MEA STICKS WITH TWIN PILLARS, SKEPTICAL ON UN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 006594 SIPDIS KATHMANDU PASS RICHELSOPH E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015 TAGS: PREL KDEM IN NP CH KS SUBJECT: MEA STICKS WITH TWIN PILLARS, SKEPTICAL ON UN REF: NEW DELHI 6411 Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) A skeptical MEA Joint Secretary (North) Ranjit Rae told A/DCM on August 26 that the GOI will receive UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi in New Delhi on August 30, but was puzzled by what the UN might expect to accomplish in Nepal. In contrast to reports in Kathmandu and among non-governmental Indian Nepal experts (septel) of a growing embrace of republicanism, Rae said the GOI has no plans for now to abandon its "twin pillars" policy. The Palace has not made any request as of yet for a meeting between the King and PM Manmohan Singh on the margins of the UNGA summit, he reported. He added that Brahimi has not mentioned to India the idea of a four party (India, US, UK, UN) meeting on Nepal in New York. ¶2. (C) Notwithstanding the RNA debacle at Kalikot, Rae remarked that New Delhi still sees a Maoist victory as impossible given the guerrillas' rudimentary arms and lack of broad support, and observed that any arms provided to the RNA at this point would only postpone the eventual political settlement that must end the conflict. Nevertheless, the GOI is disturbed by continued reports of Chinese and Pakistani arms deals with the RNA, and hopes the US will object to the transactions (reftel). Rae said that his China division counterpart was meeting August 26 with the PRC Ambassador to reiterate Indian unease. For now the GOI believes the PRC is disinclined to adventurism in Nepal and shares India's concern about a deteriorating political situation. MEA also plans to protest to the South Korean Ambassador after receiving an overflight request for a shipment of rocket-propelled grenades from South Korea to Nepal. ¶3. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http//www.state.sgov/p/sa/newdelhi) MULFORD