Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NEWDELHI6638
2005-08-29 14:45:00
SECRET
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

INDIAN QUESTIONS ABOUT IRAN WMD BRIEFING OFFER

Tags:  KNNP PARM PREL IR IN 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T NEW DELHI 006638 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN QUESTIONS ABOUT IRAN WMD BRIEFING OFFER

REF: A. STATE 158145

B. NEW DELHI 6397 (NOTAL) AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: A/PolCouns Atul Keshap for reasons 1.4 (B, D)

S E C R E T NEW DELHI 006638

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL IR IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN QUESTIONS ABOUT IRAN WMD BRIEFING OFFER

REF: A. STATE 158145

B. NEW DELHI 6397 (NOTAL) AND PREVIOUS

Classified By: A/PolCouns Atul Keshap for reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (S) In response to the USG offer to brief the GOI on
Iran's weaponization program and pursuit of the nuclear fuel
cycle (Ref A),MEA Deputy Secretary (Americas) Santosh Jha
told PolMilOff on August 29 that MEA is generally interested,
but would like more information before it could formally
accept the offer. Jha raised three questions: 1) Would the
briefing go beyond what had already been presented to India
in Vienna? 2) What would be the level of the briefing team?
3) What kind of flexibility would the team have to do the
briefing later in the week, e.g., 1-2 Sept, to ensure
higher-level participation?


2. (SBU) PolMilOff subsequently relayed these questions to
NP/RA and their responses to Jha later the same day: 1) The
classified briefing would include information not previously
given to the GOI; 2) The briefing would be given by experts
at the Office Director level; and 3) The team could be
available 1-2 Sept. In response, Jha stated the GOI would
likely be represented at the Joint Secretary level (Assistant
Secretary equivalent),although MEA Additional Secretary

SIPDIS
(International Security) Meera Shankar may attend, pending
her availability. Jha promised to give us a formal answer by
August 30.


3. (S) Assuming the GOI agrees formally to the briefing,
Post recommends the team brief A/S Shankar as well as Deputy
NSA Nambiar and an appropriate level at the National Security
Council staff. Shankar, however, may also ask the briefing
team about the status of USG reconsideration of sanctions
against Indian scientists Drs. Prasad and Surrendra based on
the GOI's robust insistence that neither was involved in
Iran's WMD program (Ref B). It would be useful for the team
to be prepared to give her a response.


4. (U) Please slug responses to Embassy New Delhi PolMilOff,
Stacy Gilbert.


5. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http//www.state.sgov/p/sa/newdelhi)
MULFORD