INDO-PAK TALKS ON TERRORISM AND NARCOTICS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 003134

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR PINR PK IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS ON TERRORISM AND NARCOTICS
CONCLUDED IN NEW DELHI


Classified By: Acting PolCouns Atul Keshap for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (U) SUMMARY: Indian Home Minister Madhukar Gupta and
Pakistani Secretary of the Interior, Syed Kmal Shah, met July
2-3 for the fourth round of Home Secretary-level talks on
Terrorism and Drug Trafficking as part of the continuing
Composite Dialogue process. Major topics were an exchange of
detained fishermen and civilian prisoners and, increased
cooperation on drug control and counter-terrorism. The
meeting produced a twelve point joint statement, but was cut
short when Shah was forced to return to Islamabad due to the
escalating stand-off between government forces and radical
students at the Red Mosque. The steady, incremental progress
reflects the overall flavor of Indo-Pak talks at present:
slow and steady. END SUMMARY.

Fisherman Freed, Prisoners Exchanged
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2. (U) As a gesture of goodwill, the Government of India
(GOI) released 43 Pakistani prisoners, and the Government of
Pakistan (GOP) released 50 Indian fishermen on the eve of the
talks. According to the Joint Statement, both sides agreed
to release all prisoners who had been granted consular
access, had their nationalities verified and had completed
their sentences by August 14-15, coinciding with Independence
Day celebrations in each country. Both parties agreed to
hold two meetings of the Joint Committee on Prisoners within
three months to reconcile the number of prisoners on each
side.

Intelligence Cooperation Expanded
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3. (U) Gupta and Shah lauded existing cooperation between
the Narcotics Control Bureau (India) and the Anti-Narcotics
Force (Pakistan),and agreed that a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies would be signed
as soon as possible. They signaled their appreciation of the
cooperation between the Central Bureau of Investigation
(India) and the Federal Investigation Agency (Pakistan) on
human trafficking, illegal immigration and counterfeit
currency, agreeing that more could be done. Both agencies
will meet periodically to facilitate early disposal of
Interpol-related cases. Both sides "strongly condemned all
acts of terrorism" and underlined the need to take "effective
and sustained" measures to combat terrorism on both sides of
the border, but no specific plans of action were put in place.

Talks Cut Short Due to Red Mosque Clashes
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4. (U) The talks were cut short as Shah had to rush back to
Pakistan the evening of July 3 following violent clashes at
the Red Mosque. The two parties quickly drew up the Joint
Statement before the Shah's departure, leaving it up to the
Indian side to announce it solo on July 4.

Some Progress, But Not On the Big Issues
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5. (C) Comment: While deliverables, with the exception of
the prisoner exchange, were mostly symbolic, the fact is
India and Pakistan again met within the framework of the
Composite Dialogue. The tone for these talks continues on a
positive trend, even if the most problematic issues between
New Delhi and Islamabad remain off the table. Indian media
treated this with one day of straightforward coverage,
another positive trend, before focusing again on the Red
Mosque problem. The bottom line for US. interests is that
India and Pakistan continue to work together to resolve their
lingering issues, clearing away underbrush which, in the
past, would have risked igniting fires. As such, these talks
reflect the flavor of the relationship: slow and steady End
comment.
MULFORD