NATWAR RESERVED ON US-INDIA NUCLEAR UNDERSTANDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 006485

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015
TAGS: PREL KNNP ETTC MNUC IN IR NSSP US
SUBJECT: NATWAR RESERVED ON US-INDIA NUCLEAR UNDERSTANDING

REF: STATE 150160

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


1. (C) Foreign Minister Natwar Singh was oddly aloof on the
US-India nuclear understanding when the Ambassador met with
him August 23 to convey the Secretary's letter designating
Undersecretary Burns as the US interlocutor for the civil
nuclear working group established in the July 18 joint
statement (reftel). The Ambassador offered congratulations
on the GOI's successful navigation of the recent
Parliamentary debate over the PM's US visit, and underlined
the President and Secretary Rice's shared commitment to
achieving the full potential of our bilateral relationship.
The Ambassador also raised PSI, noting our hope that New
Delhi will respond to the disbanding of the Core Group by
subscribing to the Statement of Interdiction Principles and
taking part in the PSI Indian Ocean interdiction exercise to
be hosted by the UK in November.


2. (C) Without giving any hint as to who will be
Undersecretary Burns' counterpart, Natwar acknowledged that
he had received reports of strong resistance from certain
elements on Capitol Hill, and observed that India's situation
is relatively easier, since none of the steps the GOI must
take require legislative ratification. The Ambassador
flagged the upcoming EU-India summit as a chance for India to
make its case to the European members of the Nuclear
Suppliers Group. Natwar confirmed that the GOI has thus far
made no third-country approaches to sell the July 18
framework, but did point out that PM Blair has already spoken
supportively of the US-India understanding. On Proliferation
Security, Natwar noted positively a recent Parliamentary
question in which the GOI indicated that it was looking at
PSI, but did not commit to specific timing for completion of
PSI negotiations.


3. (C) Natwar indicated that he (and Foreign Secretary Saran)
would be in the US from September 13-25 in connection with
the Prime Minister's September 13-14 appearance at UNGA
(Natwar will also go to Ottawa). The Minister did not,
however, indicate any intention to use the UNGA visit to
engage with others on India's civil nuclear plans. Pressed
by the Ambassador regarding continued grumbling from the
scientific community about the requirement to separate
India's civilian and military establishments, Natwar claimed
there was no division of opinion, citing recent interviews by
Atomic Energy Chairman Khakodkar as evidence that the
scientists are on board. "I don't see any problem on our
side," the Minister concluded.


4. (C) The Ambassador also raised the issue of Iran's nuclear
weapons program, and our hope that India will use its
influence in Tehran and Vienna to support the EU-3 effort.
Natwar reported that he will travel to Tehran September 2 in
order to "get to know the new set up." He noted that Iranian
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had lived in Bangalore
for several years as a student, adding that his new
counterpart has placed a high priority on relations with New
Delhi. The Ambassador returned to our need for India's
assistance in bringing Iran into compliance with its NPT
obligations, noting that this issue could play into
Congressional debate over the US-India nuclear understanding.
"Yes," Natwar replied, we can help, underlining that he was
going to Tehran in an exploratory mode.

5. (C) Comment: The Minister seemed oddly aloof on this set
of issues, in contrast to his much more passionate and
engaged presentations on Bangladesh and Pakistan (septel).
Some of this may be a function of the prolonged Parliamentary
session, with its bruising debate over the PM's agenda with
the US. But it was also clear that the GOI has not yet made
its decisions about who will be Undersecretary Burns'
counterpart for the important negotiations that lie ahead.
Hopefully the Secretary's letter will help to accelerate this
decision. End Comment.
MULFORD