VZCZCXRO0844
PP RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHNEH
DE RUEHNE #0333/01 0541147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 231147Z FEB 10 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9567
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 2297
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 5614
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 4829
RUEHNEH/AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 1389
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 2699
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6697
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 3137
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 9942
RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4637
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 7305
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8911
RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
RHMCSUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000333 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN, 
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEETING WITH DALAI LAMA, OBAMA 
PRESIDENCY, IRAN, TERRORISM, NAXALISM; NEW DELHI. 
 
This countrywide cable reports on relevant media 
reaction/opinion from India's large non-English press. 
The Mission reports on English-language media via email 
through the daily "Early Edition" summary. 
 
-------------------- 
AFGHANISTAN-PAKISTAN 
-------------------- 
 
¶1. "WHY AF-PAK IS IMPORTANT TO INDIA-PAKISTAN TALKS," 
op-ed in February 22 Hindi daily, NAVBHARAT TIMES: 
"India-Pakistan relations changed course all of a 
sudden after the London conference. It is bizarre the 
way India suddenly did an about-turn on Pakistan, 
offering talks. Was it an independent decision, or 
under the secret pressure of another nation? One can 
expect America and other western countries to support 
Pakistan. This is because they want to get out of 
Afghanistan as soon as possible and leave Pakistan to 
take on the mantle. Pakistan wants to regain its edge 
over India in Afghanistan. In this endeavor, Pakistan 
will now find the support of the West." 
 
----------------------------------------- 
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S MEETING WITH DALAI LAMA 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. "BEIJING'S RAGE," editorial in February 23 
independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA: 
"President Obama's historic meeting with the Dalai Lama 
will possibly generate a crisis in global politics. The 
outcome of the talks implies that Washington has taken 
a diplomatic stand against Beijing. To what extent U.S. 
interests would suffer owing to China's fury is not 
clear yet. However, India's diplomatic importance is 
set to rise at least for the time being in South Asia 
as a counterbalance to China." 
 
---------------- 
OBAMA PRESIDENCY 
---------------- 
 
¶3. "WHY IS OBAMA SCARED?" editorial in February 22 
RASHTRIYA SAHARA: "President Barack Obama who is trying 
to wake up his nation by citing the rapid progress 
being made by China and India. Obama seems to be 
resorting to this meaningless exercise to divert the 
nation's attention from his own failings. He should 
desist from citing India and China repeatedly, as that 
will fuel resentment against these countries among 
American youth." 
 
¶4. "AMERICA'S NUCLEAR PATH: OBAMA'S NEW DECISION FOR 
GEORGIA," editorial in February 23 left-of-center 
Marathi daily, MAHARASHTRA TIMES: "President Obama's $8 
billion loan guarantee for a nuclear power plant in 
Georgia shows his policy priorities. Despite the stiff 
resistance to nuclear plants, Obama has decided to 
intensify his administration's efforts to use nuclear 
power and alternative energy sources to lessen American 
 
NEW DELHI 00000333  002 OF 002 
 
 
dependence on foreign oil and other fossil fuels which 
are responsible for climate change." 
 
---- 
IRAN 
---- 
 
¶5. "ONE MORE HEROIC DEED OF IRAN", editorial in 
February 21 right-of-center Urdu daily RASHTRIYA 
SAHARA: "Iran has launched it warship Jamaran, 
demonstrating the heroism of its scientists. America 
and Israel have been making efforts to turn the 
region's Muslim countries away from Iran. There are two 
objectives -- first, to stop the Gulf region's Muslim 
countries from mending their relations with Iran, and 
second, to enhance the sale of weapons worth billions 
of dollars to Muslim countries. Everyone knows that 
Muslim countries are the biggest buyers of American 
weapons. America also does not want to see any Muslim 
country self-sufficient in the field of weapon 
production." 
 
--------- 
TERRORISM 
--------- 
 
¶6. "STATEMENT OF GRAND MUFTI", editorial in February 22 
right-of-center Urdu daily HAMARA SAMAJ: "Saudi 
Arabia's highest religious command has called terrorism 
'un-Islamic' and has condemned the killings of common 
people. Such strong attitude is the need of the hour. 
Today, only Islamic teachings can eradicate terrorism 
from the world. The only condition is that Western 
forces should change their attitudes, abandon their 
imperialist designs and stop killing innocent citizens. 
Only then will peace be possible." 
 
-------- 
NAXALISM 
-------- 
 
¶7. "NAXALS' PRECONDITIONS CANNOT BE 
ACCEPTED," editorial in February 23 centrist Gujarati 
daily, DIVYA BHASKAR: "The Naxals' demand that the 
government announce a ceasefire by suspending 
'Operation Green Hunt' against them is completely 
preposterous as the Naxals have in the past violated 
the ceasefire. Demands and conditions by elements 
hostile to India's interests can never be 
accepted. Naxalism is a cancer plaguing the very idea 
of India and should be nipped in the bud." 
ROEMER