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SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 16, 2010 
 
Summary:  Coverage of the ongoing row between the government and 
judiciary over the appointment of judges dominated front-pages on 
Tuesday morning.  Prime Minister Gilani's statement, warning that 
"judges restored by his executive order still needed Parliament's 
ratification" made headlines in all newspapers.  Nearly all papers 
also highlighted countrywide rallies of PPP, opposition parties, and 
legal fraternity on this issue.  Reports and photographs of the 
CODELs including Senator McCaskill, and Senator Kerry, and 
Undersecretary Flournoy's meetings with senior Pakistani civilian 
and military officials received extensive coverage both in print as 
well as electronic media.  Media also highlighted Ambassador 
Patterson's speech at the National Defense University (NDU), 
underlining that U.S. and Pakistan enjoy closer military ties than 
ever. Several major dailies covered Secretary Clinton's remarks that 
Iran (is) moving towards dictatorship and its Revolutionary Guard 
Corps is supplanting its government.  Also reported were remarks by 
Interior Minister Malik's remarks that Dr. Aafia was sent illegally 
to the United States.  Newspapers covered killing of four people in 
a drone attack in North Waziristan; and the "stiff resistance" that 
U.S. Marines are facing at Marjah, in Afghanistan's province 
Helmand.  Weekend editions of the several major dailies reported 
that the United States delivered 48 howitzers to Pak Army, four 
water trucks to its Special Services Group (SSG), and five patrol 
boats to Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency.  Likewise, Deputy 
Secretary Wolin's discourse with a select group of journalist, 
maintaining that "PM Gilani agreed to issue visas to more U.S. 
auditors" also received prominent display.  End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Parliament Still To Validate Judges Restoration: PM  - 
"The News" (02/16) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday unleashed a new 
controversy and possibly a fresh round of acrimonious legal 
nit-picking when, addressing the National Assembly, he said that his 
executive order restoring Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry 
and other judges had yet to be ratified by Parliament." 
 
News Story: Countrywide Strike Observed  - "The News" (02/16) 
 
"The legal fraternity on Monday observed a complete countrywide 
strike and boycotted court proceedings against the presidential 
order regarding judges' appointment and expressed solidarity with 
the judiciary." 
 
News Story: Zardari For Greater Pak-U.S. Cooperation  - "Daily 
Times," "Business Recorder," "Dawn," "The Nation" (02/16) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday called for greater cooperation 
and enhanced level of trust between Pakistan and the United States. 
Talking to a U.S. delegation comprising Senator Claire Conner 
McCaskill, Senator Jeff Merkley, Congressmen Barron Hill, Michael 
Turner and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W Patterson, at the 
Presidency, Zardari said that Pakistan had suffered a huge loss of 
more than $35 billion during the last eight years as a result of the 
fight against militancy, in addition to the colossal and 
un-quantifiable cost in terms of social and human losses, which he 
said had almost crippled the nation's economy." 
 
News Story: U.S., Allies Assistance To Pakistan Does Not 
Commensurate With Sacrifices In War Against Terror: PM  - "The News" 
(02/16) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the support 
and assistance pledged to Pakistan by the U.S. and major allies does 
not commensurate with the sacrifices, commitment and contribution 
made by Pakistan in the war against terror, to make the world a 
safer place. The Prime Minister regretted that even the pledges made 
by the allies at the Donors Conference in Tokyo last year are yet to 
be fulfilled, which has resulted in serious implications for his 
country's economy. He urged the U.S. to take the lead in fast 
tracking the reimbursement of long delayed Coalition Support Fund 
and expedite the release of the assistance already appropriated 
under the Kerry Lugar Bill, for Pakistan. The Prime Minister was 
talking to U.S. Congressional delegation led by Senator Claire 
McCaskill, also comprising Senator Jeff Merkley and Congressman 
Barron Hill, who called on him here at his Parliament's Chamber on 
Monday evening." 
 
News Story: U.S. Sen. Kerry Calls On COAS Kayani   - "The News" 
 
 
(02/16) 
 
"U.S. lawmaker John Kerry has arrived here in Pakistan on two-day 
official visit on Monday night, Geo news reported. According to ISPR 
sources, following his arrival, Kerry called on Chief of Army Staff 
(COAS) General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani." 
 
