Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Pakistan Mosque Siege

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P 110835Z JUL 07
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UNCLAS TOKYO 003165

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR,
EAP/J, EAP/P, PM;
USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE;
TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI;
SECDEF FOR OASD/PA;
CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE;
PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA
SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - PAKISTAN MOSQUE SIEGE

LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers front-paged
the continuing fighting between Pakistani army
commandos and rebel Islamist clerics at the Red Mosque
in Islamabad.

1. "Mosque Siege: Breeding Grounds for Terrorists
Should Not Be Neglected" An editorial in the top-
circulation, moderate Yomiuri commented (7/11): "What
effect will Pakistan's difficult decision to use force
against Islamist militants at the Red Mosque have on
its shaky internal political situation and the fight
against terrorism? The international community should
keep a close watch on what Pakistan does next....
President Musharraf had initially taken a 'carrot and
stick' approach to the clerics and their militant
followers. He hardened his stance, however, after
learning that there were many wanted terrorists
connected with al-Qaeda among those holed up in the
mosque. With the world's attention focused on the
situation there, Musharraf apparently took action in
the view that a failure to do so would have subjected
him to withering international criticism. Even so, some
observers have attributed the incident to a lack of
leadership on Musharraf's part. In Pakistan, madrassas
have served as a breeding ground for terrorists in
recent years, instilling in their students
anti-American sentiment and a belief in jihad...."

SCHIEFFER

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