Sri Lankan MFA views on Indo-Pakistani

C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 001116 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, SA/PAB, SA/RA, S/CT NSC FOR E. MILLARD E.O. 12958: DECL: 06-25-13 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER CE IN PK SUBJECT: Sri Lankan MFA views on Indo-Pakistani relations within SAARC (U) Classified by Donald Camp, Charge d'Affaires. Reasons 1.5 (b, d). ¶1. (C) During separate June 24 meetings with Charge focused on other subjects, Foreign Secretary Nihal Rodrigo and MFA Additional Secretary for SAARC Sarala Fernando touched on current Indo-Pakistani relations within SAARC. (Note: Rodrigo is the former head of the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu.) They made the following key points: -- The scheduled July 9-10 foreign secretaries meeting in Kathmandu is intended to focus on a protocol to SAARC's convention on counterterrorism. Fernando stated that the protocol is meant to address post-9/11 counterterrorism issues, thus updating SAARC's convention on the issue. Each interlocutor described the protocol as dealing with issues of terrorist financing and "practical" issues on a regional basis. Rodrigo said MFA legal advisor Rohan Perera has had informal discussions re the protocol with India and Pakistan in an effort to prevent Indo-Pakistan disagreement over interpretations of "terrorism" and, thus, help ensure a productive meeting. (Note: Perera is in Washington this week and plans to discuss the protocol at the Department.) Rodrigo and Fernando also thought that the upcoming July 9-10 meeting could be successful if the discussion remained at the working technical level, excluding politics. -- Fernando further thought that if the July Kathmandu meeting went well, there would be the usual SAARC ministerial meeting taking place on the UNGA sidelines in September. She added that success at these two meetings might even lead to a follow-on summit. The Indians had made clear to the GSL, however, that they would not commit too far in advance to any specific summit date over worry of a possible terrorist attack. -- Related to a possible summit, the Indian government was also uneasy re head of state attendance, wanting to avoid the possibility of an awkward Vajpayee-Musharraf encounter, preferring a Vajpayee-Jamali meeting. With some confidence, Fernando said Pakistan had informally agreed to be represented at the summit by Prime Minister Jamali, thereby addressing India's concern. ¶2. (U) Minimize considered. CAMP