Pakistan Urdu Press: September 07-13, 2009
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    • Azkar, editorial, September 7 , 2009
    Revival of Indo Pak talks necessary: Azkar 
    Advocating the revival of the India-Pakistan dialogue, the Azkar Urdu daily says that almost a year after the Mumbai terrorist attack, the talks have not resumed. The deadlock in Indo-Pak relations is the result of terrorists and terrorists pose the biggest hurdle in reviving talks. The daily says that it should also be noted that almost all the talks during the last 63 years between the two countries produced no result and all the problems between the two neigbours have been aggravated further and thus people have lost interest in the dialogue process. The daily argues that now there is a need for talks to resolve outstanding issues rather than organizing talks for the sake of talks. The daily says “therefore, we must reach a conclusion that there should be a result oriented dialogue between India and Pakistan.” But before that both countries should show flexibility on Kashmir so that this issue is resolved and the forces sowing seeds of enmity between the two countries are defeated.
    (http://www.dailyazkaar.com.pk/new/detail.php?category=14576&category_id=27&page=)

    Al-Akhbar, editorial, September 7, 2009

    Mumbai probe should not be allowed to block dialogue process: Al-Akhbar
    Appreciating Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Geelani for his remarks that if the India-Pakistan dialogue is not resumed terrorists will benefit from the deadlock, the Al-Akhbar Urdu daily in its editorial says that “now it depends upon India whether it wants to strengthen terrorists’ hand or wants to listen to the voice of peace.” The daily says that the Mumbai probe should not be allowed to block the dialogue process between the two countries.
    (http://www.alakhbar.com.pk/Idaria.asp?today=9/7/2009)

    Express, editorial, September 7, 2009
    Whenever there is an impasse in Indo-Pak relations extremist forces try to destroy relations: Express
    Commenting on Pakistani Prime Minister remarks in which he said that if the Indo-Pak dialogue is not resumed terrorists will benefit from the deadlock. The Express Urdu daily in its editorial says that “the Prime Minister is right that whenever there is an impasse on Indo-Pak relations extremist forces on both sides become happy and they leave no stone unturned to destroy relations between the two countries.” The paper says that the real hurdle in Indo-Pak relations is Kashmir which India considers an integral part, whereas for Pakistan it is a central nerve as rivers flowing in Pakistan run through it. The daily says that India wants to completely integrate Kashmir with itself and if it does that it can turn Pakistan in to a desert. Thus the resolution of Kashmir is important, says the newspaper.
    (http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100710236&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20090907)

    Khabrein daily, Opinion, September 8, 2009

    Black Water security in Islamabad; a prelude to a new play: Tahir Farooq
    Pakistan is an insecure and weak state today as was never before, opines Tahir Farooq   in an opinion column in Khabrein daily. He says that “like every year this year too, our leaders reiterated that Pakistan is a nuclear capable country and no one can dare cast an evil eye towards her”. But the author says, the situation is completely different and is quite contrary to reality. The number of incursions by the US whether territorial or aerial had never occurred in Pakistan’s history. US drones can be seen violating Pakistani airspace and killing innocent civilians. Reports suggest that the infamous Black water private security firm has established its branch in the country. Islamabad looks like a war zone and bomb proof walls are being erected in front of houses. The US has rented two hundred houses, a report US ambassador also accepted in his press conference.
    The author says, those who stay in the mountainous region know that once land sliding starts it does not stop until a major portion of the mountain touches the ground. “A landslide has taken place in 1971, but we had not learnt lessons from the incident.” He says the situation today is not different as our streets are full of these kinds of agents. The author suggests that Pakistani leaders should get rid of foreign elements on its land and should douse the fire burning in tribal areas. He says that “our leaders should stop licking the US’s shoes and make a pledge of loyalty to the nation.”
    (http://www.khabrain.com/idaria_detail.aspx?id=6)

    Jang daily, Opinion, September 8, 2009
    Let the MQM join the mainstream politics: Salim Safi
    Against the backdrop of revelations by General ( R ) Nasim Akhtar and Brigadier ( R ) Imtiyaz that they did not find maps of Jinnahpur during the 1992 operation against the MQM in Karachi and that the story was concocted, Columnist  Salim Safi writes that now the MQM wants to become a part of the mainstream, so why should it be stopped to do so?  He says that all the organization founded on the basis of self deprivation and in response to certain actions to not remain moderate. The same is with the MQM. But with the passage of time it has reviewed its stances. The author says that despite its record of indulging into violence, the MQM is the only organization in the country that has promoted meritorious and middle class people through democracy and paved their way to the National Assembly and other centers of power. The columnist says that our leaders who want to bring Taliban and Baloch into the mainstream are not ready to give any concessions to the MQM. He says that the MQM should be allowed to join the mainstream and it should not be confined to one city or region.
    (http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/sep2009-daily/08-09-2009/col2.htm)