News Story: Pune Blast Must Not Derail Delhi Talks: Kerry  - "Dawn," 
"The News" (02/16) 
 
"The weekend bomb blast in Pune shouldn't derail the resumption of 
diplomatic talks between India and Pakistan, says John Kerry, 
chairman of the powerful Foreign Relations Committee of the U.S. 
Senate. In an interview to Wall Street Journal published on Monday, 
Senator Kerry also suggested that the Pune blast should be the first 
item on the agenda if India found a Pakistani link to the attack." 
 
News Story: U.S. Aid To Pak Linked To 'Do More' Mantra  - "The 
Nation" (02/16) 
 
"Pakistan has to do more to combat terrorists on its soil if it 
wants to continue to receive substantial U.S. aid, a key U.S. 
senator reaffirmed Monday in New Delhi. 'Pakistan has got to make 
clear its willingness to take on internal enemies,' Sen. Kerry, who 
is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in 
an interview with The Wall Street Journal." 
 
News Story: U.S. Committed To Partnership With Pakistan, Says 
Patterson  - "Daily Times," "The News," (02/16) 
 
"The U.S. is committed to a partnership with Pakistan that is built 
on a foundation of mutual interest, respect and trust, U.S. 
Ambassador Anne Patterson said on Monday. Addressing participants of 
the National Defence Course at the National Defence University, she 
said, 'The U.S. and Pakistan enjoy close bilateral military 
cooperation today than we have had in many years.' She said the 
cooperation is a result of a consultative process that has brought 
many U.S. military and civilian leaders to Pakistan over the past 
few months." 
 
News Story: U.S. Used Influence To Ensure Pakistan's SBA With IMF: 
Patterson - "Business Recorder" (02/16) 
 
"U.S. Ambassador to Pakistani Anne W. Patterson has reiterated U.S. 
resolve to support Pakistan, saying that her country is committed to 
help Pakistan address the urgent economic needs and it has used its 
influence at the international level to ensure that Pakistan's 
Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund 
continue to move forward. 'We maintain a close watch on the dialogue 
with the IMF and have intervened repeatedly to ensure that 
Pakistan's concerns are being addressed adequately,' the U.S. envoy 
said while addressing the participants of the National Defence 
Course at National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad here on 
Monday." 
 
News Story: Iran Moving Toward 'Military Dictatorship'  - "Daily 
Times" (02/16) 
 
"New UN sanctions on Iran would target enterprises controlled by the 
Revolutionary Guards which is driving the Islamic Republic toward a 
military dictatorship, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said 
on Monday. Speaking in Qatar before flying to Riyadh, Hillary denied 
the United States planned to attack Iran and said Washington wanted 
dialogue with Tehran but could not 'stand idly by' while Iran 
pursued a suspected nuclear weapons program." 
 
News Story: U.S. Delegation Calls On Rehman Malik; Aafia Illegally 
Sent To U.S.  - "The News" (02/16) 
 
"A seven-member delegation led by Senator McCaskill called on 
Minister for Interior Senator Rahman A Malik on Monday and discussed 
matters of mutual interest. They discussed matters relating to 
security issues. Rehman Malik briefed the delegation on the overall 
security situation in the country, said a statement issued in 
Islamabad. The Minister also stressed on the delegation to 
repatriate Dr. Aafia Siddiqi to Pakistan. He said that Dr. Aafia was 
sent illegally to the U.S." 
 
News Story: U.S. Drone Kills 4 More In NWA  - "The Nation" (02/16) 
 
"Four persons were killed when a U.S. drone targeted a vehicle in 
Tabi Ghudai Kalay area of North Waziristan Agency on Monday, sources 
informed." 
 
News Story: U.S. Marines Face Fierce Resistance In Helmand  - "Dawn" 
(02/16) 
 
"U.S. Marines leading one of NATO's biggest offensives against the 
Taliban in the eight-year war are facing fierce resistance in some 
areas, including heavy gunfire, snipers and booby traps, U.S. 
officials said on Monday. Marine units have tried twice since Sunday 
to reach a bazaar in Marjah, the last militant stronghold in the 
country's most violent province, Helmand, only to be pushed back." 
 
