ID: 225316    9/16/2009 7:26    09ISLAMABAD2236    Embassy Islamabad    UNCLASSIFIED        "VZCZCXRO6648 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2236 2590726 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 160726Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4888 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 0888 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 1315 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 5485 RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2257 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 7860 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 6876"    "UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002236

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/PPD, S/SRAP, R, AND FPC WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KPAO, AF, PK SUBJECT: MEDIA REQUEST:  INTERVIEW WITH FLOTUS FOR RESPECTED PAKISTANI JOURNALIST JUGNU MOHSIN

1. (U)  Post would like to support a request by noted  Pakistani journalist Jugnu Mohsin for an interview with First  Lady Michelle Obama.  Ms. Mohsin is one of the leading  liberal secular journalists in Pakistan.  She is the Managing  Editor and Publisher of The Friday Times and a television  presenter on Dunya television, one of the most widely watched  Urdu language television channels in Pakistan.  Ms Mohsin and  her husband Najam Sethi, also a well known journalist in  Pakistan, were recipients of the 1999 Committee to Protect  Journalists' International Press Freedom Award.  Together  they are two of the most prominent voices calling for  religious moderation and constructive engagement with the  United States.

2.  (U) Post believes that an interview with First Lady  Michelle Obama on a major Urdu language channel shortly  before POTUS co-hosts the Friends of Democratic Pakistan  meeting with Prime Minister Brown and President Zardari on  September 24th would be an excellent way to highlight the  USG's commitment to Pakistan to an often skeptical Pakistani  public.  The interview would also serve to humanize and  soften the image of the United States in a country where  public opinion is often anti-American. Pakistan is critical  to USG foreign policy interests and post believes that an  interview with First Lady Micelle Obama, who is popular in  Pakistan, could aid in improving our image in this vital  country.  Ms. Mohsin told us that the interview would largely  focus on women's issues, the role of the First Lady,  perceptions of the U.S in Pakistan, and perceptions of  Pakistan in the U.S.  POC at post is A/PAO Richard Snelsire  PATTERSON  "