Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06NEWDELHI1171
2006-02-15 13:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
AFGHAN MILITARY DONATIONS: GOI READY BUT NEEDS A
how-toVZCZCXRO8092 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHNE #1171/01 0461302 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 151302Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0103 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0344 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 3492 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 3513 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 6400 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2395 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 4158 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 6785 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2775 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 1698 RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 1467 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI 2289 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE 2117 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 0726 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 2799 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 9142 RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1297 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/HQ USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001171
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: MASS PREL MARR MOPS PINS IN AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN MILITARY DONATIONS: GOI READY BUT NEEDS A
PUSH FROM GOA
REF: STATE 22896
Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001171
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: MASS PREL MARR MOPS PINS IN AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN MILITARY DONATIONS: GOI READY BUT NEEDS A
PUSH FROM GOA
REF: STATE 22896
Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST. Please see para 6.
2. (C) Ambassador presented reftel appeal for assistance to
the ANA to Minister of State for External Affairs Anand
Sharma on February 14 (septel),noting India's generous
contribution of vehicles for the ANA and suggesting that New
Delhi might build on this precedent with additional equipment
for the Afghan Army and police. (Comment: We are focusing
our appeal for NOW on Afghanistan, looking ahead to a visit
to Delhi by President Karzai expected for March. End
Comment).
GOI INTERESTED, BUT THOUGHT USG OPPOSED INDIAN AID
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Bearing in mind the looming POTUS visit and our
ongoing discussion of Afghanistan-related deliverables, the
MEA acted quickly on this appeal. On February 15, MEA Joint
Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar told the DCM that India was
SIPDIS
interested in the US appeal, but was somewhat confused, since
the Indian Embassy in Kabul has been told by their Afghan
government interlocutors that the USG is advising the GOA not
to accept any form of military assistance from New Delhi.
What is the real US policy, Jaishankar asked.
4. (C) PolCouns explained the US view that Indian "boots on
the ground" would be disruptive at this point, since it could
stimulate a process of competitive meddling by other Afghan
neighbors. This is not just a US concern, we added, but
reflects also the perspective of President Karzai. However,
PolCouns noted, the Ambassador's request for material
assistance to the ANA was delivered on instructions, and we
would welcome a positive Indian reply.
AFGHAN (AND IRAQI) GOVERNMENTS SHOULD MAKE THE REQUEST
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Jaishankar emphasized that "nobody serious in the
Indian government is thinking about boots on the ground."
There is no way, he added, that anybody in the Indian
government would "want to do something that the Afghans
viewed unfavorably." Against this background of confusing
signals about US intentions, Jaishankar noted, it would be
helpful if someone in the Afghan government could approach
the Indian Embassy in Kabul to convey the ANA's needs. He
added that the same applies to Iraq, where the Indians have
yet to receive any requests from the government in Baghdad
paralleling US suggestions in New Delhi and Washington.
PolCouns explained the US role, working through Combined
Forces Command, Afghanistan (CFC-A),as the coordinating
donor for training and equipping the ANA, and reiterated that
we would be pleased to put India's equipment experts in
contact with CENTCOM's project managers.
ACTION REQUEST
--------------
6. (C) We have a good window of opportunity to move ahead on
this issue of ANA assistance before the Karzai visit to
Delhi. To follow-up on this conversation in Delhi, mission
suggests that Embassy Kabul be instructed to approach the GOA
and Indian Embassy in Kabul encouraging further Indian
NEW DELHI 00001171 002 OF 002
hardware grants to the ANA and Afghan police building on the
GOI's successful ANA trucks program.
7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
MULFORD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/14/2016
TAGS: MASS PREL MARR MOPS PINS IN AF
SUBJECT: AFGHAN MILITARY DONATIONS: GOI READY BUT NEEDS A
PUSH FROM GOA
REF: STATE 22896
Classified By: Ambassador David C. Mulford for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (U) This is an ACTION REQUEST. Please see para 6.
2. (C) Ambassador presented reftel appeal for assistance to
the ANA to Minister of State for External Affairs Anand
Sharma on February 14 (septel),noting India's generous
contribution of vehicles for the ANA and suggesting that New
Delhi might build on this precedent with additional equipment
for the Afghan Army and police. (Comment: We are focusing
our appeal for NOW on Afghanistan, looking ahead to a visit
to Delhi by President Karzai expected for March. End
Comment).
GOI INTERESTED, BUT THOUGHT USG OPPOSED INDIAN AID
-------------- --------------
3. (C) Bearing in mind the looming POTUS visit and our
ongoing discussion of Afghanistan-related deliverables, the
MEA acted quickly on this appeal. On February 15, MEA Joint
Secretary (Americas) Jaishankar told the DCM that India was
SIPDIS
interested in the US appeal, but was somewhat confused, since
the Indian Embassy in Kabul has been told by their Afghan
government interlocutors that the USG is advising the GOA not
to accept any form of military assistance from New Delhi.
What is the real US policy, Jaishankar asked.
4. (C) PolCouns explained the US view that Indian "boots on
the ground" would be disruptive at this point, since it could
stimulate a process of competitive meddling by other Afghan
neighbors. This is not just a US concern, we added, but
reflects also the perspective of President Karzai. However,
PolCouns noted, the Ambassador's request for material
assistance to the ANA was delivered on instructions, and we
would welcome a positive Indian reply.
AFGHAN (AND IRAQI) GOVERNMENTS SHOULD MAKE THE REQUEST
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Jaishankar emphasized that "nobody serious in the
Indian government is thinking about boots on the ground."
There is no way, he added, that anybody in the Indian
government would "want to do something that the Afghans
viewed unfavorably." Against this background of confusing
signals about US intentions, Jaishankar noted, it would be
helpful if someone in the Afghan government could approach
the Indian Embassy in Kabul to convey the ANA's needs. He
added that the same applies to Iraq, where the Indians have
yet to receive any requests from the government in Baghdad
paralleling US suggestions in New Delhi and Washington.
PolCouns explained the US role, working through Combined
Forces Command, Afghanistan (CFC-A),as the coordinating
donor for training and equipping the ANA, and reiterated that
we would be pleased to put India's equipment experts in
contact with CENTCOM's project managers.
ACTION REQUEST
--------------
6. (C) We have a good window of opportunity to move ahead on
this issue of ANA assistance before the Karzai visit to
Delhi. To follow-up on this conversation in Delhi, mission
suggests that Embassy Kabul be instructed to approach the GOA
and Indian Embassy in Kabul encouraging further Indian
NEW DELHI 00001171 002 OF 002
hardware grants to the ANA and Afghan police building on the
GOI's successful ANA trucks program.
7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
MULFORD