Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NEWDELHI364
2005-01-13 15:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

INDIAN LEGISLATORS TELL CODEL LEACH THEY ARE

Tags:  PREL ETRD ETTC EAID KDEM PINR IN PK US INDO PAK 
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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 SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000364 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC EAID KDEM PINR IN PK US INDO PAK
SUBJECT: INDIAN LEGISLATORS TELL CODEL LEACH THEY ARE
EXCITED ABOUT US/INDIA RELATIONS, BUT WORRIED ABOUT
PAKISTAN ARMS

Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford, Reason 1.5 (B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000364

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD ETTC EAID KDEM PINR IN PK US INDO PAK
SUBJECT: INDIAN LEGISLATORS TELL CODEL LEACH THEY ARE
EXCITED ABOUT US/INDIA RELATIONS, BUT WORRIED ABOUT
PAKISTAN ARMS

Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford, Reason 1.5 (B,D)


1. (SBU) Summary: Senators Sam Brownback and John Corzine,
and Representatives James Leach, Earl Blumenaur, Scott
Garrett, Wayne Gilchrest, Frank Pallone, and Diane Watson
discussed a broad range of issues with an Indian
parliamentary delegation led by MP Murli Deora, the President
of the India/US Parliamentary Forum (IUPF) during their
January 13 meeting. Topics of discussion included Tsunami
Disaster Relief, US-India ties, India/Pakistan and
US/Pakistan relations, trade, development, and UNSC reform,
but it was US arms for Pakistan that most animated the Indian
MPs. Both sides acknowledged that US/India relations are
close and getting closer and were enthusiastic about the
prospects for further US/India cooperation. However, several
Indian parliamentarians pointed out that "irritants" such as
the American supply of sophisticated weapons to Pakistan need
to be addressed. End Summary.

Arms to Pakistan
--------------


2. (SBU) Several Indian MP's described the US supply of
sophisticated arms to Pakistan as an "irritant" in the
bilateral relationship. BJP legislator Ravi Shankar Prasad
emphasized that "India wishes well for Pakistan," and hopes
that it can become a stable and prosperous society, and sees
no problem should the US provide generous assistance.
However, the US "must ensure" that Pakistan does not become a
base for international terrorism. For example, he stated, US
aid must be used to change Pakistan's outlook so that it does
not commit acts like smuggling nuclear technology to other
countries. While clearly opposed to US arms sales to
Pakistan, he claimed that India would deal with the challenge
this presents.


3. (C) Senator Brownback noted that there are differing
views on the subject, but Pakistan has played a key role in
the war on terrorism, which has been very important to the
US. He told the MP's that while there are "rumors" that the

US will sell F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, he did not think it
was going to happen, as Congress would not clear the sale,
and the powerful Indian/American community would organize
against it. The administration may offer the planes to
Pakistan, he said, but would not find the votes to get it
approved by Congress. He urged the Indian legislators to
"look at the flip side," in that if the Indian armed forces
integrated American equipment into their inventory and
ensured interoperability, it would serve as a powerful
counterpoint to Pakistan.


4. (SBU) Congressman Leach replied that "there is no
monopoly of anger vis a vis Pakistan," but it is in India's
best interest that the US/Pakistan relationship is amicable.
He emphasized that for the US there is no "zero sum game" in
regards to India and Pakistan. Pointing out that the US has
"difficulties" with "aspects" of the Muslim world, he noted
that the US does not want Pakistan to "trip into terrorism
and instability." While the US would have "respectful"
relationships with both India and Pakistan, the relationship
with India would be "dominant" as the two countries share
common values and interests, while not being "discordant" to
the US/Pakistan relationship.

The Role of the Tsunami
--------------


5. (SBU) Saying he was happy that the US and India were
working together to assist the victims of the Tsunami,
Congress spokesman Anand Sharma pointed to the relief effort
as an indicator of the growing closeness of India and the US.
Murli Deora asked whether there was too much Tsunami relief
money coming in, and whether it could all be utilized.


6. (SBU) Congressman Leach replied that the delegation has
toured the Tsunami stricken region and seen the extraordinary
depth of the catastrophe, which he described as
"unprecedented." He called the US/Indian joint response a
"bellwether" of the other types of cooperation that were
possible and an indicator of the convergence of interests.
Senator Brownback described the devastation as "mind
boggling," saying that in Sri Lanka it was "numbing." He
thanked India for its close cooperation with the US and for
extending help to neighboring countries while dealing with
its own disaster. The Senator noted that the disaster had
"touched the American people," and provided an opportunity
for the two countries to work together not just on this
immediate issue, but a number of others in the future. He
said the relief money would be spent, but may not be spent
wisely. He hoped that the money could be committed to a ten
year effort for major infrastructural improvement in the
region. The Ambassador pointed out that the close
cooperation was based on two years of preparation by the
militaries of the US and India, who had held joint maneuvers
to prepare for disaster response. This daily contact between
our militaries will deepen in the coming days as
reconstruction takes off, he noted. He called the formation
of the core group of countries a "significant signal" and a
positive sign of deepening ties.

Economic Development and Trade
--------------


7. (SBU) Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia urged both
countries to make economics the centerpiece of the India/US
relationship. He emphasized that economic opportunities
would provide a firmer basis than military equipment sales,
and result in a "win win" situation." Scindia urged both
countries to quickly address economic "irritants" such as
IPR, outsourcing, and India's need for extensive
infrastructural development, and take a good look at the
social sector, particularly health and education. Case
studies demonstrate, he said, that it is not the amount of
aid or investment that is important but how it is spent.
With proper diligence, India could become the heart of a new
economic zone. PK Maheshwari complained that the US had
benefited more from outsourcing and IT than India, and urged
the US to lift import quotas on Indian products and end
limits on the numbers of H visas issued to Indian IT
professionals. Anand Sharma complained of a lack of
understanding of the interests of developing countries in new
international regimes addressing the environment, trade, and
economic development, resulting in discriminatory subsidies
and tariffs.


8. (SBU) Representative Blumenaur replied that there are not
only differences between India and the US on these issues,
but within Congress itself. He pointed out that the United
States was not in a strong position to address global warming
and environmental issues because of its poor record, and this
was a major irritant to developing countries. He paraphrased
PM Manmohan Singh, who said that if the rest of the world
followed the American example regarding energy consumption,
it would destroy the earth. Congressman Leach emphasized
that developing world concerns are "well understood" in the
US, and the gap between the "haves and the have nots" must be
addressed for us to have a humane world. While the world
needs a more open and competitive trading system, he noted,
the US has a very open market, and its agricultural
protectionism is only 1/6 that of the EU. This does not give
the developing world the right to institute protectionist
trade barriers which actually put India at a "disadvantage."

United Nations Reform
--------------


9. (SBU) "Pioneer" Editor and independent MP Chandran Mitra
pointed out that there was a new issue that could cause
problems between India and the US. India wants a permanent
seat on the UNSC, and the perception in India is that all the
G-8 countries are supportive except the United States and
China, and that the US is not interested in UN reform.
Congressman Leach replied that he was a strong advocate of
India and felt that it should be given a permanent seat on
the UNSC. Circumstances had changed, he said, and India now
deserved the seat.

Close and Getting Closer
--------------


10. (SBU) Despite the open and frank discussion regarding
problem issues, there was overall agreement that the US/India
relationship is close and getting closer. Anand Sharma
emphasized that promoting US/India cooperation is essential,
and that there must be a continuous dialogue on all issues at
all levels between the two countries. Noting that there has
been a shift in relations over the past decade, Sharma
pointed out that there is now a "better awareness" in the US
regarding India and its interests. Although the two
countries have their respective and sometimes differing views
on a number of issues, they share the same outlook on most
things, including terrorism, world security, and the need for
economic growth. Dialog is essential at all levels, he
reiterated, to "further consolidate" the relationship.
Senator Brownback replied that the growth in the India/US
relationship over the past five years has been "phenomenal"
and it was good not only for the two countries, but for the
world at large. He agreed that there are a number of issues
that India and the US can work together on to improve the
region and the world, including extending freedom and
democracy, and encouraging religious tolerance.


11. (U) Codel Leach cleared this message.
MULFORD