Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Pakistan's Crisis And

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UNCLAS TOKYO 005241

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'S CRISIS AND
IRAN

LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning include
the Mizuho Financial Group's announcement Wednesday of
a massive loss incurred by the group due to the
subprime loan crisis.

1. "Power-Sharing Plan on Verge of Collapse" The
conservative Sankei's Bangkok correspondent reported
(11/15): "Political confusion in Pakistan is deepening,
as President Musharraf has decided to take a harder
line by rejecting a power-sharing arrangement with
former Prime Minister Bhutto following her call on the
president to step down. The Bush administration will
send Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte to Islamabad
in search of a solution to the crisis, and his
mediation efforts will be the focus for the time being.
Bhutto's call for Musharraf to resign has brought the
Bush administration's efforts to resolve the crisis
through a power-sharing arrangement to the verge of
collapse."

2. "Moderates Raise Objections to Hardliners" Tehran-
based reporter Kudo of the top circulation, moderate
Yomiuri wrote (11/15): "There appears to be a growing
rift within the Iranian leadership over how to assess
the threat posed by the US-led international effort to
isolate the country in response to Tehran's nuclear
program. In contrast to the ultraconservative President
Ahmadinejad's characterization of the October US
economic sanctions as 'superficial,' moderates in the
government insist that the punitive measures pose a
'grave threat' to Iran. The moderates and reformists
are also critical of the president's political style.
This division could potentially lead to a change in the
country's nuclear policy."

DONOVAN

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