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