DELHI DIARY, SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4

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REF: A. NEW DELHI 03844

B. ISLAMABAD 04270

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1. (U) Below is a compilation of political highlights from
Embassy New Delhi for September 28-October 4, 2007 that did
not feature in our other reporting, including:

-- Trucks Cross Indo-Pak Border for the First Time in 60 Years
-- New Army Chief Assumes Office
-- Protests and Rallies Portend Start of Election Season

Trucks Cross Indo-Pak Border for the First Time in 60 Years
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2. (U) For the first time in 60 years, trucks carrying cargo
crossed the Wagah/Attari border from India into Pakistan
October 1 (refs A, B). Since partition, all large-volume
cargo between the intractable neighbors was sent via Dubai on
ship, while all low-volume was driven up to the Wagah border
and then hand-carried across by armies of porters. The pact
to allow a limited number of trucks to drive across the
border, agreed to August 1 by the Indian and Pakistani
Sec retaries of Commerce, will reportedly increase direct
trade by four to five times. The trucks will still be
required to off-load at the customs house one kilometer
inside the border. Dozens of Indian porters at the Attari
border rioted during the inaugural truck crossing October 1,
smashing truck windshields and threatening drivers, according
to the media. The porters were reportedly angry and fearful
that the new transport agreement could deprive them of their
livelihood. The violence was contained and the truck
crossing continued on schedule. Comment: Though a small gain
economically, this is a huge step in the symbolic thaw
between these two neighbors. End comment.

New Army Chief Assumes Office
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3. (SBU) General Deepak Kapoor took over as Chief of Army
Staff in an official ceremony on September 30, replacing
outgoing General J.J. Singh, who retired after 43 years of
service. In remarks to the press, Kapoor listed the
continued modernization of the Army and improved relations
and interoperability with the Indian Navy and Air Force as
his two main policy priorities. He immediately faced
questions regarding India's defense posture in Kashmir and
views on the situation in Burma. On the former, Kapoor *
who is set to travel to Kashmir this weekend as part of his
first official visit in his new role ) ruled out any troop
reduction in the state, citing that "normalcy" had yet to
return to the area even though infiltration levels were down.
On the latter, Kapoor maladroitly said only that it was
important for the Indian military to maintain good relations
with its counterparts in Burma, especially regarding
operations targeting northeastern rebels operating out of the
northern part of the country.


4. (U) According to press reports, Kapoor's ascendancy to
the top position in the Army reflects his strong credentials
and deep experience. In actuality, the position goes to the
senior serving officer at the time of his previous Chief's
retirement. His previous assignment was as Vice Chief of
Army Staff, and his military resume is extensive.
Commissioned in the Artillery Regiment in 1967, he fought in
the 1971 war that resulted in the independence of Bangladesh.
He served as Chief Operations Officer for all UN
peacekeeping forces in Somalia from 1994 to 1995. In the
late 1990s, he was a brigade commander along the Line of
Control. He went on to become corps commander in the
Northeast. From 2005 to 2006, he served as the head of
Northern Command. Kapoor is an alumnus of India's Defence
Services Staff College, Army War College, and National
Defence College.

Protests and Rallies Portend Start of Election Season
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5. (SBU) Parts of northern India in the next week will

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experience a series of planned protests and rallies by
various groups and political parties, marking the unofficial
start of politicking in advance of what many expect to be
early Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) elections
sometime next year. In Rajasthan on October 2, Congress
Party officials * including Member of Parliament (MP) Sachin
Pilot * joined up to 60,000 Gujjars protesting for scheduled
tribe status, which would avail them of quotas for government
jobs and educational institutions. The protests took place
across the state and resulted in the arrest of thousands.
Unlike previous Gujjar protests in late spring, this week's
protests did not end in violence, mostly because Gujjar
leaders cautioned restraint and state officials made
elaborate security preparations, such as setting up 259
temporary jails. Gujjar leaders have promised further
protests for October 11 if the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP)-led state government fails to meet protesters' demands
to recommend their scheduled tribe status to the central
government. The issue likely will continue to provide the
Congress Party more fodder with which to harangue the BJP.


6. (SBU) Embassy contacts in Uttar Pradesh (UP) report that
UP Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader
Mayawati is calling for a party rally on October 9 in
Lucknow, during which she hopes to draw up to one million
participants. The rally is seen as a show of strength by the
ruling BSP and provides a platform to celebrate the party's
policy achievements during its first 150 days in office.
Still enjoying its honeymoon phase in government, the BSP is
keen to see early elections so that it can avoid India's
traditional anti-incumbency hurdle and gain the 50 or more
Lok Sabha seats hoped for by the party's leadership.
MULFORD