News Story: U.S. Hands Over Howitzer Guns To Pakistan Army - "The 
News," "Dawn," "The Statesman," "Jang," "Express," "Jinnah" (02/14) 
 
"The U.S. Army handed over Howitzer guns to the Pakistan Army in a 
simple but impressive ceremony held in Karachi on Saturday, says a 
press release issued by the ISPR. It said that Brig. Michael K. 
Nagata, Deputy Chief ODRP, handed over 115 Howitzer guns to Brig. 
Farrukh Saeed, Commander Artillery Mechanized Division. The 
U.S.-made M109A5 Howitzer is an indirect fire support weapon of 
armored and mechanized infantry divisions." 
 
News Story: U.S. Donated Five Patrol Boats to Pakistan's Maritime 
Security Agency - "Nawa-i-Waqt" (02/14) 
 
"The United States government donated five maritime interdiction 
patrol boats to Pakistan's Maritime Security Agency (SMA) at the 
Karachi shipyard on Saturday, significantly enhancing the agency's 
coastal interdiction and patrol capabilities. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. 
Michael Nagata, U.S. Office of the Defense Representative-Pakistan 
Deputy Commander, officially donated the 13-meter (42-foot) Fast 
Patrol Boats to Rear Admiral Tahseen Ullah Khan, MSA Director 
General, during a hand-over ceremony in Karachi." 
 
News Story: U.S. Donates Water Trucks To Pakistan's Army to Aid 
Displaced Persons - "Khabrain," "Jinnah," "Pakistan" - (02/13) 
 
"The United States government donated four water trucks to the 
Pakistan Army's Special Services Group (SSG) in Rawalpindi on 
Friday. U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Michael Nagata, U.S. Office of the 
Defense Representative-Pakistan deputy commander, officially 
delivered the vehicles to Brigadier Omar Mahmood Hayat, SSG chief of 
staff, during a hand-over ceremony at Chaklala Airfield." 
 
News Story: Washington Links Release Of Assistance To Visas  - "The 
News," "The Nation," "Daily Times," "Pakistan Observer" (02/13) 
 
"U.S. Deputy Secretary of Treasury Neal S. Wolin on Friday said 
release of U.S. financial assistance to Pakistan was linked to the 
resolution of its Audit Department officials' visa issue. Talking to 
newsmen at the American Embassy, Wolin emphasized the need for early 
solution to the problem of visas for the American audit team. He 
said visas were required for ensuring disbursement of funds in a 
proper way. Appreciating the strict decisions taken by the 
Government of Pakistan to improve its economy, he said there was 
still a need to increase the revenue as Pakistan had the minimum 
revenue collection of 10 per cent to the GDP that had been creating 
financial problems." 
 
News Story: U.S. Urged to Speed Up Reimbursement  - "Dawn," "Daily 
Times," "Pakistan Observer" (02/13) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Friday urged the United States 
to honor the pledges it made at a donors' conference in Tokyo and 
under the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill, and to expedite reimbursements 
under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF). Talking to U.S. Deputy 
Secretary of Treasury Neal Wolin at the Prime Minister's 
Secretariat, Mr. Gilani said reimbursements under the CSF should be 
made through official channels for optimum use of funds. The money 
will be utilized to revive various sectors of the economy and to 
launch development projects in militancy-hit areas." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: U.S. Condemned Terrorist Attacks in Khyber Agency and 
Bannu - "Islam" - (02/13) 
 
"The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist 
attacks targeting innocent people on February 10 in Khyber and on 
February 11 in Bannu." 
 
News Story: U.S., India, Israel Again In Action  - "The Nation" 
(02/14) 
 
The coming together of the U.S., Israel, and India, in an unholy 
alliance to tighten the noose around a Muslim lady reflects the new 
realities of global power politics. The prejudiced decision against 
Dr Aafia Siddiqui traces its roots to the active involvement of 
Israel in collusion with Indians like Preet Bharara who hold 
powerful legal positions in the U.S., under the support and shelter 
of the U.S. Why Aafia's case was assigned to a judge with 
controversial prejudiced past, who was more a Jew than juror, is too 
obvious to seek a reply. It is also astonishing that the burning 
news regarding Judge Richard Berman, being an orthodox Jew, and a 
member of jury who convicted Aafia has barely been noticed in 
international community and media. Apart from a few select forums, 
the issue was not raised elsewhere." 
 
