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UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 000398 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OIIP OPRC PGOV PREL PK
SUBJECT:  PAKISTAN MEDIA REACTION: FEBRUARY 19, 2010 
 
Summary:  Coverage of U.S. Special Representative Holbrooke's 
Islamabad visit received extensive coverage both in electronic and 
print media. Newspapers highlighted his meetings with top Pakistani 
civilian and military leaders, and his assurance that "Pakistan will 
get $349 million of Coalition Support Funds (CSF) within a week or 
so."  Media also reported that a Congressional delegation led by 
Representative Schiff called on President Zardari, and discussed 
U.S.-Pak bilateral ties.  Reports of a bomb blast in Tirah valley of 
Khyber Agency killing 30 people including a militant commander and a 
U.S. drone strike that killed four militants in North Waziristan 
Agency (NWA) received wide coverage.  Several major dailies 
displayed reports prominently that two Taliban "shadow governors" of 
Afghan provinces, and a key aide of Usama Bin Laden were detained in 
Pakistan.  The U.S. support to build a road in South Waziristan to 
"provide lifelines for development activities and commerce" for 
people living in FATA garnered media coverage. Several newspapers 
and TV networks reported that the U.S. Mission in Pakistan has 
introduced new online visa forms for non-immigrants from February 
22, 2010.  Reports and photographs of induction of the first 
squadron of indigenously manufactured aircraft, JF-17 Thunder, into 
the Pakistan Air Force received extensive coverage.  Nearly all 
mainstream newspapers ran editorials on recent judicial crisis that 
was amicably resolved with PM Gilani's declaration to accept Chief 
Justice Chaudhry's recommendations regarding judges' appointment. 
End Summary. 
 
TOP STORIES 
 
News Story: Pakistan To Get $349m Within Few Days: Holbrooke  - "The 
News," "Dawn" (02/19) 
 
"U.S. President's special envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard 
Holbrooke said that $349 million of Pakistan's blocked Coalition 
Support Funds (CSF) dues would be released 'within a week or so,' 
explaining that the release only awaited an approval from Congress 
'which was a routine matter,' while talking to a group of newspaper 
editors and columnists in Islamabad." 
 
News Story: PM Stresses Immediate Disbursement Of CSF  - "The News" 
(02/19) 
 
"Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Thursday underlined the 
expeditious initiation of the Pakistan-United States strategic 
dialogue for building trust to remove the misperceptions and 
misgivings between Pakistan and the United States, while talking to 
U.S. envoy Holbrooke, Special U.S. Representative for Pakistan and 
Afghanistan who along with a delegation called on him at the Prime 
Minister House.  Prime Minister noted with concern that the delay in 
disbursement of CSF and the release of the appropriated amount under 
the Kerry-Lugar Bill to Pakistan were adversely affecting Pakistan's 
overall economy." 
 
News Story: Pakistan, U.S. Need To Work More Closely, Says Zardari 
- "Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"Pakistan and the U.S. need to work more closely in order to broaden 
the spectrum of cooperation for the pursuits of common goals, 
President Asif Ali Zardari said on Thursday, adding Pakistan looked 
forward to high-level strategic dialogue between the two countries 
next month in Washington. Zardari was talking to U.S. Special 
Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke, who 
called on him at the Presidency.... Separately, Prime Minister 
Yousaf Raza Gilani also met Holbrooke and stressed the initiation of 
the Pakistan-U.S. strategic dialogue as soon as possible for 
building trust between the two countries.... Meanwhile, Holbrooke 
told reporters that improved collaboration between Pakistan and the 
U.S. led to recent successes against the Taliban, including the 
capture of the group's number two man. 'It is significant in and of 
itself. Very significant,' he said. 'It represents another high 
watermark for Pakistani and U.S. collaboration.'" 
 
News Story: Zardari Asks U.S. To Stop Screening Pakistanis At 
Airports - "Dawn" (02/19) 
 
"Pakistan has asked the United States to take it out of the list of 
countries for whose citizens screening at airports has been made 
mandatory. President Asif Ali Zardari raised the issue during 
separate meetings on Thursday with Richard L. Armitage and Richard 
Holbrooke, U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and 
Pakistan." 
News Story: Pak Shows Concern Over Effects Of NATO Assault  - "The 
Nation" (02/19) 
 
"The U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, 
Richard Holbrooke, on Thursday assured political leadership of 
Pakistan that his country would provide all possible assistance to 
Pakistan in strengthening of democracy, security, socio-economic 
development and welfare of its people. This he said while talking to 
President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani 
and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif during his separate meetings with them 
in Islamabad." 
 
