TFUS01: INDIA SEEKS USG OK TO SEND MORE AID

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 006809

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AEMR PREL EAID MOPS MASS AMGT MARR US
SUBJECT: TFUS01: INDIA SEEKS USG OK TO SEND MORE AID

REF: A. STATE 163366


B. STATE 163387

C. STATE 163389


1. (U) SEE URGENT ACTION REQUESTS AT PARA 6.


2. (SBU) A/DCM conveyed Refs A and B points to MEA Joint
Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar late evening on September 4.

SIPDIS
Jaishankar indicated he understood the bureaucratic issues
regarding sending a medical team and offering Indian
pharmaceuticals, and conveyed India's offer to send a team of
navy divers with flood relief experience instead. On
September 5, Jaishankar told us that the GOI has already
begun active preparations to send a cargo aircraft with
supplies as sought by FEMA in Ref C, pending coordination
with the USG, although the GOI would not at this juncture
send medical personnel due to our stated concerns about the
complexity of obtaining necessary bureaucratic approvals in
the United States.


3. (SBU) MOD Joint Secretary Bimal Julka followed-up with
DATT to specify that an Ilyushin-76 cargo aircraft with cots,
blankets, tarps, first aid kits, pillows, and water trucks
was preparing to deploy. He also indicated that 14 navy
divers and 6 navy salvage experts are standing by to depart
pending USG approval.


4. (SBU) State and DAO officers are currently working out the
administrative and logistical details in the event the Indian
aid is accepted. The GOI has named the Director of Air
Operations, Air Vice Marshall Mukul as the GOI's POC for
logistics related to getting Indian relief supplies into the
area of operations. The GOI wants to know who Mukul's USG
POC will be.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Saran on
September 5 and expressed USG appreciation for the $5 million
contribution to the Red Cross and informed him that the USG
was evaluating the offer of other aid. Per Ref B guidance,
Ambassador also delivered a letter to EAM Natwar Singh
thanking India for its assistance.


6. (U) ACTION REQUESTS: We seek Washington's early formal
acceptance of India's offers of aid (paras 1 and 2). We also
need ASAP a name and title of a USG POC for AVM Mukul (para
4).


7. (SBU) COMMENT: The Indians are ready, willing, and able to
help, and are being sensitive to our needs and requirements.
END COMMENT.
MULFORD