GOI DESIRE TO EXPAND CYBER RELATIONSHIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 009249

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR INR/B
STATE FOR PM ERUSSELL, MMARKOFF

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR KCIP TINT PTER EFIN ECPS KTFN IN
SUBJECT: GOI DESIRE TO EXPAND CYBER RELATIONSHIP


1. (U) This is an Action Request for PM. Please see para 9.


2. (SBU) Summary: The GOI would like to see measurable
progress on the creation of a joint Indo-US Cybersecurity
fund and joint training opportunities, and welcomes
Washington comments on how to proceed on these issues. Of
particular interest to the GOI is the future of the
stagnating Research and Development working group and the
creation of working groups on Cybersecurity in the Financial
and Transportation Sectors. End Summary.

R&D: Up or Out
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3. (SBU) Recent conversations with NSC cybersecurity
coordinator Commander Saini have focused on the January 16-17
third plenary of the Indo-US Cybersecurity Forum. Saini has
complained that the R&D working group (WG) has stagnated and
that a decision needs to be made either to move forward with
the creation of a virtual or physical joint R&D facility and
student exchange programs, or to break the R&D group down
into other WGs divided by topic. He suggested that the
overlap between the Science and Technology and R&D working
groups was contributing to this stagnation. Saini suggested
that the plenary would be a good opportunity to address the
overlap issue and pave the way for the R&D working group to
move forward with the creation of a joint facility and
student exchanges. He said the GOI would prefer to see the
R&D WG succeed as is, but would be willing to break up the
group into smaller, topical groups if that would help promote
movement on the issues.

Proposal 1: Financial Sector Working Group
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4. (SBU) The GOI is very interested in formalizing a working
group on Cybersecurity in the Financial Sector. The seminar
on the issue held in Mumbai in September 2005 was a
resounding success and New Delhi would like to see a dialogue
continue in the working group arena to address the need to
secure legitimate transactions and isolate "dark force
monies." Saini noted an exponential increase in financial
interdependency between India and the US through networks.
This dependency includes not only normal import/export
transactions but also "support processing" by Indian industry
to US financial institutions and bodies (i.e. through BPOs).
Saini noted that Internet-based transactions were also
exploited by "dark forces" which included terrorists, hawala
operators, scammers, and drug lords. The GOI would like to
ensure that the US and India have interoperable standards in
cyberspace; Saini proposes that participants in the working
group include representatives from the Reserve Bank of India
and Indian intelligence agencies as well as their USG
counterparts.

Proposal 2: Transportation Sector Working Group
-------------- --


5. (SBU) The GOI is interested in dialoguing about a working
group on cybersecurity in the transportation sector and
welcomes Washington's comments. Currently, there is no
single entity in India responsible for protecting critical
infrastructure. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team
(CERT-In) handles intrusion events on an emergency basis but
does not maintain the security of infrastructure networks.
India is most interested in an exchange with TSA on securing
their air, rail, and bus data infrastructure. Saini readily
admits that although Delhi and Washington have a joint
interest in securing data systems related to air traffic,
rail and bus networks -- though accounting for a staggering
amount of India's daily domestic travel -- is not a logical

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issue of bilateral concern. That said, he hopes the Indian
side could glean important "lessons learned" from TSA
officials who focus on securing data relating to ground
transportation.

Joint Fund & Training to Raise Cyber Cooperation Profile
-------------- --------------


6. (SBU) The GOI would like to highlight the cooperative
nature of the Indo-US Cybersecurity Forum and request
feedback from Washington on two issues introduced at the 9-10
November 2004 Plenary in Washington. Specifically, the GOI
is eager to set up a joint Indo-US Cybersecurity Fund to
which the two governments would provide start up funding.
Other stakeholders could also be invited to contribute. The
fund would be used to finance the Cybersecurity Forum's
activities, including possible expansion as per above. In
addition, the GOI would like to move forward with more
training exercises in 2006, including exchanges of technical
experts and joint training. To underline the importance the
GOI ascribes to what has become a high-profile and highly
successful bilateral engagement on cybersecurity, Joint
Secretary (Americas) S Jaishankar on December 8 reiterated

SIPDIS
Delhi's desire to move forward on the joint fund and joint
training.

Bio Brief: Saini to Retire from Navy and Go Private
-------------- --------------


7. (SBU) Saini told in us that he plans to retire from the
Navy after his tour at NSCS concludes in April, in order to
continue following cybersecurity issues in the private
sector. He has not finalized where he will end up (NASSCOM,
a think-tank, or industry),but he assures us he will tell us
as soon as he knows, and will introduce us to his successor
once one is named. For now, his focus remains squarely on
achieving deliverables out of the January plenary,
undoubtedly to further increase his marketability.

Comment: GOI Eager to Move Forward
--------------


8. (SBU) Saini and his NSCS superior, Joint Secretary Arvind
Gupta continue to push Indo-US cybersecurity cooperation with
energy and focus at every opportunity, including at the High
Technology Cooperation Group (Septel). They -- as well as
senior Foreign Ministry officials -- clearly want to create
strong momentum and expand the bilateral infrastructure
underpinning cybersecurity cooperation. Erica Russell will
get another taste of this eagerness during her upcoming TDY,
which will (we hope) authoritatively address the above issues.


9. (SBU) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests that Erica Russell
be prepared to give the GOI authoritative responses to their
requests regarding the joint fund, joint training, and
financial sector and transportation working groups, during
her forthcoming meetings in New Delhi.


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