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