    Jang, Opinion, September 09, 2009
    Composite dialogue process should proceed in tandem with back channel diplomacy: Maleeha Lodhi
    It seems the Indian government is not sincere in reviving the four-year old composite dialogue process snapped after the Mumbai terrorist attack, says former Pakistani diplomat Maleeha Lodhi in an opinion column in the Jang Urdu daily. She says that, “in his July 29 speech in the Indian parliament, Manmohan Singh forcefully defended the Sharm el Sheikh Statement saying that the ‘resumption of the dialogue will not be linked to any action against terrorism’, but changed his stand a day after, amid protests and heated debate by opposition BJP and said that India will only resume talks once Pakistan puts all those responsible in Mumbai terrorist attack on trial”. She says that the ruling government, despite winning elections with a heavy margin, is unable to withstand pressure from the BJP leadership and asks why the peace process be made captive to the country’s internal politics? She suggests the Pakistani government analyse India’s internal political situation and related issues before adopting a future strategy.
    As regards back channel diplomacy, Maleeha Lodhi says that London and Washington are trying to push India and Pakistan to open up back channel diplomacy and says the leadership of both countries seems to favour reviving diplomacy. She admits that back channel diplomacy has helped pave the way for higher level talks but insists that the composite dialogue process should proceed in tandem with back channel diplomacy as back channel diplomacy can not be a substitute of a composite dialogue process. She argues that if India succumbs to internal political pressure and is unable to resume negotiations, how is it going to show flexibility on outstanding disputes between the two countries. In today’s circumstances, she says, the composite dialogue process will become a forum to discuss terrorism only. She reiterates that “silent diplomacy” is a better process but the composite dialogue process is extremely important. It can only succeed when issues agreed upon during back channel diplomacy are pursued at the composite dialogue process level.
    In conclusion she suggests Islamabad consistently keep in touch with the Indian government but should not accept its conditions in a hurry.
    (http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/sep2009-daily/09-09-2009/col6.htm)

    Azkar, editorial, September 10, 2009
    Systemic change is the only resolution of people’s problems: Azkar
    Launching a scathing attack on President Zardari for his remarks that intervention to stem rising prices of flour and sugar is not his work, the Azkar Urdu daily in its editorial reminds him that during the protests for restoration of the judiciary he said that people have elected him for providing bread, clothes and shelter (Roti Kapda aur Makan) and restoration of the judiciary is not his mandate. The daily questions Zardari assertion that being the executive head of the government and leader of the ruling party if providing “Roti Kapda aur Makan” is not his responsibility then whose responsibility is it?
     The editorial says that from the life style and statements of present day PPP leadership, it does not appear that they represent the same party which once stood for forming an egalitarian society based on socialism rather it has become a spokesperson for feudal elites and has become a tool of US imperialism. The daily says that people, who voted for the PPP considering the party as their last hope, do not know whom to ask to resolve their problems. The daily suggests the people “instead of chasing mirages and changing faces should take a historic decision and change the system as systemic change is the only solution to existing problems.”
    (http://www.dailyazkaar.com.pk/new/detail.php?category=14666&category_id=27&page=)

    Express , opinion, September 11, 2009
    MQM decision to enter into federal level politics worries other parties:  Mubasshir Luqman
    Commenting upon the recent announcement by the MQM that it would participate in the next general election at the national level, Mubasshir Luqman in an opinion column in the Express Urdu daily says that the party has a very effective basic structure and a broader roadmap regarding the challenges Pakistan facing today. The columnist says that the announcement has given a severe jolt to all those who had looked down upon the MQM terming it a regional party, not capable of political participation in Punjab. MQM is the only party which is effectively taking a membership campaign in Balochistan while other parties have ignored the province. The MQM, the columnist says, favours provincial autonomy and is opposed to the use of force against Baloch nationalists. He says this is the first time that the party has spoken of serving the nation and entering federal level politics and every one fears that the success it has achieved in Karachi may be replicated elsewhere and thus the party poses a tough political challenge to them.
    (http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100713032&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20090911)

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