Cablegate: Tokyo Media Reaction - Afghanistan and Pakistan

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UNCLAS TOKYO 002505

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 - AFGHANISTAN AND PAKISTAN

1. LEAD STORIES: All Thursday morning papers gave front-page play to
Prime Minister Hatoyama's Diet remarks on Wednesday, during which he
expressed his determination to carry out his party's policy platform
within four years.

2. "International Coordination Important for Eliminating Terrorism"
The moderate Yomiuri editorialized (10/29): "Although the armed
insurgents penetrating Afghanistan and Pakistan are not necessarily
under the same chain of command, it is highly likely that they are
forming a united front. In this regard, internationally coordinated
operations will be important. The U.S. and other nations are
concerned that acts of terrorism by armed insurgents will increase
the confusion and that Pakistan's nuclear weapons could fall into
the hands of terrorists. This must be prevented."

3. "Taliban Stepping up Offensive Ahead of Run-Off Election" The
conservative Sankei wrote (10/29): "The terrorist attacks in Kabul
on Wednesday were the Taliban's 'declaration' to the Afghan
government and the international community that it has launched a
full-fledged offensive to obstruct the run-off election on November
7.... The U.S. and the international community, which place
importance on the implementation of a run-off election, are facing a
major challenge from the Taliban, as acts of terrorism are likely to
escalate in the future."

4. "Vulnerable Public Security Situation Casts Shadow over Run-Off
Election" The liberal Tokyo Shimbun wrote (10/29): "The simultaneous
terrorist attacks in Kabul on Wednesday carried out by the Taliban
revealed that public security arrangements in the country remain
vulnerable ahead of the run-off election on November 7. If the
Taliban, which has declared that it will obstruct the election,
steps up its offensive, voter turnout is highly likely to be
affected. The legitimacy of the election, on which the
international community pins its hopes, is in jeopardy because no
effective measures to prevent election fraud from occurring again
have been taken yet."

ROOS

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