News Story: Holbrooke Calls On Kayani  - "The News" (02/19) 
 
"U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke 
called on Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and 
discussed various affairs relating war against terrorism, Geo News 
reported late Thursday. According to Inter Services Public Relations 
(ISPR), both the leaders mulled over various issues including 
bilateral relations, regional situation and war against terrorism." 
 
 
News Story: Indian Stance On Talks Not Encouraging, U.S. told  - 
"The News" (02/19) 
 
"Pakistan made it clear to the United States that despite the 
challenging role that it was facing in the region, 'the vibes 
emanating from New Delhi have not been encouraging' in the context 
of resumption of the Composite Dialogue process. Prime Minister 
Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari, PML-N Chief Nawaz 
Sharif and Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, all impressed upon U.S. 
Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke, in 
their separate meetings, how vital it was for New Delhi to remain 
engaged in the dialogue process." 
 
News Story: Only Obama Can Free Dr. Aafia: Holbrooke - "The News" 
(02/19) 
 
"U.S. Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan Richard Holbrooke 
has said that U.S. President Barack Obama can release Dr. Aafia 
Siddiqui, but for it she would have to file a mercy petition to the 
President through the Justice Department. Talking to senior 
newspapers editors in Islamabad at the U.S. Embassy on Thursday 
evening, Holbrooke said that he is well aware of the sentiments of 
the Pakistani people regarding release and repatriation of Dr. Aafia 
but our courts are autonomous and independent and only President 
Obama can release her." 
 
News Story: Zardari Asks U.S. To Play Its Role For Pak Stability  - 
"The News" (02/19) 
 
"President Asif Ali Zardari Thursday said Pakistan needs a Marshall 
Plan for overcoming economic problems that had suffered a huge loss 
of over $35 billion during the last eight years as a result of the 
fight against militancy and terrorism. A U.S. Congressional 
delegation led by Representative Adam Schiff, member House Permanent 
Select Committee on Intelligence, called on President Zardari at the 
Presidency on Thursday. Matters regarding Pak-U.S. bilateral 
relations, reimbursements of Coalition Support Fund arrears, fight 
against militancy and terrorism, the new U.S. screening regime and 
security situation in the region were discussed during the meeting." 
 
 
News Story: President Underscores Pakistan's Role For Regional Peace 
 - "Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"For the prosperity of the region, it is imperative that Pakistan 
and India should bridge the gap and return to the negotiating table 
to resolve of their bilateral issues meaningfully, President Asif 
Ali Zardari said on Thursday. He was talking to former U.S. Deputy 
Secretary of State Richard L. Armitage, who called on him at the 
Presidency. According to a press release, matters relating to the 
war on terror, Pak-U.S. relations, mutual cooperation and the 
regional political situation were discussed during the meeting." 
 
News Story: Nawaz For U.S. Investment In Power, Agriculture Sectors 
- "Business Recorder" (02/19) 
 
"Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Chief, Nawaz Sharif, has urged 
U.S. to invest in Pakistan especially in power and agriculture 
sectors. He made the demands in a meeting with Richard Holbrooke, 
U.S. Special Representative for Pakistan & Afghanistan, at Punjab 
House in Lahore on Thursday." 
 
News Story: 7 Militants Among 30 Killed In Tirah Blast  - "Dawn" 
(02/19) 
 
"A militant commander and 29 people were killed and 80 others were 
injured when a bomb exploded in a cattle market in Tirah valley of 
Khyber Agency on Thursday. The commander was identified as Azam Khan 
of Lashkar-i-Islam. His six bodyguards also died, according to 
sources." 
 
News Story: Two Afghan Taliban Leaders Captured  - "The News" 
(02/19) 
 
"Two senior Taliban militants have been captured in Pakistan after 
the insurgents' military commander was arrested only days earlier, 
the New York Times reported on Thursday, citing Afghan officials. 
The two men detained had served as 'shadow governors' for two 
northern provinces in Afghanistan as part of the Taliban's effort to 
undermine the Kabul government's authority, the newspaper said." 
 
News Story: U.S. Financing Construction Of Tank-Makeen Road  - 
"Business Recorder," "Express" (02/19) 
 
"The U.S. is financing the construction of the important Tank-Makeen 
road through the FATA Secretariat under the December 31, 2009 
Implementation Letter pledging USAID infrastructure support in South 
Waziristan. 'The U.S. is working with Pakistan government to deliver 
much needed infrastructure and services to the people in FATA,' said 
Ambassador Robin Raphel, Coordinator for Economic and Development 
Assistance, adding, 'We want to move quickly, so people can use the 
road for transportation and much needed commerce.'" 
 
