INDIA AND BANGLADESH TRADE SPITBALLS IN INDIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 008011

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/14/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER KCRM KWMN BG IN
SUBJECT: INDIA AND BANGLADESH TRADE SPITBALLS IN INDIAN
PRESS

Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: In the past two weeks, India and Bangladesh
have been fighting a war of words in the press over
Bangladeshi allegations of Indian involvement in the August
17 blasts and the arrest of five Bangladeshi criminals in
Kolkata At a September 30 press conference, concluding an
otherwise constructive Director-General level meeting with
the Indian Border Security Force (BSF),Bangladesh Rifles
(BDR) DG Choudhury told reporters that "Indian criminals"
were responsible for the blasts. On October 6, the "Indian
Express" published a story that Kolkata police had arrested
five Bangladeshi nationals in connection with the bombing and
failed to notify the Bangladesh High Commission. In
response, the Indian MEA called Choudhury remarks "baseless
and scurrilous," and the Kolkata Special Branch Deputy
Commissioner told Consulate personnel that the five men were
suspected illegal immigrants, but not terrorists. These
incidents reflect the increased levels of mistrust between
the neighbors following the August 17 blasts and will pose a
challenge to PM Singh's plans to use the November SAARC
summit in Dhaka to establish a more cooperative climate. End
Summary.

Press Conference Overshadows BSF-BDR Meeting
--------------


2. (C) In a press conference covering the biannual September
29-30 Director-General BSF-BDR meetings in New Delhi, BDR
Chief Major General Choudhury told reporters that "It is the
criminals from India who had crossed over and along with
criminals in our own country were responsible for the
blasts." BSF Chief Mooshahary denied the accusations, noting
that the one person of Indian origin among the 500 arrested
after the bombings, named Ghiasuddin, had married and settled
in Bangladesh 17 years ago. In a September 30 Press
Briefing, MEA said it was "shocked and dismayed" at the
"baseless and scurrilous allegations." According to
Bangladeshi High Commission (BHC) Political Counselor Mashfe
Binte Shams, the GOB also believes "some" of the bombs used
in the blasts have Indian markings which indicate origins in
Jharkand state.


3. (C) News of the hostile press briefing overshadowed the
otherwise constructive BDR-BSF meetings. BHC Shams explained
that the DGs agreed on several confidence building measures
during the meeting, including expanded coordinated patrolling
along the border and a proposal for BDR training at the BSF
educational center in Tekanpur. Choudhury and Mooshahary
also discussed the GOI request to build fences along the
"zero line" in areas where Indian villages are situated on
the border. The GOB reaffirmed the 1974 treaty preventing
any defensive structures within 150 yards from the border,
but agreed to consider specific Indian construction requests.
The DGs also agreed on the first ever Indo-Bangla joint
"beating retreat" ceremony in Akhaura and Benapole, similar
to the ceremony performed at the Wagah Border between India
and Pakistan. Shams commented that Choudhury only referred
to the role of Indian insurgents in the August 17 blasts in
response to the Indian media's "aggressive" questioning.
However, she maintained that the press largely exaggerated
the statements; Choudhury did not march out of the conference
half-way through as some stories reported; instead he went to
a cordial lunch with Mooshahary to conclude the day's events.


Bangladeshi Migrants, Not Terrorists, Arrested in Kolkata
-------------- --------------


4. (U) On October 6, an "Indian Express" story claimed that
Kolkata police arrested five Bangladeshis on August 18 in
connection to the bombings and failed to tell the Bangladesh
High Commission about the arrests. In the report, Shakil
Ahmed Biswas, First Secretary of the Bangladesh High
Commission complained that the failure to notify "goes
against diplomatic norms" and that he would "take it up with
the Indian government." The Deputy Commissioner of the
Kolkata Special Branch told Consulate personnel that police
were on high alert after the nearby blasts, but that there is
no evidence the five men are connected with the blasts. He
added that they were involved in some kind of trafficking
racket, since their documents were faked and they were
reportedly promised jobs in Dubai. The Deputy Commissioner
explained that the police are not required to notify the
Bangladeshi High Commission every time an illegal immigrant
is arrested (apparently a common occurrence),and instead had
notified MEA. Anupam Ray, MEA Deputy Secretary for
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar, commented that even the
press report, which he called "journalistic ruminations,"
gives no evidence that the arrested men are involved with the
blasts. Ray declined to comment on notification to the BHC.

Comment: Mudslinging Reveals Deeper Frustration
-------------- --


5. (C) The GOI is frustrated that Bangladeshi officials
continue to make allegations about Indian involvement in the
August 17 blasts without credible or compelling evidence.
The press conference gave Choudhury a chance to air some
dirty laundry, and Bangladeshi diplomats also went straight
to the press about the arrests in Kolkata. The Indian press
coverage reflects the sentiments of many in India who feel it
is unfair for Dhaka to blame Delhi for its own home-grown
problems with fundamentalism. The Indian PM's bilateral
visit in Dhaka after the SAARC Summit is still on track, but
his goal of improving relations will be more difficult in the
current blame-game atmosphere. The two sides are at least
continuing to talk and move forward on CBMs despite the
public rancor.


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