News Story: Training Afghan Army Top Priority, Says Holbrooke  - 
"The News" (02/16) 
 
"U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke said on Monday that training the 
Afghan Army was the top priority and the international community 
would need to keep helping Afghan reconstruction even after the 
U.S.-led forces withdraw, he told a U.S.-Islamic Forum in Doha." 
 
News Story: Allies Take Control Of Key Taliban Bastion  - "The News" 
(02/16) 
 
"Afghanistan's military said on Monday that U.S.-led troops had 
almost taken control of a key Taliban bastion, although pockets of 
stiff resistance remained on the operation's third day. The U.S. 
Marines are leading 15,000 U.S., NATO and Afghan troops in the 
ground and air operation designed to clear the Taliban from the 
Marjah region of the Helmand province, in southern Afghanistan, and 
make way for Western-backed authorities." 
 
News Story: Taliban Allow U.S. Troops Very Little Advancement In 
Marjah - "Daily Times" (02/16) 
 
"Sniper teams attacked U.S. Marines and Afghan troops across the 
Taliban haven of Marjah, as several gun-battles erupted on Monday, 
the third day of a major offensive to seize the extremists' southern 
heartland. Multiple firefights broke out in different neighborhoods 
as U.S. and Afghan forces worked to clear out pockets of Taliban and 
push slowly beyond parts of the town that they have gained control 
of." 
 
News Story: U.S. Marines Under Fire From Taliban 'Aks'   - "Daily 
Times" (02/16) 
 
"'Get down, get down!' scream U.S. Marines as Taliban bullets 
whistle through poppy fields and troops hit the ground on the 
outskirts of the southern Afghan town of Marjah. Marines lie flat on 
their stomachs, others duck behind sand dunes as they try to assess 
where the attack is coming from in the midst of an offensive 
designed to clear the Taliban out of Marjah, an AFP photographer 
witnesses. But their counterparts from the Afghan army open fire 
immediately. 'Cease fire, cease fire!' shouts a U.S. lieutenant over 
the din, telling them through a translator they should first know at 
whom and what they're shooting." 
 
News Story: Operation Rah-e-Nijaat Objectives Achieved: COAS  - 
"Daily Times" (02/16) 
 
"The key objectives of the military operation in South Waziristan 
have been achieved and most of the high profile terrorists have been 
wiped out from the area, a private TV channel quoted Chief of the 
Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Kayani as saying on Monday." 
 
News Story: General Kayani Meets Mahsud Elders At Tank Camp - "The 
News" (02/16) 
 
"Life remained crippled in Tank after curfew was imposed by local 
authorities to ensure peaceful holding of Mahsud tribal Jirga at 
forces' Maanzai camp on Monday. Circles close to security forces 
said the event was kept secret because of participation by Army 
Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and other senior military and 
civil officials. Sources said that Army chief in his address to 
Mahsud elders assured that concrete steps were being taken for the 
rehabilitation and development of the militancy-plagued area." 
 
News Story: U.S., Pakistan Capture Taliban's Top Commander  - "Dawn" 
(02/16) 
 
"The United States and Pakistani intelligence forces captured the 
Taliban's top commander Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in a secret joint 
operation in Karachi, Pakistan, the online edition of The New York 
Times said late Monday." 
 
News Story: U.S. Troop Pullout From Afghanistan Alarms India  - 
"Dawn" (02/16) 
 
"India fears that a quick pullout from Afghanistan would bring 
greater U.S. reliance on China and Pakistan, at India's expense, 
says a report published in The Washington Post." 
 
News Story: Lashkars Enjoy Full Govt. Backing  - "The Nation" 
(02/16) 
 
"The National Assembly was informed that armed lashkars formed in 
Khyber, Bajaur, Mohmand and Orakzai Agencies as well as in Frontier 
Region were enjoying full support of Government. 'The Government is 
providing full monetary, material and moral support to these 
Lashkars and now the militants are on the run,' told Minister for 
States and Frontier Regions Najmuddin Khan in a written reply to 
National Assembly in question hour session." 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: PM's Remarks Fuel Tensions, Speculation  - "The News" 
(02/16) 
 
"Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has opened another can of worms 
by declaring in the National Assembly that the executive order 
issued in March last year by the government for the restoration of 
pre-November 3 judges is yet to be endorsed by parliament, fuelling 
intense speculation that Mr. Zardari might withdraw it as a last 
desperate measure. Tensions on all sides snowballed immediately with 
the PM's speech in the NA as it was considered a part of the new 
confrontational strategy of the beleaguered government trying to 
save the presidency, especially after the PML-N attack on Zardari's 
person, declaring him as a threat to democracy." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
News Story: ADB Has Raised Objections Over Two RPPs, NA told  - 
"Daily Times" (02/16) 
 
"The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised objections over two 
rental power plants (RPPs) installed during the tenure of the 
previous government, and not on those starting in the future, 
Federal Minister for Power and Water Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said on 
Monday. Speaking during the question hour session in the National 
Assembly, the minister said four new independent power plants (IPPs) 
had started generating 671 megawatts of electricity." 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Helmand Operation: U.S. Will Get Nothing, an editorial in 
the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily "Islam" (cir. 
15,000) (02/16) 
 
"The NATO and Afghan forces, fully armed with sophisticated and 
lethal weaponry, are facing intense resistance from the Taliban in 
their military offensive being conducted in the Helmand province. 
This operation is a test case for American and allied forces because 
it will decide the future of Afghanistan. However, one thing is 
clear that, like all its operations during the last nine years, this 
time, too, the current U.S. military offensive will fail to achieve 
its objectives." 
 
Editorial: What Was Rationale Of Joint Operation On Negotiating 
Table?, an editorial in the Peshawar-based Urdu-language daily 
"Mashriq" (cir. 55,000) (02/16) 
 
"Analysts are of the view that the impending military defeat of the 
U.S. and its allies in the Helmand operation will not only weaken 
the morale of their troops in Afghanistan, but will also result in 
more pressure from their masses to withdraw forces from the Afghan 
quagmire. It seems that after failing to create fissures in the 
Taliban ranks through negotiations, Washington has adopted a 'do or 
die' policy. In case of suffering defeat in this offensive, the U.S. 
will be left with no other option except to talk to the Taliban on 
their terms." 
 
Editorial: U.S. Drone Strikes, Bomb Explosions And Helmand 
Operation, an editorial in the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 
25,000) (02/16) 
 
"The government must remember that it would be very difficult to 
oust Taliban from Balochistan if they enter it [following an 
operation in Afghanistan]. Hence the government must take measures 
to deal with that situation as well. It is after a long time that 
the Allied forces have started an operation in Afghanistan; it must 
be taken to its logical end and not left incomplete. Leaving this 
operation incomplete would have disastrous results and would allow 
the Taliban to regroup. This eventuality must not be allowed to 
develop." 
 
Editorial: The Marjah Adventure, an editorial in the Peshawar-based, 
independent regional daily "The Frontier Post" (cir. 7,000) (02/16) 
 
 
"If Taliban's claims can be taken with a pinch of salt, the 
predominantly western media's reporting on the U.S.-led occupation 
coalition forces in Afghanistan cannot be taken as gospel truth 
either. Most of this reporting is embedded journalism that conceals 
more than it reveals. And since this reporting is the main window to 
the outside world to know of the occupied country, the international 
community stands fed less on objective information and more on 
motivated disinformation on post-Taliban Afghanistan.... The very 
projection of Marjah offensive as a milestone-marking operation in 
President Barack Obama's surge strategy in Afghanistan is sheer 
deceit.... All said and done, the best option for the U.S.-led 
occupiers is still direct peace talks with the Taliban leadership. 
All other options are fraught." 
 
Editorial: Some New Concerns About Afghan Transit Trade, an 
editorial in the country's premier business newspaper, "Business 
Recorder" (cir. 25,000) (02/16) 
 
"People associated with the Afghan transit trade are worried about 
the likely impact on their businesses by allowing Afghan trucks to 
carry the proposed Wagah-Khyber transit trade items, as well as 
existing Afghan imports, via Karachi ports.... Although, Pakistan 
and Afghanistan signed a memorandum of understanding at a high 
profile trilateral meeting in Washington last May, it is yet to be 
turned into an agreement.... The government must ensure that if and 
when the trade starts, it does not harm local transporters' business 
interests in any way." 
 