News Story: Online forms for U.S. visas  - "The News," "Dawn," 
"Business Recorder" "Jinnah," "Pakistan," "Aaj Kal" (02/19) 
 
"The U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, and U.S. Consulate, Karachi, will 
require non-immigrant visa applicants to use a new web-based 
application form starting February 22, 2010, says a press release. 
The new DS-160 application form incorporates all existing 
applications into one interactive, online form, replacing the forms 
that currently make up the Electronic Visa Application and Parental 
Information Forms." 
 
News Story: JF-17 Thunder Joins PAF's Fighter Fleet  - "Dawn" 
(02/19) 
 
"The first squadron of JF-17 Thunder aircraft formally joined the 
fighter fleet of Pakistan Air Force on Thursday. 'The formal 
induction of JF-17 aircraft in the PAF is in line with our resolve 
to face all challenges with poise and self-confidence," Chief of the 
Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman said while speaking at 
the induction ceremony held at a PAF operational base." 
 
TERRORISM/MILITARY ISSUES 
 
News Story: Obama Briefed On Pakistan-Afghan Situation  - "Dawn" 
(02/19) 
 
"U.S. President Barack Obama has reviewed the situation in Pakistan 
and Afghanistan with his senior officials and diplomats as his 
administration continues a two-pronged offensive to subdue militants 
in that region. The new approach includes a major military offensive 
in southern Afghanistan and a U.S.-led process to encourage 
repentant Taliban activists to join the Afghan mainstream. 
Diplomatic sources in Washington told 'Dawn' that U.S. and Pakistani 
officials were also looking at the possibility of using the arrested 
Afghan Taliban commander - Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to expedite 
the reintegration process." 
 
News Story: NATO Needs A Month To Secure Marjah  - "The Nation" 
(02/19) 
 
"A U.S.-led offensive in southern Afghanistan moved at a cautious 
pace Thursday as allied troops sought to spare civilian casualties 
and avoid numerous roadside bombs planted by the Taliban. NATO and 
Afghan troops have hit pockets of stiff resistance as they assault 
the Taliban's main stronghold in southern Afghanistan and may need 
another month to secure the area, a NATO commander said on 
Thursday." 
 
News Story: U.S. Forces Take Control Of Marjah - "Daily Times" 
(02/19) 
 
"U.S. and Afghan forces have taken control of the main roads, 
bridges and government centers of the Taliban haven of Marjah, the 
top Marine Commander in southern Afghanistan Brigadier General Larry 
Nicholson said on Thursday, though he added that pockets of 
insurgents remain." 
 
News Story: Key Osama Aide Among 9 Terrorists Held In Karachi  - 
"Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"Pakistani intelligence agencies and their U.S. counterparts have 
arrested at least nine terrorists in separate raids in Karachi, 
including a top al Qaeda leader, Abu Reyan Al-Zarkazi, believed to 
be a key aide of Osama Bin Laden. The suspects were shifted to 
Islamabad for interrogation.... The sources said six others, 
including five foreigners, had also been arrested from different 
parts of the city. Communications intercepted by U.S. authorities 
played a key role in tracking and arresting the suspects, who were 
in Karachi buying bomb-making equipment, the officials said." 
 
News Story: Haqqani's Son Among Four Killed In NWA Drone Strike  - 
"Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"Four Taliban, including Taliban commander Muhammad Haqqani, son of 
Jalaluddin Haqqani, were killed when U.S. drones fired two missiles 
in North Waziristan on Thursday, a private TV channel reported." 
 
News Story: Mullah Baradar's Arrest Not Due To U.S. Pressure: 
Qureshi  - "Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"Pakistan's arrest of an Afghan Taliban commander was not made under 
pressure from the U.S. and shows Islamabad's sincerity to the fight 
against terrorism, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on 
Thursday. 'We have done it because it is in our interests to do so,' 
Qureshi told Reuters on the sidelines of a security conference in 
Belgium." 
 
News Story: Pakistan Shows Action With Baradar's Arrest, Eyes Talks 
- "Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"The arrest in Pakistan of a top Afghan Taliban commander should 
bolster Pakistan's position as it maneuvers to play a leading role 
in any Afghan peace process, but probably does not signal a 
fundamental Pakistani policy shift. 'What they want to do is assuage 
the reservations and fears of the international community and to 
have a stronger bargaining position with respect to developments in 
Afghanistan,' said Khadim Hussain of the Aryana Institute think 
tank." 
 
