INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY TELLS AMBASSADOR "NEVER

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 003091

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2033
TAGS: PREL PROV PTER MOPS PK IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN FOREIGN SECRETARY TELLS AMBASSADOR "NEVER
SEEN LEVELS OF ANGER LIKE THIS;" DOES NOT EXPECT IMMEDIATE
MILITARY ACTION BY INDIA

Classified By: AMB David C. Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (S) Summary. Ambassador met with Indian Foreign
Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon on December 8 to discuss the
Secretary's trip to the region (Menon was out of the country
during on December 4) and to follow up on the latest
developments in Indo-Pak relations. Referring to the
reaction to the Mumbai terror attacks, Menon noted that he
had "never seen levels of anger like this" either in the
Indian government or in the public. He did not think India
would take any immediate military action, preferring to wait
and see whether Pakistan would follow through on promises to
pursue those responsible for the attacks and bring them to
justice. Menon added, however, that the GOI would be under
tremendous pressure to act if Pakistan's actions were
insufficient. Menon believes the Pakistani military -- and
not the civilian government -- is the key to whether Pakistan
will do the right thing in responding to this terror crisis.
End Summary.

-------------- Menon: Frustration, Anger, Political Pressure... --------------


2. (S) Ambassador Mulford called on Indian Foreign Secretary
Shiv Shankar Menon on December 8 to discuss the latest
developments in Indo-Pakistan relations in light of
heightened tensions stemming from the November 26-28
terrorist siege of Mumbai. The Ambassador began by providing
Menon, who was in Washington during the Secretary's December
4-5 visit to India, with a first hand readout of the
Secretary's meetings in Delhi, and later discussed her follow
on trip to Pakistan. Menon thanked the Ambassador for the
readout, and noted that he had heard the meeting with
incoming Home Affairs Minister Chidambaram had been
particularly useful Menon described the mood in India
currently to be a mixture of frustration and anger, with the
frustration stemming from unhelpful reports such as the false
rumor that Foreign Minister Mukherjee had called President
Zardari after the Mumbai attacks to threaten war, reports
which Menon felt distracted people from the main issue and
spewed tension at a most sensitive time. Additionally,
referring to the reaction to the Mumbai attacks, Menon told
the Ambassador he had "never seen levels of anger like this,"
either in the Indian government or in the public. The
situation is further complicated, Menon continued, by a
political calendar which is gearing up in earnest in India as
a parliament session is scheduled to open December 10,
followed by more state and then general elections by May.
"Now the political pressure really starts," Menon stated.

-------------- ... but No Immediate Military Action --------------


3. (S) Despite the frustration, anger and political pressure,
Menon did not believe India would be taking immediate
military action. Rather, India will first look to see if
Pakistan will carry out its promises to take action against
the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks. However, Menon
stated that it was important for the Pakistani government to
be seen as taking meaningful action, "or else the pressure on
(the Indian government) to do something becomes almost
unbearable." Menon felt that the key to Pakistan's reaction
rests with the Pakistan Army, even more than with the
civilian government, as the army would have the influence
over the necessary people and resources to take the
appropriate action. Persuading General Kayani to take action
was crucial, he believed. The civilian government carried
little sway in terms of responding in a significant way,
Menon suggested, adding that one could even wonder if one of
the motives of the attacks were to show how little power the
civilian government holds.

-------------- Hopeful that FBI Cooperation Will Set New Course --------------


4. (S) The Ambassador noted to Menon that FBI officials
working with Indian counterparts in Mumbai had reported that
they were for the most part pleased with the cooperation
taking place in investigating the Mumbai attacks. Menon
concurred that this new level of cooperation between our law
enforcement personnel was welcomed, and hoped it would lead

NEW DELHI 00003091 002 OF 002


to better working relations in the future. "I was pleased
that no one in India as asking 'Why is the FBI here?'", he
said, "Next time, they might ask 'Why isn't the FBI here?'"
Menon opined that one silver lining to this recent terror
attack could be that Indian law enforcement officials may now
be more willing to work with counterparts from the U.S. and
other countries.


5. (SBU) The Ambassador's discussion with Menon on the
designation of Lashkar e Tayiba leaders on the UN Security
Council's 1267 Committee list is being reported separately.
MULFORD