and their allies are faced 
with a situation in Afghanistan, similar to the one the Soviets 
faced in 1989. Having suffered defeat, the Soviets asked for a safe 
exit, which was provided by the Mujahideen and the Pakistan 
government. Obama's new strategy in fact, is a veiled request for 
their safe exit. "It is a gamble. The price of victory will be high 
and the price of failure is incalculable" (Simon Tisdold)." 
 
Opinion: Taliban Take On The U.State' Surge, an op-ed by Syed Saleem 
Shahzad in the Peshawar-based independent regional daily "The 
Statesman" (cir. 3,000) (02/04) 
 
"In an effort to get the dialogue process back on track, the U.S. is 
considering the Taliban's demand on stopping the troop surge in 
Afghanistan, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan lined up to 
work out an arrangement that would keep the Taliban and al-Qaeda 
under control in any U.S. exit plan. Should the U.S. agree to the 
Taliban demands, there is no guarantee that the Taliban would stick 
to their word. This is the United States' dilemma." 
 
Opinion: Sleeping With The Enemy, an op-ed by Farrukh Khan Pitafi in 
the Lahore-based liberal English language daily "Daily Times" (cir. 
10,000) (02/04) 
 
"Those who advocate negotiating with the Taliban have actually been 
brainwashed by them and are still laboring under the delusion that 
somehow Pakistan can control Kabul through such groups. The only way 
Pakistan can play a role in today's Afghanistan is by winning the 
hearts of the Afghan people and not trying to impose rogues on them. 
Inclusion of the Taliban in the current administration will only be 
a ticking time bomb and will destroy the countries on both sides of 
the Durand Line. What else can we do then? It is clear that warfare 
is not solving everything. The Taliban are growing and the 
neo-conservatives in the U.S. are painting a doom and gloom 
scenario, especially because in the current situation they cannot 
make any capital - either political or financial - out of 
Afghanistan. They now want the Obama administration to commit a 
final and irredeemable mistake in Afghanistan so that he becomes 
totally marginalized." 
 
Opinion: New Strategy For Afghanistan, an op-ed by Burhanuddin Hasan 
in the Islamabad-based rightist English daily "Pakistan Observer" 
(cir. 5,000) (02/04) 
 
"Following many years of disastrous war with Taliban in which 
thousands of people were killed or injured and most of the country 
was laid waste, the Afghan President Hamid Karzai along with the 
U.S. and its NATO allies has finally reached the conclusion that the 
war is after all not winnable and the policy of reconciliation 
through dialogue with moderate factions of Taliban would be the best 
solution... Taliban have not so far shown any willingness in public 
for talks, but observers believe they are dead tired of fighting and 
might gladly accept the offer. The problem however is whether the 
die-hard followers of Osama will agree with moderate elements as 
expected by the Karzai government." 
 
Opinion: Between Surge And Talks, an op-ed by Dr. Maleeha Lodhi in 
the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) 
(02/04) 
 
"The Taliban have been confronted with the challenge of the surge 
but with fighting yet to intensify. It is precisely because the 
Taliban feel that they are strong that they can be tempted to engage 
in the political process. As far as Pakistan is concerned, it has 
already signaled that it can play a role in mediating with the 
Taliban once there is clarity about how and when to proceed. The 
view that has prevailed for now is to wait until Washington has made 
up its mind and decided on a political framework for talks with the 
Taliban. The obvious question raised by this wait-and-see approach 
is how in the meantime Islamabad will deal with U.S. expectations of 
cooperation with its military escalation strategy, which is at odds 
with its role as an interlocutor with the Taliban. While daunting 
challenges lied ahead in resolving the tensions in the U.S.-led 
international effort in Afghanistan there is an important aspect of 
the evolving situation that has attracted little attention in the 
media." 
 
Opinion: Striving To Matter, an op-ed by Mowahid Hussain Shah in the 
center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) 
(02/04) 
 
"An e-mail currently being circulated in the Washington metropolitan 
area lists the number of Indian Americans in key policy positions in 
the White House and elsewhere in the federal government.... India 
continues to seek an expanded platform. Its relative unease with 
Obama has not deterred India from nursing grander plans. It still 
continues to crave a permanent seat with veto power on the UN 
Security Council, a prospect which is dimmed because of India's 
contentious tussle with Pakistan over Kashmir. India also wants to 
be included in the area of responsibility of CENTCOM (the main US 
military command structure responsible for the U.S. military 
operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Persian Gulf) - a wish the 
U.S. is unlikely to accommodate for fear of antagonizing an already 
wary Pakistan." 
 
Opinion: Aman Ki Asha: The Challenges Ahead, an op-ed by Muhammad 
Umer in the populist, often sensational national English daily "The 
News" (cir. 55,000) (02/04) 
 
"While creating an environment conducive to talks is essential, it 
is equally important that conditions are created which will ensure 
any spoiler of peace efforts is brought to account. The two nations 
have had enough of the Musharrafs and the Kapoors. Peace 
constituencies in both countries will need to eventually become 
pressure groups with the capacity to tailor public opinion strong 
enough to guard against any attempt to derail the peace process once 
it is resumed. Galvanizing the people into action will be possible 
only through creating political awareness, which is the soul of any 
meaningful change in society. The role of the media simply cannot be 
denied in this respect." 
 
Editorial: There Must Be Strict Measures Against Israel, an 
editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25,000)(02/04) 
 
"Israel has admitted that during last year's attacks on the Gaza 
Strip, citizens were targeted with white phosphorous shells. The 
Israeli government has reprimanded army officers responsible for 
these attacks. Until now, the Israeli army has denied violating 
regulations on the use of white phosphorous. Israel has violated 
international norms on war, as well as human rights countless times, 
and this has continued unabated because the international community 
has not taken note of these or taken action against Israel.... Just 
reprimanding soldiers responsible for such attacks is negligible 
penalty for such a major crime.... The need is to take effective 
measures that compel Israel to abide by international regulations, 
otherwise it would endanger the entire world, not just the Middle 
East." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson