CODEL BOND, NSA NARAYANAN FOCUS ON AREAS OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002060 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/18/2015 TAGS: PINR PTER ECIN ENRG MARR MASS OREP EAGR US IN SUBJECT: CODEL BOND, NSA NARAYANAN FOCUS ON AREAS OF COOPERATION NEW DELHI 00002060 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In his March 22 meeting with Senator Kit Bond (R-Missouri),National Security Advisor MK Narayanan reiterated the GOI's commitment to the transformed US-India relationship, and stressed the common ground India shares with the US. Narayanan responded positively to Senator Bond's comments on cooperation in agriculture, energy security, and defense ties. In addition, he asked about prospects for congressional passage of the civil nuclear agreement, raised his interest in increased intelligence sharing, gave his sense of the Indian counterterrorism environment, and asked Senator Bond to explain the role of Congress in these issues. Echoing Senator Bond, Narayanan noted that there has been a "fundamental change in the nature of the relationship." Crediting President Bush for the transformation, he reiterated that Indians are comfortable with the President because he "speaks from the heart." End Summary. Green and Clean Revolutions -------------- ¶2. (C) During his March 22 meeting with National Security Advisor MK Narayanan, Senator Bond offered a strong endorsement of the Agricultural Knowledge Initiative (AKI), and Narayanan concurred, noting that agriculture is an issue "near the Prime Minister's heart, even more so than the civil nuclear deal." Narayanan said that the PM views the AKI as the high point of President Bush's visit to India, and noted that Singh, who talks often of another Green Revolution, thinks of agriculture as the area where that bilateral relationship can really take off. Similarly, Narayanan agreed with Senator Bond that both countries can and should take advantage of their large coal reserves and look to clean coal for energy security. The National Security Advisor noted that the GOI does not want to be held captive to West Asian regimes. Making Up for Lost Time on Defense Ties -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Narayanan listened attentively to Senator Bond's discussion of the US offer of FA-18 military aircraft to India, but gave no firm response. He noted that the GOI is looking for co-production rights and has "its heart set on" a package that includes advanced avionics, and if the FA-18 
proposal contained these elements it "would put you ahead of the competition, I assure you." Narayanan stated that while there had been incremental moves in defense cooperation the 1990s, progress in the last few years, including the Maritime Cooperation Framework, has been "mind boggling." He reflected positively on the Defense Production and Procurement Group (DPPG),saying he hoped that it would help jumpstart ties after so many years of on-involvement. Narayanan noted that the DPPG should help smooth the process of defense procurement, on which there was "a maze of legislation and procedures." Narayanan also expressed concern about the long-term availability of supplies, noting, "just when you need it, it stops." However, he agreed with the Ambassador's assessment that the solution is a strengthened economic relationship that would help keep pressure on Congress to keep the relationship moving forward. Congressional Approval of the Civil Nuclear Agreement NEW DELHI 00002060 002.2 OF 002 -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Narayanan told Senator Bond that the GOI hopes the civil nuclear agreement goes through, and asked him if the U.S. Congress would approve the agreement by May. He listened thoughtfully as Senator Bond and the Ambassador explained that approval was unlikely by May because of the imminent end of the session and a long Congressional agenda ahead of the civil nuclear agreement. The Ambassador and Senator Bond emphasized the need for bipartisan support, which they explained would be difficult given other domestic political issues getting attention in Washington and the upcoming Congressional elections. Intelligence Sharing and Countertejrorism Cooperation -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Narayanan drew a link between the importance of cooperation on counterterrorism and the need for intelligence sharing, noting that there are "concentric circles" of militants and terrorists who are increasingly mobile and very well-funded. He said that the time has come for more integration between the US and Indian intelligence services, noting that he has been talking with Ambassador Negroponte about how best to achieve it. He stressed that the GOI has "tight control over communalism," which he said was much more about economic conditions than real religious tensions. He described terrorism as distinct from communalism and said that the GOI is "very apprehensive" about the new trends emerging in terror attacks in India. Narayanan pointed out that attacks are increasingly in the "hinterland," outside of Kashmir, and directed at obvious religious symbols and economic targets. He went on to say that the GOI had uncovered 14 cells with targets including a military academy and the Infosys campus in Bangalore. While it has not happened yet, "you never know" when there will be backlash against attacks of a religious nature. He expressed concern over the increasing number of Muslims of Indian origin implicated in terrorist attacks and the GOI's ability to manage the aftermath of outrages designed to instigate mass hysteria. ¶6. (U) CODEL Bond cleared this cable. ¶7. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: (http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/) MULFORD