INDIA, US "CONVERGE" ON SRI LANKA, LESS ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 006520

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2026
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER KDEM CE BG IN
SUBJECT: INDIA, US "CONVERGE" ON SRI LANKA, LESS ON
BANGLADESH - JOINT SECRETARY KUMAR


Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary. In a September 18 courtesy call, Ministry of
External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary Mohan Kumar told
PolCouns:

-- India and the U.S. have a "broad convergence" of interests
on Sri Lanka;
-- India continues to tell the GSL that there can be no
military solution to the conflict, and NOW is the time for
the GSL to use statesmanship and an advantageous bargaining
position to advance the peace process;
-- Were it not for U.S. and Indian persistence, the GSL would
no longer support Norway as head of the Co-Chairs;
-- Domestic Indian politics have less influence in GOI policy
toward Sri Lanka than in the past; and
-- The U.S. underestimates the terror threat stemming from
Bangladesh, although otherwise U.S. and Indian policies
toward Bangladesh are similar.

End Summary.

COORDINATED, CONVERGENCE ON SRI LANKA
--------------


2. (C) In a September 18 courtesy call, PolCouns discussed
India's assessment of recent developments in Sri Lanka and
prospects for successful elections in Bangladesh with
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary for
Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives (BSM) Mohan
Kumar. PolCouns noted the close coordination between senior
officials in the USG and GOI taking place in Colombo and
elsewhere, and urged Kumar for his cooperation in continuing
similar close coordination in New Delhi. Kumar agreed,
adding he appreciated his meetings with U/S Burns and A/S
Boucher on all of the issues in his portfolio.


3. (C) Offering his assessment on Sri Lanka, Kumar said he
felt there was a "broad convergence" of interests between the
U.S. and India. India continues to support the Co-Chairs
group, specifically Norway's chairmanship, Kumar stated. In
fact, it is only because of India and the U.S.' persistence
that Norway continues to have Colombo's support, Kumar
explained, as "Southern opinion has swung completely against
Norway" due to GSL perception that Oslo has been an apologist
for LTTE transgressions. Due to Colombo's mistrust for
Norway, the GSL is NOW asking for the next Co-Chairs meeting
not to take place in Oslo. In terms of other "convergence,"
Kumar confirmed India will participate in the September 27
Contact Group meeting in Washington, most likely with an
expert supplied from its Embassy. Additionally, India is
"doing everything possible" to coordinate its position with
the U.S. in order to keep the peace process moving forward.
While the GSL appears to have made significant military gains
in recent weeks, India's message to Colombo remains that
there will be no military solution to the peace process, and
that the GSL must behave in a statesmanlike fashion and lead
to a negotiated settlement. "We need to stop the government
from taking the attitude, 'We're doing well (militarily); why
do we need to talk?'" Kumar said.

INTERNAL POLITICS LESS OF A FACTOR
--------------


4. (C) Internal Indian politics play less of a role in
India's policy toward Sri Lanka than in the past, Kumar said,
citing Tamil Nadu Governor Barnala's recent endorsement of
the GOI's policy toward Sri Lanka. "There is a tremendous
difference from the 1980s and 1990s," Kumar said, adding that
many people who live in Tamil Nadu and used to sympathize
toward the LTTE NOW say they want nothing to do with the
group, although they will still help Tamil refugees.
However, even the refugees have changed, according to Kumar.
Citing exit interviews the GOI does with refugees entering
Tamil Nadu, he stated, whereas in the past Tamil's were

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crossing the Palk Strait to avoid being caught in fighting,
today many are fleeing to avoid being forced into the LTTE
military -- often as child soldiers.

U.S., INDIA CLOSE ON BANGLADESH, BUT...
--------------


5. (C) Saying U.S. and Indian positions "don't entirely
converge" on Bangladesh due to under-appreciation by the USG
of the terrorist threat stemming from India's eastern
neighbor, Kumar stated that nonetheless our two countries'
interests were very close. The top issue from India's
perspective, according to Kumar, is that Dhaka "is in total
denial" that terrorists are organizing within and transiting
through Bangladesh's borders. In terms of where the U.S. and
India can work together, Kumar emphasized the importance of
the next parliamentary election being "credible," and said
the international community must be united in promoting free
and fair elections, either through a UN election monitoring
mission or some other body, such as a Commonwealth commission
or through credible international NGOs. The integrity of the
election process is threatened by: 1) a corrupt election
commission; 2) non-credible voter lists; and 3) the "fixed"
promotion of the Chief Justice, whom Kumar assumes would head
the next caretaker government. The election is the Awami
League's to lose, Kumar opined, yet should it believe any two
of the three above cannot be resolved in time, it may have no
choice but to boycott the election, regardless of how poor a
tactical choice that may seem to be.
MULFORD