DELHI DIARY, OCT 13-22

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 004690 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MOPS PBTS PK BT IN SUBJECT: DELHI DIARY, OCT 13-22 REF: A. ISLAMABAD 1466 ¶B. NEW DELHI 4622 ¶1. (U) Below is a compilation of political highlights from Embassy New Delhi for October 13-22, 2007 that did not feature in our other reporting, including: -- Indo-Pak Dialogue on Conventional and Nuclear Confidence Building Measures -- SAARC Home Ministers Meeting Scheduled for Next Week -- Indian and Pakistani Troops Exchange Sweets across the LOC During Eid Indo-Pak Dialogue on Conventional and Nuclear Confidence Building Measures -------------- ¶2. (U) The fourth round of Indo-Pak Expert Level on Conventional Confidence Building Measures (CBMs),led by Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for South Asia Aizaz Ahmad Choudhary and Indian Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary for Pakistan T.C.A. Raghavan, were held in New Delhi October 18-19. Pakistan and India issued a joint statement October 18 stating that negotiations were held in a cordial and constructive atmosphere and resulted in a reiteration by both sides of their intentions to uphold the ceasefire in Kashmir. The two sides continued to work on an agreement ensuring the safe navigation of naval vessels and aircraft and on arrangements for citizens who inadvertently cross into the other's territory. Talks on the Anti-Terrorism Mechanism * the second round since Prime Minister Singh and President Musharraf announced the initiative in 2006 * took place on October 22. These talks follow recent bomb attacks in Ajmer and Ludhiana (ref B), though the dialogue has been overshadowed by the bombing of Benazir Bhutto's convoy in Karachi October 19. The Government of India (GOI) will use the opportunity to demand information on what action the Government of Pakistan has taken regarding information India conveyed on the suspected perpetrator behind the February 2007 bombing of the Friendship Express, according to press reports. SAARC Home Ministers Meeting Scheduled for Next Week -------------- ¶3. (U) The second annual meeting of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) home ministry officials is scheduled to take place in New Delhi October 23-26. Police chiefs from Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives met October 23, to be followed by home secretary-level and home minister-level meetings October 24-25, and a wrap-up session October 26. Discussions will focus on establishing a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, formation of a regional police forum, and creation of a comprehensive mechanism for tackling terror, money laundering, and drug and human trafficking, according to the press. Indian and Pakistani Troops Exchange Sweets across the LOC During Eid -------------- ¶4. (U) Troops on either side of the Line of Control (LOC) near the Chakkan-Da-Bagh crossing point in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir exchanged sweets October 13 in celebration of the Muslim holiday of Eid, according to "The Kashmir Times." The exchange reportedly took place during a previously scheduled meeting between the forces at the Colonel level. This act of good-will comes only two months after the same troops exchanged greetings on the evening of August 14 to mark the occasion of Pakistan's and India's respective Independence Day celebrations. MULFORD