News Story: U.S. Drone Kills Four Militants In NWA  - "The News" 
(02/19) 
 
"Four local militants were killed when the U.S. unmanned planes hit 
a van in Danday Darpakhel village in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) 
on Thursday, tribal sources said." 
 
News Story: Several Militants Killed As Forces Hit Targets In Bajaur 
 - "The News" (02/19) 
 
"Several militants were reportedly killed and dozens of their 
hideouts destroyed when helicopter gunships blitzed various areas in 
Nawagai Tehsil of Bajaur Agency, official sources said on Thursday." 
 
 
POLITICAL ISSUES 
 
News Story: India's Insistence On Security To Limit Dialogue: 
Qureshi  - "Dawn" (02/19) 
 
"Talks with India will not make the required progress if New Delhi 
insists on focusing on security, Pakistan said on Thursday. Foreign 
secretaries of the two countries are to meet in New Delhi on 
February 25 after India this month offered to hold high-level talks. 
Why this focus on terrorism? How can we have good relations if we 
just ignore the outstanding issues like Kashmir? Foreign Minister 
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said. 'That's an ostrich mentality.'" 
 
News Story: U.S.-Sponsored Indo-Pak Dialogue To Prove Dud - "Dawn" 
(02/19) 
 
"New Delhi and Islamabad cannot resolve all their 'standing and 
outstanding' issues until both stop holding dialogue on the agenda 
of American and Western imperialism. This was stated by Tappan 
Bhoss, Indian chapter General Secretary of the Pakistan-India 
People's Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), at a news 
conference at Lahore Press Club on Thursday." 
 
ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT 
 
News Story: USAID To Help Punjab Set Up Centre Of Excellence For 
Mangoes  - "Business Recorder" (02/19) 
 
"The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will 
help the Punjab government in setting up a 'Centre of Excellence for 
Mangoes' in the province with a view to carry out research and 
extension work simultaneously for increasing its exports. A 
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties is going 
to be signed shortly in this regard. This was disclosed by the 
Special Secretary Agriculture Marketing, Tahir Khurshid while 
speaking with a select group of newsmen at a session arranged by the 
USAID in Lahore on Thursday." 
 
News Story: Automated Traffic Signals: U.S. Firm To Brief CDA On 
Proposal Next Week  - "Daily Times" (02/19) 
 
"A U.S.-based company interested in securing the contract of 
installation of computerized traffic signals in the city will brief 
the CDA Board on its proposal of easing growing traffic congestion 
through introduction of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) next 
week. According to the official spokesperson for the CDA, Ramzan 
Sajid, the contract in question will be awarded to the firm, 
Econolite, in case of the proposal's approval by the CDA Board 
headed by Chairman Imtiaz Inayat Elahi." 
 
MISCELLANEOUS 
 
News Story: At Least 52 People Feared Dead As Avalanche Hits Village 
 - "Dawn" (02/19) 
 
"At least 52 people were feared dead and scores of others injured 
when an avalanche slammed into a remote hamlet in Kandian Tehsil of 
Kohistan district late on Wednesday night. Inclement weather 
hampered rescue work in the mountainous area of Saroo in Bagro Dara. 
Local people retrieved bodies and injured from a number of houses 
buried under snow." 
 
EDITORIALS/OPINIONS 
 
Editorial: Stemming The Tide Of Anti-Americanism, an editorial in 
the country's premier business newspaper, "Business Recorder" (cir. 
25,000) (02/19) 
 
"U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry has 
arrived in Pakistan to hold talks with the government and military 
leaders. While talking to Gilani, Kerry assured him that Washington 
and Islamabad would jointly identify 'highly visible projects,' 
which would then be undertaken with U.S. assistance.... In his 
meeting with Gilani, Kerry welcomed the government's proposal for 
setting up medical facilities in the militancy-hit areas and 
strengthening the energy sector for overcoming power shortages. The 
agreement by Kerry is being interpreted as a major shift in 
Washington's strategy, which had hitherto felt shy of funding large 
development projects. The U.S. has understandably agreed to 
Pakistan's proposal, as it hopes this would help stem the tide of 
rising anti-Americanism and improve U.S. image. Washington has also 
tripled its development assistance for Pakistan for the same 
purpose." 
 
