Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05NEWDELHI6694
2005-08-31 14:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

MEA EAGER TO WORK WITH US ON BANGLADESH AND SRI

Tags:  PTER PREL PGOV MOPS PBTS ECON IN BD PK SA 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 006694 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV MOPS PBTS ECON IN BD PK SA
SUBJECT: MEA EAGER TO WORK WITH US ON BANGLADESH AND SRI
LANKA

REF: NEW DELHI 6519

Classified By: A/DCM Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 006694

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/31/2015
TAGS: PTER PREL PGOV MOPS PBTS ECON IN BD PK SA
SUBJECT: MEA EAGER TO WORK WITH US ON BANGLADESH AND SRI
LANKA

REF: NEW DELHI 6519

Classified By: A/DCM Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: In an August 31 meeting, new MEA Joint
Secretary for Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar Mohan Kumar

SIPDIS
agreed to the need for greater information sharing and policy
coordination between GOI and USG on Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Stressing that Bangladesh is "India's most important
challenge," he said the GOI has finally realized they need to
take that bilateral relationship more seriously. These
efforts are complicated by the GOB's "total denial" regarding
Delhi's concerns, but Kumar hopes to improve relations
through trade and people to people contacts. On Sri Lanka,
the GOI sees the Kadirgamar assassination as a sign that the
LTTE is moving backwards on its transformation from a
terrorist organization to a political group capable of
assisting with a solution to the civil war. He is also
concerned that Norway is losing credibility as a mediator and
that the November Presidential election will force the Sri
Lankans to pull out of the SAARC summit scheduled for the
same month. We have a window of opportunity with India to
work together on these two challenges. We urge senior-level
USG/GOI consultations at the soonest opportunity, especially
on Bangladesh. End Summary.

Bangladesh is now the Top GOI Foreign Priority
-------------- -


2. (C) Although Kumar's expertise is in Sri Lanka, he
commented that his first month on the job had taught him that
Bangladesh is "India's most important challenge." The GOI
hasn't paid enough attention to its eastern neighbor, he
commented, but there is now a recognition that Delhi "must
take the relationship seriously." As a result of the August
17 bombing, policy towards Bangladesh is now "more important
than Pakistan." A/DCM stressed our hope that we can develop
the same kind of information exchange and policy coordination

that we have in Nepal. Kumar responded that he "totally
agreed on the need for closer coordination," and although we
may not always agree, "we share common challenges" in the
area.


3. (C) Kumar's biggest concern is that Bangladesh is a
"country in total denial" of its problems, both internally
and regarding its relationship with India. "Even Musharraf,"
he remarked, "admits there are camps in Pakistan," but
Bangladesh refuses even to admit that there is a problem with
fundamentalism or illegal migration to India. "If Bangladesh
won't even admit these issues exist, how are we supposed to
talk about them," he pleaded. Without dialogue, he wondered
how the GOI could make any progress improving the
relationship. Reflecting on the August 17 bomb wave, Kumar
said it is clear the Jamaat ul'Muhajidin Bangladesh (JMB) has
grown and were involved, but the GOB didn't know who else
assisted with coordination. He requested US help in putting
pressure on the GOB to face extremism and unchecked
immigration, two of India's highest security concerns. A/DCM
remarked that during a recent visit to the hill state of
Meghalaya, he heard widespread concern about the effects of
unchecked Bangladeshi immigration importing intolerant
strains of Islam, but comparatively lesser preoccupation with
terrorist groups like ULFA operating from next door.

Progress Through Trade and People-to-People Contacts
-------------- --------------


4. (C) While security concerns impede the bilateral
dialogue, Kumar hoped to use trade and people-to-people
contacts as instruments to improve ties. Since the GOI can
not expect reciprocity in economic negotiations, the only
option is to give Dhaka some trade concessions. A/DCM
responded that the USG was encouraging this sort of economic
linkage because it was good for Bangladesh and good for US
business. Remarking that Bangladesh is known for "cutting
its nose to spite its face," Kumar said the GOI would have to
find ways to make things happen "in spite of the government,
not with the government." He admitted that Delhi sometimes
also takes "untenable positions," and hoped to circumvent
governments on both sides. Kumar cited people-to-people
contacts as one example. A/DCM recalled the way that
Vajpayee was able to reach out to the people of Pakistan to
appeal for better relations, and Kumar commented that the
half a million visas that the GOI issued yearly was still not
enough.

Kumar Questions LTTE and Norway Roles
--------------


5. (C) Turning to Sri Lanka, Kumar questioned the
"fundamental premise of the Oslo Process that the LTTE can
transform from a terrorist organization to a political
entity" capable of becoming part of the solution to the civil
war. Kumar, who previously served as DCM to the Indian
mission in Sri Lanka and has returned for his second tour in
this division of MEA, said the assassination showed the "LTTE
was going back to its old ways." The LTTE believes that the
GSL was involved in the Karuna faction killing of their
number three leader Kaushalyan. As a result, they believe
they are justified in killing Kadirgamar despite the cease
fire, he speculated.


6. (C) Kumar emphasized his concern that Norway's
credibility in the south is at an all time low. Although
India and the US know that the Norwegians have a thankless
job that no one else is qualified to assume, he commented
that the prevalent view is that they have become an
"unabashed apologist for the LTTE." "People think they are
not capable of even basic fairness, much less a solution," he
remarked.


7. (C) Kumar urged the US and the international community to
put stricter sanctions on the LTTE. He observed that "the
only language the LTTE responds to is penalties and
sanctions." Kumar called US efforts to place restrictions on
the LTTE in the West "pathetic," due to a lack of resources.
The banned Tamil Rehabilitation Organization is mutating into
an NGO that siphons off reconstruction money for the LTTE, he
said. Kumar recently met with the visiting Canadian MFA
official David Mulroney, who indicated that Ottawa is
"reviewing" their policy towards the terrorist group.

SAARC Summit Shaky, Again?
--------------


8. (C) When A/DCM pressed for GOI plans for the November
SAARC summit, Kumar responded that PM Singh hoped for a
"bilateral component" with Bangladesh. But he also cautioned
that security concerns in Bangladesh, coupled with Sri
Lanka's November Presidential elections, may lead to another
rescheduling of the summit.

Comment: A Man We Can Do Business With
--------------


9. (C) We found Kumar both thoughtful and practical about
the problems facing two of India's closest neighbors, and
someone who shares our belief about the advantages of USG/GOI
coordination. His statements on Bangladeshi denial mirror FM
Singh's frustrations that the GOB is not reciprocating the
Indian push for better ties (Ref A),but his view that Indian
should work around its bureaucracy and use trade concessions
as a leverage for progress was refreshing. On Sri Lanka, the
MEA focus is cutting off LTTE funding, which we are told was
also the priority for new FM Bandaranaike's recent visit to
New Delhi. The speed and sincerity with which Kumar was open
to cooperation in these areas is testament to the changed
dynamic in the US-Indian relationship. We should not miss
this opportunity. We believe a senior-level USG-GOI
consultation on Bangladesh would be a good initiative at this
juncture.

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