Here I present the view which have a general tinge of anti-Indian
sentiments in them and seem to put forth the point of view held by a
decently large section of the Pakistani media.
Makhdoom Babar, the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Mail wrote in an
Article entitled "India to taste its own medicine" that Islamabad
has prepared a list of some 35 top terrorists, involved in a number
of terror activities in Pakistan and is set to hand over the names
to Delhi seeking an early arrest and handing over of the accused to
Pakistan. It said that "Islamabad is also sending a copy of this
list to Washington to bring it to the notice of US authorities".
Babbar expresses surprise for L K Advani's name not being there in
the list saying that he "is also wanted by Karachi Police for years
and Pakistan has been asking India for his extradition to
Islamabad." And adds that "many of the accused, included in the list
are direct or indirect RAW operatives while a few belong to Hindutva
Brotherhood terror network, though Hindutva establishment is also
operating with full blessing and connivance of RAW."
An editorial in the Daily Times (Mumbai attack: what next?)
presented a theory for the Mumbai attacks which said it had been
carried by the perpetrators of crime to divert attention from some
future planning of more serious nature. It quoted the Pakistan
interior adviser, Mr Rehman Malik, as saying that "the Mumbai
attacks were designed to force Pakistan to deploy its troops on the
country's eastern borders, thereby clearing the western borders for
infiltration" into Afghanistan. At the same time, it also
criticized "the fear and loathing" spread by "the reckless and
xenophobic Indian media". It speculates that "an authority higher
than the Taliban may have commissioned a plot to push the Army out
of the Tribal Areas on to the border with India." At the same time,
it could not resist from remarking that there is "a very pro-India
international community" at the moment.
In the same way, a "The Jang" Editorial of 3/12/2008 brings in yet
another possibility saying that "it is also possible that these
people are part of the wave of 'celebrity terrorists' now operating,
self-starters who aim to get themselves their fifteen minutes of
fame and notoriety"
The Dawn 3/12/2008 editorial "go-ahead for India?" begins with the
words "No American president has ever encouraged any aggression on
India's part towards Pakistan." And expresses great surprise over
Obama having "ditched this time-honoured American policy".
Dr Qadir Rashid in "The Nation" in an article "Mumbai: attacks and
ISI" says that "the blame game has begun by India and the ISI has
again been made the scapegoat." He claims that "both Afghanistan and
India are now openly alleging the ISI to mask their own failure in
tackling their indigenous problems.", drawing concern over the fact
that "the forthcoming is a tough time for the ISI from both regional
and international directions".
Exactly the same thing in reiterated by S M Hali in "Mumbai mayhem -
whodunit?" saying that " it is Indian psyche to blame Pakistan and
its premier intelligence agency ISI for all its woes" going up
to "the preposterous allegation of inflicting the epidemic of plague
in some Indian states".

Going through the Pakistani newspapers, we across many saner and
less radical voices as well which seem to be reacting in ways much
different from the other mindset. It would be interesting to go
through some of these writings, which can be categorized as being
rational, logical or at least thought provoking. A few of them have
been presented here.
An article in the Dawn "Media falls in the old trap" by Beena
Sarwar, an independent journalist based in Karachi exhorts the media
in India and Pakistan for having fallen "into the dangerous, old
trap in which nationalism trumps responsible reporting." She did
come up with some very fine examples and analysis, saying- " In one
recent instance, a retired army general referred to India as
Pakistan's dushman mulk (enemy country). They invite more balanced
commentators also but give them get far less time and space.
Channels play up Mahesh Butt's criticism of the Indian media but, as
the analyst Foqia Sadiq Khan asks, would they quote someone from
Pakistan criticising the Pakistani media? "They quote Shabana Azmi
ad nauseum that she couldn't find a flat in Bombay being a Muslim,
but not on her opinion of fundamentalism.".
An opinion in the Jang entitled "India's rabid media" by Mahavish
Rezvi, an associate producer for Geo News (December 03, 2008) says
that "we in Pakistan have gotten used to turning to our troubled
regions in the north for blame these days. Not nearly two months ago
scores of Pakistanis and foreigners lost their lives in the Marriot
blast in Islamabad. So if it is anyone, it is the Pakistanis who
understand what the Indian nation is going through, both in anger
and grief." He also adds that he is a second generation immigrant
but "my roots certainly still lie on the other side of the border"
and so "when I hear of natural disasters in regions of the land we
left behind decades ago I still feel a pang in my heart." He also
says- "I am absolutely sure there are many families across the
borders who feel the same way", urging pleadingly- "We cannot change
the course of history, but we can certainly change the future."
Finally he requests "the Indian media to show restraint before
jumping to conclusions and fanning the fire" calling
it "irresponsible journalism".
Yasser Latif Hamdani, a lawyer based in Islamabad in "An open letter
to Indians" writing "as a Pakistani who has always wished for peace
and prosperity of the entire subcontinent", says he is "not going to
apologize to anyone for being a Pakistani." adding that "I have been
watching your news channels, and what they are doing is disgusting.
They are accusing Pakistan without any real evidence" He also raises
an important issue of the alleged Pakistani ship managing to
penetrate through Indian waters amid an on-going naval exercise
codenamed "Defence of Gujarat" – aimed at stopping "Al Qaeda and
Pakistani ships," which had mobilised a large section of the Indian
Navy. He says that "if this is true, perhaps you should first
prosecute your naval chief." He speaks very openly that "we in
Pakistan have our own problems, and by no means are we a strong
state. We've been victims of terrorism even more than India has
been." At the same time he also tries to reason that "a war with us –
while completely disastrous for Pakistan – will leave you in ruin
as well." He exhorts that "let us choose the path of cooperation and
acceptance. Ending with the statement "And let us, for once, learn
to tell the truth."
Nasim Zehra, an Islamabad-based security analyst in an
Article "Mumbai terror: the challenge for Pakistan" says that the
message from the US and the International community is "uniform:
Cooperate with India" adding that "such a message Pakistan does not
need to be tutored in." ruing the fact that "India seems to seek
concrete steps from Pakistan, without credible evidence being
found." It says that "the trajectory of evidence, as it currently
exists, is revealing. It is all there in the Indian media, changing,
incredible and contradictory" adding that "India still needs to
provide credible and convincing evidence on the involvement of any
Pakistani group." He expresses his discomfiture over the fact
that "a terror-struck Indian government and state institution opted
to so crudely "gun for Pakistan" which he feels "can potentially
sow fresh seeds of distrust" , rather than weakening the environment
of distrust."

