Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04NEWDELHI7701
2004-12-06 12:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

HIGH LEVEL INDIAN REP FOR AFGHANISTAN INAUGURATION

Tags:  PREL BEXP EAIR IN AF 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 007701 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2013
TAGS: PREL BEXP EAIR IN AF
SUBJECT: HIGH LEVEL INDIAN REP FOR AFGHANISTAN INAUGURATION

Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 007701

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/25/2013
TAGS: PREL BEXP EAIR IN AF
SUBJECT: HIGH LEVEL INDIAN REP FOR AFGHANISTAN INAUGURATION

Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (U) Action request for OVP. Please see para 4.


2. (C) Reflecting significant Indian interests in Afghanistan
and GOI support for Karzai's re-election, New Delhi has
designated Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan to
lead the official delegation for the December 7 Afghan
inauguration. As Minister of State in the Prime Minister's
Office, Chavan serves as a go-between for Manmohan Singh and
Congress President Sonia Gandhi, providing some of the
political screen that Brajeh Mishra offered in the Vajpayee
PMO. A founding member of the Indo-US Parliamentary Forum,
Chavan is a US-educated contemporary of Rajiv Gandhi who was
a supporter of our bilateral relationship long before it
became fashionable.


3. (C) MEA contacts intimated several weeks ago that the
timing of the Afghan inauguration, which coincides with a
short and intensive session of Parliament, would complicate
efforts to identify a suitably high-level leader of the
Indian delegation. The decision to designate Chavan (who
will be sent as a personal emissary of the Prime Minister)
reflects a typically Indian effort to split the difference,
while avoiding the political problems that could result if
Foreign Minister Natwar Singh was out of the country while
Parliament was in session.


4. (SBU) Action Request: As detailed septel, the GOI has just
issued a Request for Proposal for 50 widebody aircraft for
Air India. US success in this major tender will require
sustained high-level advocacy to balance pressures from
European capitals, including from Chancellor Schroeder PM
Blair and President Chirac, all of whom have weighed in to
support Airbus. In this context, Mission asks that OVP seek
an opportunity for the Vice President to engage personally
with Minister Chavan on behalf of Boeing. All indications
are that this tender is on a fast track. The
Vice-President's visit is an opportunity to convey a high
level message that will go straight to the decision-making
levels of the Indian government.


5. (U) Minimize considered.
MULFORD