Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI1248
2007-03-14 12:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
US PARTICIPATION IN AMAN 07 "SURPRISES" AND
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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)
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
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