INDIAN PEACEKEEPERS: SUDAN READY TO GO, MAYBE MORE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005868

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015
TAGS: PREL KPKO IN CG SU UNSC
SUBJECT: INDIAN PEACEKEEPERS: SUDAN READY TO GO, MAYBE MORE
FOR CONGO?

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for reasons 1.4(B,D)


1. (C) Summary: Indian media reported on July 27 that a
second Indian infantry brigade had been told to prepare to
deploy to the UN peacekeeping operation (PKO) in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). While MEA Under
Secretary (UN Political) K Nandini told us that the MEA was

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unaware of any plans to add to the brigade already serving in
the DRC, Indian Army contacts seemed to confirm to DATT the
additional deployment. The GOI is also ready to send a
brigade to southern Sudan under UN auspices, but has delayed
the deployment due to rains in Sudan and the lack of
infrastructure on the ground, especially for quarters and
basing. MEA expects to receive notice from UN headquarters
regarding the timing of the deployment and the finalization
of a status of forces agreement to govern the PKO. End
Summary.

Confusion in MEA about Troops for Congo
--------------


2. (SBU) The "Times of India" reported on July 27 that the
GOI instructed the Army to prepare a second infantry brigade
to join the 3,000 Indian soldiers serving in the UN PKO in
the DRC. The total strength of 6,000 personnel would be
India's largest ever UN PKO participation. MEA Under
Secretary Nandini told Poloff on July 27 that MEA is unaware

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of any plans to add to the DRC mission, adding that India has
not received any notification that the mandate for the UN PKO
had been increased. However, MEA does expect the UN Security
Council to mandate additional troops before elections, which
had been delayed from October to sometime before the end of

2005.


3. (C) Although MEA was unaware of plans to send more
troops, Maj Gen Sekhon (protect),the Deputy Director General
of Military Training, when asked by DATT about an additional
"battalion," clarified that it was in fact a brigade, and
seemed to acknowledge the DRC deployment.

Waiting for the Green Light to go to Sudan
--------------


4. (SBU) Nandini characterized the separate planned
deployment of 3,500 troops to Sudan as slow. The decision to
negotiate a status of forces agreement between the UN and
Sudan in theory solved earlier holdups over visas for the
Indian soldiers, but the agreement is not yet done, Nandini
said, adding that logistical difficulties now hamper the
deployment. The monsoons in southern Sudan preclude moving
the necessary equipment, and there is no infrastructure for
basing the forces in the area. Nandini mentioned that the UN
Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping had stated that
deployment would be complete by October, but concluded, "we
are still waiting for someone to tell us to deploy."

Comment: Highlighting the PKO Contribution
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5. (SBU) It is unsurprising that plans for additional PKO
deployments have hit the newspapers quickly. The GOI
continues to trumpet its participation in UN PKOs both in
public and in interactions with Emboffs. Clearly, India sees
its historically strong contributions as one of its prime
qualifications for a permanent seat on the UN Security
Council.


6. (U) Minimize considered.
BLAKE