There seems to be quite some similarities between the two countries.
This goes true for politicians as well as the journalists and the
commentators. This was even testified in the wake of what is being
written in the Pak media. This can be amply testified from what Mir
Jamilur Rahman wrote in a Dawn article. In this article, his remarks
about President Zardari are rather interesting and attention
grabbing. He says- "President Zardari by nature is a polite and
humble person. These are very good traits. But it should not be
extended to addressing others, mostly the foreign newsmen, as "Sir."
He should know that in Pakistan he is the top "Sir." The others may
address him as "Sir," but he should reserve his "Sir" only for his
father."
Similarly for Pakisatan Prime Minister Gilani, his advise is
to "reduce the number of your speeches and press conferences. Also,
reduce your appearance on TV. Too much exposure is not gainful
politically" quoting the famous saying- "Remember, familiarity
breeds contempt"
At the same time, he also says that despite being stronger
financially, as far as press freedom is concerned, Indian media is
far behind the Pak media, a statement which the larger section of
the Indian media might not be willing to accept.

Here, I present those news which have today( viz. 03/12/2008) hogged
the headlines in Pakistan.
To begin with, the Pakistan President President Asif Ali Zardari has
been said to have strongly rejected suggestions that Pakistan was in
some way involved in last week's deadly attacks on Mumbai, asserting
no evidence has been brought forward to substantiate such claims.
Appearing in CNN's Larry King Live, Zardari said he believed that
the Mumbai attackers were `stateless actors,' and that the state of
Pakistan was in no way responsible for the attacks. Though at the
same time, he pledged to look into any proof of any Pakistani
individual's link to the Mumbai incident, if it was provided to
Islamabad. This news was reported by almost all the important
newspapers of Pakistan in a rather prominent manner and was given
quite emphasis.
There Zardari had said that "The gunmen plus the planners, whoever
they are, (are) stateless actors who have been holding hostage the
whole world", though at the same time adding that "I am sorry for
the Indians, and I feel sorry for them." He even offered to have
his security advisor and Indian security advisor and in charge of
intelligence security of the two nations to have a joint committee
for a joint investigation in the Mumbai incident."
But interesting, in the same interview, Zardari also said something
which no Indian is going to believe- "We have not been given any
tangible proof to say that he is definitely a Pakistani. I very much
doubt it, Larry, that he is a Pakistani."
Another important news is as regards the All Parties Conference on
National Security at the PM's House in the evening of 02 December
which unanimously agreed to a strong condemnation of the
reprehensible terrorist attacks in Mumbai, in their 7-point
resolution, sharing the grief of the people of India and extend
their sympathy to the families of the victims along wiuth others
related matters.
Then there is the statement of Defence Secretary Robert Gates as
having vowed to strengthen partnership with Pakistan in meeting with
challenges of violent extremism along the Afghan border region,
where Gates also acknowledged Pakistan's sustained campaign against
terrorists in the rugged border region under the elected government.
The news of the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee handing
over a list of 20 fugitives to arrest and hand over of those persons
who are settled in Pakistan also came up in most newspapers, as also
his statements that India was not considering military action
against Pakistan in the wake of Mumbai terror attacks, which was
generally hailed as sane act by the media on the other side.
The Associated Press of Pakistan (the official news agency of the
country) also reported of the strong exception taken by the various
political leaders to the supposedly-baseless allegations of New
Delhi upon Pakistan after these attacks. It reported the PMLQ leader
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain's view of the need to adopt an aggressive
and proactive diplomatic onslaught against baseless and hostile
Indian offensive against Pakistan.
At the same timer, the Daily Times 03/12/2008 quoted US Senator John
McCain saying in New Delhi – "No, we don't have any hard evidence of
Pakistani government's involvement", and wrote that McCain had made
it clear that "The United States will not support any military
campaign against Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist
attacks".

Amitabh Thakur

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