MHA ADDRESSING TERRORISM, WILLING TO CONSIDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005960

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV ASEC MASS IN PK NP
SUBJECT: MHA ADDRESSING TERRORISM, WILLING TO CONSIDER
ENHANCED COOPERATION


Classified By: CDA Robert O. Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: Special Secretary (Home) KP Singh told
Charge, Consul General and Poloff on August 1 that recent
terrorist attacks in India, while worrisome, represent a
return to past levels of higher terrorist activity to which
India was accustomed. He identified several new MHA
initiatives to increase security, including increased coastal
patrolling and a proposed national biometric ID card, and
welcomed the suggestion of regular information sharing with
the USG on terrorist threat reporting in India and possible
ATA aid for MHA's coastal security initiative. End Summary.

Blas about Recent Up-tick
--------------


2. (C) Singh downplayed Mission and media concerns that the
recent spate of terrorist attacks in Ayodhya, Srinagar, and
on a Delhi-bound train represented an up-tick in terrorist
activity, saying rather that terrorists have not relented in
their efforts, and the current tempo is simply a return to
levels of terrorism seen two to three years ago. In the face
of mounting circumstantial evidence and media speculation, he
discounted the idea that New Delhi has become an operational
hub for underground terrorist networks, nor did he perceive a
threat to foreigners or Americans in particular, but admitted
that as the national capital New Delhi remains a high-profile
target. The terrorists in India are receiving support from
the South Asian neighborhood, Singh remarked, adding that he
was hopeful international pressure would "tighten the screws"
on militant groups and repress their activities. (Comment:
Singh's efforts to downplay the terrorist violence are
consistent with recent comments made by Army Chief of Staff
JJ Singh and others. End Comment.)

Supports Intel-Sharing Meetings
--------------


3. (C) In the meantime, Singh continued, the ease with which
terrorists could enter India from Nepal and Bangladesh, and
the inability to distinguish Indian citizens from nationals
of neighboring countries made it impossible for heightened
security and police awareness alone to intercept all
terrorists. He added that the key to anti-terrorist
operations was obtaining good intelligence in order to
disrupt planned attacks. When the Charge suggested regular
information sharing meetings as a way to strengthen
anti-terrorist cooperation, Singh agreed, requesting that the
Embassy propose such a program by letter to the Home
Secretary. Embassy will follow up.

SIPDIS

MHA Projects: Coastal Security and ID Cards
--------------


4. (C) Singh identified securing India's long coastlines as
one of his particular priorities, noting that the Indian Navy
and Coast Guard have insufficient assets to intercept
unauthorized vessels landing along the coast. He told us
that MHA is funding a "Coastal Security Scheme" to provide
coastal states' police agencies with armed high-speed patrol
boats equipped with surveillance and night vision gear. The
program is starting with Maharashtra and Gujarat although in
those states the additional patrol boats and bases will be
allocated to the Indian Coast Guard instead of the state
police.


5. (C) The Charge pointed out that the USG has several
specialized agencies with experience in intercepting small
boats due to our drug interdiction efforts, and said the USG
would welcome specific suggestions for training or other
cooperation. Singh immediately dispatched an assistant to
ask the Director General of the Coast Guard to suggest any
areas for assistance, and told us he would pass along any
requests.


6. (C) MHA is also in the middle of a pilot program to
develop a national biometric (fingerprint-based) smart
identification card, Singh said. The pilot project is being
conducted in 14 locations of varied geographic, demographic
and urban/rural settings around the country, and enrolls 3
million citizens. MHA has finished the data collection and
photography, is now issuing the cards, and expects to
complete the pilot study in four months. Singh commented
that he was not sure all the stakeholder government
departments were fully supportive, but he remained
enthusiastic about the increased security potential of a
nationwide biometric identity card. In addition to
identifying suspected infiltrators from Pakistan, he
suggested, the proposed ID system would permit an
instantaneous verification of the nationality of Indians
arrested in other countries and awaiting deportation (see
septel on a proposal to speed up the verification of Indian
nationals awaiting removal in the US).

Comment: The Devil is in the Bureaucratic Details
-------------- --------------


7. (C) Singh appeared very receptive to our suggestions for
possible ATA programs for the Indian Coast Guard, regular
information sharing on terrorism, and even a suggestion that
a nationwide fingerprint ID database could be used to verify
US visa applications. However, implementation of each of
these proposals is sometimes difficult due to Indian concerns
over sharing too much internal security information with the
USG. We will try to cut through the latent suspicion at MEA
and MHA to attempt to bring these ideas to fruition. End
Comment.
BLAKE