Opinion: Biden's 'Biggest Worry', an op-ed by A.B. Shahid in the 
country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (02/16) 
 
"In a recent interview with CNN's Larry King, U.S. Vice-President 
Joe Biden has said the security situation in Pakistan worries him 
more than the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Iran's nuclear 
program.... So much for the concern, the U.S. has for stabilizing 
Pakistan; its visible deficiency is to limit the U.S. concern for 
transparency only when it comes to using the U.S. aid and grant 
funds, nothing else. It is an utterly dumb to hope that a regime, 
which practices transparency only to this extent, can survive in a 
country of 180 million of which 85 percent live virtually hand to 
mouth, and two of whose provinces are battling against organized 
terrorism. Joe Biden's views (courtesy the quarters he represents) 
expressing 'primarily' the U.S. views reflecting Zionist fears about 
Muslim countries acquiring nuclear capability. The powerful Joe 
Bidens in the U.S. administration go by this blinkered view reducing 
the rationality of every other help - assisting in the fields of 
education, building social and physical infrastructure, and 
improving transport, communication and industry - to zero." 
 
Opinion: The Battle For Marjah, an op-ed by Gen. (Retd) Mirza Aslam 
Beg in the center-right national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 
20,000) (02/16) 
 
"A "massive build-up" is afoot for the battle of Marjah, which is 
the stronghold of Taliban in the Helmand province of Afghanistan. 
About 15,000 ground troops, reinforced by 20,000 Afghan Army and 
police force launched the offensive, supported by the entire US/NATO 
air power in Afghanistan.... The result of this battle as well as 
the war in Afghanistan is the real contest. The coalition forces are 
demoralized and defeated, fighting a war which has no ideal and no 
moral justification. The Taliban are fighting for the freedom of 
their homeland.... They say the time is on their side, whereas, it 
is running-out for the oppressors in Afghanistan. It is obvious that 
the outcome of the battle of Marjah would be a stalemate due to the 
heavy casualties, coalition forces are likely to suffer. In no way 
it would help the peace process in Afghanistan.... Special 
modalities, therefore, are needed for bringing peace in Afghanistan 
and to ensure an honorable way out, for the U.S. and its Allies, and 
a smooth transition to the civil order, 'without triggering bigger 
chaotic conditions.'" 
 
Opinion: Developments in U.S. Conspiracy, an op-ed by Afshain Afzal 
in the Lahore-based liberal English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) 
(02/16) 
 
"The U.S. is facing a defeat-like situation in Afghanistan, which 
compelled top bosses at Pentagon and White House to reconsider 
United States' Afghan strategy. The heavy toll of alien forces at 
the hand of Taliban for the last two years, especially in December 
2009, January and February 2010 forced the foreign forces to pullout 
their troops from Afghanistan.... However, many analysts have not 
noticed that the withdrawal has already taken place and instead of 
combatants as replacement, fresh groups of trainers and members of 
reconstruction team have already started arriving in Kabul and 
Islamabad. The most striking feature of the new U.S. strategy is 
that a new private army is being raised on the lines of Special 
Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. To achieve this goal, Washington 
has started recruiting non-U.S. citizens in its Army. The 
controversial plan of opening recruitment centers in Afghanistan and 
Pakistan is already underway and more foreigners from Asia and 
Arabia are being offered citizenship. The concept is not new as most 
of the U.S. personnel in Afghanistan are not Americans but foreign 
citizens, serving as mercenaries to achieve United States' 
objectives." 
 
Editorial: The Fate Of Talks, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/16) 
 
"India's recent decision to restart the process of talks with 
Pakistan had not duped subcontinent watchers, or for that matter 
many people, to feel that the wisdom of having a peaceful and 
understanding relationship between the two countries had suddenly 
dawned on its leadership. The decision appeared to be a formal 
gesture devoid of any meaning, and soon the world learnt that India 
wanted only to discuss terrorism; it is not the composite dialogue 
it had offered to resume to discuss issues that spawn tragedies like 
terrorism, but only the symptoms. To judge whether India is sincere 
about resolving disputes, it must be kept in mind that, at work in 
persuading it to sit on the negotiation table was the mounting 
international pressure, in particular from the U.S., which was 
acutely anxious about the fate of its surge in Afghanistan, in the 
event Islamabad's attention remained centered on the hostile posture 
New Delhi persisted in exhibiting towards it. One would, perhaps, be 
justified in assuming that even Washington, with its perceived 
strategic interests in keeping New Delhi on its right side, would 
not have been so keen to pressurize it against its wishes to 
recommence the stalled composite dialogue." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson