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
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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
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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


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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