VZCZCXRO1990
PP RUEHFK RUEHKSO RUEHNAG RUEHNH
DE RUEHKO #0434 0510253
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 200253Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY TOKYO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1844
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUYNAAC/COMNAVFORJAPAN YOKOSUKA JA PRIORITY
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY
RHHMHBA/COMPACFLT PEARL HARBOR HI//N541// PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/HQ PACAF HICKAM AFB HI//CC/PA// PRIORITY
RUHBANB/OKINAWA FLD OFC US FORCES JAPAN CP BUTLER JA PRIORITY
RHMFIUU/USFJ PRIORITY
INFO RUEHFK/AMCONSUL FUKUOKA 6174
RUEHNH/AMCONSUL NAHA 8561
RUEHNAG/AMCONSUL NAGOYA 4751
RUEHKSO/AMCONSUL SAPPORO 6777
RUEHOK/AMCONSUL OSAKA KOBE 9839
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1752
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2130
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 7820
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8423
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS TOKYO 000434
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
1. LEAD STORIES: Most Wednesday morning papers led with
updates on the search for two fishermen who went
missing after their boat was hit by an MSDF vessel
early Tuesday morning.
2. "Rough Road Ahead for New Pakistani Government" The
liberal Asahi's chief Asia news writer contended
(2/20): "The outcome of the Pakistani parliamentary
elections, in which the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Q
suffered a crushing defeat, was unexpected....
Considering the fact that the elections were carried
out less than two months after the assassination of
former Prime Minister Bhutto, it can be said that the
nation had a free and peaceful vote. The international
community has called on Pakistan to establish a stable
democratic government. Democratization seems to have
been advanced through the elections.... The elections
attracted global attention, as the outcome will affect
international security. International attention will
shift to whether Pakistan can create a stable
government that can deal with the U.S.-led war on
terrorism. The U.S. had envisaged the creation of a
stable government by forming a coalition between the
ruling party and the opposition Pakistan People's
Party. However, the defeat of the ruling party
demonstrated the Pakistani people's distrust of
President Musharraf and will likely make it difficult
for the People's Party to form a coalition with its
rival.... Democratization sometimes conflicts with
stability in developing nations. A new Pakistani
government will likely face difficult challenges."
3. "Who Will Control Pakistani Nukes?" The conservative
Sankei's senior writer argued (2/20): "The Bush
administration will face difficulties if the Musharraf
administration collapses, given that Washington has
been depending on President Musharraf's leadership in
the war on terrorism. President Bush appears to have
concluded that President Musharraf is the only person
capable of controlling the Pakistani military, which
possesses nuclear arms. Although the defeat of the
ruling party in the recent parliamentary elections was
expected, the U.S. will need to review its diplomacy
toward Pakistan.... President Musharraf will likely
seek a coalition with opposition parties. However, the
Bush administration might look for and support a new
moderate leader in the military. Control of Pakistan's
nuclear arms is an issue that goes beyond that country
and could affect the nuclear programs of North Korea,
Iran, and Syria. If the pro-U.S. Musharraf loses power,
those nations will likely learn lessons from his
failure."
SCHIEFFER