Editorial: A Major Capture, an editorial in the Lahore-based liberal 
English daily "The Post" (cir. 5,000) (02/19) 
 
"For Pakistan, the arrest of Baradar is another major success in its 
war on terror. It shows that it is serious in its efforts to arrest 
the leadership of Taliban. The capture of Baradar highlights the 
growing coordination and cooperation between Pakistani and the U.S. 
intelligence agencies. This is a positive development that serves 
the cause of both countries and the region as a whole. Pakistan has 
had a uniform policy regarding Afghan Taliban since it started 
following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. It is not the first 
Taliban leader arrested by Pakistani security forces. Earlier many 
top Taliban commanders, including Mullah Dadullah, Mullah Akhtar 
Usmani, former Taliban defense minister Mullah Obaidullah and others 
have either been killed or arrested because of direct or indirect 
involvement of Pakistani security agencies." 
 
Editorial: Helplessness Of Coalition Forces in Afghanistan, an 
editorial in the Karachi-based, pro-Taliban Jihadi Urdu daily 
"Islam" (cir. 15,000) (02/19) 
 
"Due to stiff resistance from the Taliban, the coalition forces are 
feeling helpless in their ongoing military offensive in the Helmand 
province and have failed, at least for the time being, in occupying 
the town of Marjah, considered the stronghold of the resistance 
movement. However, the innocent Afghan citizens in the area are 
being killed in the NATO military operation. Nevertheless, 
steadfastness of the Taliban against the military might of coalition 
forces validates all the predictions about the failure of this 
operation." 
 
Editorial: Composite Dialogue Only, an editorial in the center-right 
national English daily "The Nation" (cir. 20,000) (02/19) 
 
"Why do the Pakistani policy makers continue to pussyfoot around 
India. The Indian External Affairs Minister, Krishna, has 
categorically stated that India will not resume the composite 
dialogue but will only talk to Pakistan on terrorism.... Pakistan 
seems to have put itself under pressure and instead of coming out 
with a clear cut response to Krishna's statement, has asked India to 
clarify its position. What is there to clarify?... Instead, the 
Pakistanis are whimpering away and as usual are without any clear 
cut position on the issue. Of course, the U.S. pressure is also 
there; but the U.S. has its own interests and it is time Pakistan 
asserted its vital interests. Fear of a negative Indian reaction 
should be overcome by the Foreign Office and the political 
leadership.... If India now is under pressure to resume dialogue 
with Pakistan, we must ensure that it is a meaningful dialogue 
premised on the composite talks formula which has already been 
agreed to by both sides." 
 
Editorial: Talks And The Indian Attitude, an editorial in the 
second-largest, nationalist Urdu daily "Nawa-i-Waqt" (cir. 150,000) 
(02/19) 
 
"Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has said that there 
will be informal talks between Pakistan and India on February 25 and 
not a composite dialogue.  He, however, said that we are willing to 
remove Pakistan's reservations vis-`-vis the talks....  India wants 
to have dialogue with Pakistan on the topics of its own choosing in 
order to increase pressure on Pakistan.  If India restricts the 
talks to the issues of its liking then Pakistan should discuss its 
reservations with India.  Unless India changes the talks into a 
composite dialogue there is no use of restricting ourselves to 
dialogue on terrorism only." 
 
Editorial: Indian Refusal For Composite Dialogue, an editorial in 
the center-right Urdu daily "Pakistan" (cir. 10,000) (02/19) 
 
"In fact India does not want to hold composite dialogue with 
Pakistan.  Evading talks on Kashmir is the Indian policy and it does 
not want to discuss water issue with Pakistan either.  India is bent 
upon violating Indus Basin Treaty and UN resolutions on Kashmir.... 
Pakistan should send diplomats to America, U.K. and other countries 
to apprise then about Indian obstinacy." 
 
Editorial: Indian Attempt To Run Away From Talks, an editorial in 
the liberal Urdu daily "Express" (cir. 25, 000) (02/19) 
 
"Indian Foreign Minister has said that the Indo-Pak Foreign 
Secretary-level talks would only be on terrorism and that India is 
not resuming the composite dialogue process.... Pakistan Foreign 
Minister Shah Mehmud Qureshi has said that talks should not be 
limited to terrorism, but all issues must be made part of the 
agenda. The Foreign Office has expressed concern over the Indian 
Foreign Minister's remarks. The need is for Pakistan to remain firm 
on its stand of having composite dialogue; it should make the 
international community realize that India is using excuses to get 
out of the talks. It is true that a one-point agenda would not help 
the peace process." 
 
(All circulation figures are based on estimation) 
Patterson