US PARTICIPATION IN AMAN 07 "SURPRISES" AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001248 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/13/2027 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS CH PK IN SUBJECT: US PARTICIPATION IN AMAN 07 "SURPRISES" AND "CONCERNS" INDIA REF: A. A. E-MAIL 02 MARCH FROM CARA ABERCROMBIE RE: DUSD-JASSAL MEETING ¶B. B. E-MAIL 14 MARCH FROM CARA ABERCROMBIE RE: DASD CLAD'S AMAN 07 TALKING POINTS NEW DELHI 00001248 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Political Counselor Ted Osius for reasons 1.4 (B and D) ¶1. (C) PolCouns was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs by Joint Secretary (Americas) Gaitri Kumar on 12 March for an urgent meeting to discuss the USG's participation in the multinational joint naval exercise "Aman 07." Kumar delivered the non-paper in para. 4 to Polcouns as directed by Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon. She said that the USG decision to participate in the exercise "without prior notification is not in consonance with the high degree of sharing of strategic concerns and the recent dialogue with the Pentagon." She stated that the GOI "is particularly concerned about exercises in our neighborhood with no consultation," and suggested that, "this is not the way to move forward (in our relationship)." She noted that it was "particularly disturbing that our sensitivities were ignored and no one consulted us during the Foreign Secretary's meetings in Washington with U/S Burns and A/S Lawless in February." Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Japan visit last year, she pointed out that, "the GOI countenanced USG sensitivities regarding China and refrained from specific references to a quadrilateral dialogue in the Japan-India joint statement in deference to the U.S. Why didn't that happen here?" she asked pointedly. Kumar remarked that, "the exercise takes away the confidence that the Ministry of Defense has in our new partnership on security and regional issues," and emphasized the GOI's concern that "China would come in in such a big way," during the naval exercise. ¶2. (C) PolCouns asserted that DUSD Lawless briefed the Indian Embassy in Washington on March 2, and affirmed that Aman 07 was a multi-national exercise that included eight naval forces and nineteen observer countries and took place 4-13 March. PolCouns further noted that Pakistan has the lead within CentCom this year on maritime interdiction in the Arabia Sea as part of the global war on terror, so it was not unusual for Pakistan to invite a wide range of participants and observers. He said that he would relay the GOI's non-paper to the Department and deliver an official response as soon as possible. ¶3. (C) The non-paper received from MEA reads as follows: -"The Government of India has noted with some surprise and concern the U.S. decision to participate in multi-national naval exercises sponsored by Pakistan and the choice of the countries by Pakistan to include, among others, Bangladesh, Turkey, the UK, France - and China, who is participating in such joint military exercises for the first time. -U.S. participation in such an exercise sponsored by Pakistan in our immediate neighborhood is a matter of direct concern to India. -Current levels of strategic discussions, military to military contacts and joint exercises and the successful joint relief operations in the aftermath of the Tsunami should have occasioned cognizance of India's sensitivities. The Government of India would expect this in view of the several recent briefings to the U.S. Government on India's concerns with regard to developments in our neighborhood. This exercise was not mentioned at the recent high level meetings in Washington when discussions on regional and security issues were held at the State Department and the Pentagon. -The Government of India and the Government of the United NEW DELHI 00001248 002.2 OF 002 States have identified defense cooperation as one of the priority areas of focus in our future bilateral cooperation. A greater consultation between our defense agencies, with due appreciation of each other's sensitivities would significantly contribute to achieving these greater objectives." ¶4. (C) COMMENT: Per ref B, we understand DASD James Clad will use the talking points below, drawn from ref B, during his 15 March meetings with GoI officials as a reply to the demarche. -(U) With reference to your recent non-paper, registering concern about the lack of early notification of U.S. military forces' participation in the AMAN 07 exercise, we would like to inform you that our participation had not been fully and adequately considered by the time of Foreign Secretary Menon's February visit to Washington. -(U) DUSD Lawless did brief the Indian Embassy in Washington on March 2, prior to the exercise. -(U) The 2000 Defense Authorization Act limits U.S. military participation with the Chinese. The Department of Defense had to consider carefully those limitations when determining the nature and extent of American participation in AMAN 07. This time-consuming process prevented us from communicating notification of our participation to friends and partners as early as we would have liked. -(U) U.S. interaction with China in the exercise was limited to administrative and protocol events, and search and rescue activities. -(U) We renew our offer to brief you subsequent to the exercise on our observations and analysis. -(U) This response has been fully coordinated with the U.S. Department of State and represents the USG response to your 12 March demarche. PYATT