Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NEWDELHI4473
2007-10-03 12:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDIA AND NEPAL HOLD TALKS ON BORDER SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXRO5358 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHNE #4473 2761227 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 031227Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8629 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6574 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 4315 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2395 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5340 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 5433 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7283 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 004473
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MARR NP IN
SUBJECT: INDIA AND NEPAL HOLD TALKS ON BORDER SECURITY
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 004473
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MARR NP IN
SUBJECT: INDIA AND NEPAL HOLD TALKS ON BORDER SECURITY
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: India and Nepal held Home Secretary level
talks on border security in Kathmandu September 26. The two
sides agreed to set up a joint task force of security
agencies for better cross border cooperation. Indian Home
Secretary Madhukar Gupta stated that the Government of India
SIPDIS
(GOI) had expressed its concern to Nepal on cross border
criminal and militant activity as well as fake currency
rackets. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary
for North (Nepal and Bhutan) Preeti Saran indicated that the
talks had gone well, but that the Government of Nepal (GON)
was obviously preoccupied with the recent Maoist walk out
from the government. An Indian expert on Nepal suggested
that border talks were an opportunity for India to involve
itself in useful intervention in Nepal through better border
management. END SUMMARY.
India and Nepal to Set Up Joint Border Force
--------------
2. (C) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary
for North (Nepal and Bhutan) Preeti Saran, who attended
Indo-Nepal border security talks in Kathmandu September 26
with Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, told PolCouns October 3
that, while she felt the meetings had gone well, the
Government of Nepal (GON) was clearly preoccupied with the
recent Maoist withdrawal from government. During the talks,
India and Nepal set up a joint task force of security
agencies. Gupta told the press September 26, "We have
expressed our concern to Nepal on activities of criminal
groups and militants and fake currency rackets during the
talks." The GOI also reportedly offered assistance to Nepal
to ensure peaceful Constituent Assembly elections in
November. In terms of deliverables, the Sashastra Seema Bal
(SSB),an Indian para-military force guarding the Indo-Nepal
border, would have better coordination with the Nepal Armed
Force and sixteen district magistrates on the Indian side of
the border would share information with their Nepali
counterparts.
3. (C) Though previously scheduled, the talks were held just
after the Indian Union Home Ministry issued a security alert
September 25 to the five Indian states on Nepal's border,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.
Defense analyst General Ashok Mehta told PolOff September 27
that border security talks were an opportunity for India to
involve itself in useful intervention in Nepal through better
border management, noting that criminal activities along the
border - run by the so-called Indian mafia - were of
paramount concern to stability in Nepal. Mehta indicated
that the GOI could also be helpful by no longer permitting
border movement to Maoists in order to prevent them from
finding protection and sanctuary in India.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Comment: Better border security is a priority for
India, and will become an issue of increasing importance if
Constituent Assembly elections are not held on November 22.
As the GON focuses on resolving its internal divisions, it
will be incumbent upon the GOI to take the lead in continuing
border security cooperation. While we see this as primarily
an issue for India and Nepal, Post intends to stay in close
contact with the GOI on this as border instability is a key
part of the GOI's calculus in formulating policies on Nepal.
End comment
WHITE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PBTS MARR NP IN
SUBJECT: INDIA AND NEPAL HOLD TALKS ON BORDER SECURITY
Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: India and Nepal held Home Secretary level
talks on border security in Kathmandu September 26. The two
sides agreed to set up a joint task force of security
agencies for better cross border cooperation. Indian Home
Secretary Madhukar Gupta stated that the Government of India
SIPDIS
(GOI) had expressed its concern to Nepal on cross border
criminal and militant activity as well as fake currency
rackets. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary
for North (Nepal and Bhutan) Preeti Saran indicated that the
talks had gone well, but that the Government of Nepal (GON)
was obviously preoccupied with the recent Maoist walk out
from the government. An Indian expert on Nepal suggested
that border talks were an opportunity for India to involve
itself in useful intervention in Nepal through better border
management. END SUMMARY.
India and Nepal to Set Up Joint Border Force
--------------
2. (C) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary
for North (Nepal and Bhutan) Preeti Saran, who attended
Indo-Nepal border security talks in Kathmandu September 26
with Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, told PolCouns October 3
that, while she felt the meetings had gone well, the
Government of Nepal (GON) was clearly preoccupied with the
recent Maoist withdrawal from government. During the talks,
India and Nepal set up a joint task force of security
agencies. Gupta told the press September 26, "We have
expressed our concern to Nepal on activities of criminal
groups and militants and fake currency rackets during the
talks." The GOI also reportedly offered assistance to Nepal
to ensure peaceful Constituent Assembly elections in
November. In terms of deliverables, the Sashastra Seema Bal
(SSB),an Indian para-military force guarding the Indo-Nepal
border, would have better coordination with the Nepal Armed
Force and sixteen district magistrates on the Indian side of
the border would share information with their Nepali
counterparts.
3. (C) Though previously scheduled, the talks were held just
after the Indian Union Home Ministry issued a security alert
September 25 to the five Indian states on Nepal's border,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim.
Defense analyst General Ashok Mehta told PolOff September 27
that border security talks were an opportunity for India to
involve itself in useful intervention in Nepal through better
border management, noting that criminal activities along the
border - run by the so-called Indian mafia - were of
paramount concern to stability in Nepal. Mehta indicated
that the GOI could also be helpful by no longer permitting
border movement to Maoists in order to prevent them from
finding protection and sanctuary in India.
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Comment: Better border security is a priority for
India, and will become an issue of increasing importance if
Constituent Assembly elections are not held on November 22.
As the GON focuses on resolving its internal divisions, it
will be incumbent upon the GOI to take the lead in continuing
border security cooperation. While we see this as primarily
an issue for India and Nepal, Post intends to stay in close
contact with the GOI on this as border instability is a key
part of the GOI's calculus in formulating policies on Nepal.
End comment
WHITE