GOI ON THE SAME PAGE REGARDING SRI LANKA, MINOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 007466 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2026 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IN CE SUBJECT: GOI ON THE SAME PAGE REGARDING SRI LANKA, MINOR DIFFERENCES TOWARD BANGLADESH REF: CALCUTTA 413 NEW DELHI 00007466 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (b,d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: India's newly appointed Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee stated on October 30 that it is in India's interest to work with Bangladesh to curb terrorism. While monitoring Bangladesh's deteriorating security situation, Mukherjee noted the current political crisis is an "internal matter" and touted India's hopes for a peaceful and stable northern neighbor. Meanwhile, Mohan Kumar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary for Burma/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka/Maldives, told PolCouns on October 24 that he believed there was general US-India convergence on Bangladesh policy, except for differing views on the role of Jamaat-e-Islami in mainstream Bangladeshi politics. Kumar stated that the USG and GOI are in lock step vis-a-vis Sri Lanka policies and contended, despite contradictory reports, that the GOI provides only non-lethal aid to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) in the form of flak jackets and helmets. Over the weekend, talks between Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels dissolved without agreement. END SUMMARY. -------------- -------------- Bangladesh: Two GOI Officials Singing Two Different Tunes -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) In contrast to newly appointed FM Mukherjee's October 30 public statements on cooperation between India and Bangladesh, Kumar said that India had no choice but to engage Bangladesh as a neighbor which poses a significant threat to India's security (reftel). Kumar quoted a Bangladeshi Minister in Dhaka who allegedly said, "We do not have the ability to aspire to beco`[NK