OFFER TO SECURE THE KASHMIR BUS LINE

S E C R E T NEW DELHI 002474



SIPDIS



E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2015

TAGS: PREL, PTER, IN, PK, Kashmir

SUBJECT: OFFER TO SECURE THE KASHMIR BUS LINE



REF: STATE 59595



Classified By: A/PolCouns Matt Boyse for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)



1. (S) A/PolCcouns delivered Reftel offer to MEA Director

(Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Monika Mohta late on April 1,

double-tracking with Director (Americas) Renu Pall. Both

were intrigued but non-committal, seeking clarification on

several points and pledging to circulate the paper to other

relevant offices and reply to us as soon as possible.



2. (S) Both officials were pleased to hear this

reaffirmation of strong USG support for the bus, as well as

our firm conviction that the initiative is critical to the

Indo-Pak reconciliation process -- and that it simply must

succeed. They also expressed satisfaction that we were

exhorting Islamabad to use its influence to ensure that the

bus service is not disrupted, in view of recent public

threats by terrorist groups against the bus itself and its

civilian passengers.



GOI Taking Major Steps

--------------



3. (C) Responding to continued concerns about the safety of

the bus, COAS LTG JJ Singh told the media on March 31 that

the security services are determined to make the journey a

success. One report suggested that some 50 Quick Response

Teams would be deployed at strategic locations along the

road, that patrols had already begun, and that the bus would

travel under heavy escort (possibly four jeeps packed with 50

paramilitary soldiers),with high-powered jammers to protect

against IEDs. Another report suggested that the buses would

be sequestered two days in advance to prevent explosives from

being planted on board. There have been conflicting reports

about whether a low-flying helicopter would be added to the

mix.



4. (C) On March 31, the J&K Deputy Inspector General of

Police declared the route "absolutely safe." Home Minister

Shivraj Patil reportedly has given similar assurances. A

journalist in Srinagar told us that police pickets have been

set up at some passengers' places of residence. As for the

MEA, UK HC Polcouns told us that he had raised the issue

briefly with Foreign Minister Natwar Singh on March 30, who

evinced no visible concern. News reports from Srinagar

suggest that the threats are not deterring passengers from

traveling on the bus.

MULFORD