MEDIA REACTION: CLINTON'S DELHI VISIT

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000677

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO

STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU

E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: KMDR, KPAO, PGOV, OPRC, NP
SUBJ: MEDIA REACTION: CLINTON'S DELHI VISIT

1. Gopal Khanal, senior reporter of Nepal's popular
vernacular daily 'Kantipur' in an opinion piece on
Friday, July 24, 2009 analyzed Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton's India visit and predicted that
Nepal would have to delicately deal with its two
neighboring nations - China and India - in a changed
context. Writing in the largest selling Kantipur
with an estimated 150,000 circulation, Khanal
suggested that Nepal hone its diplomatic skills, now
that China and India both are emerging as nuclear
superpowers, with different global and regional
alliances.

2. Translated excerpts: "Just at the US Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton wrapped up her visit and
left for Thailand, a serious debate began in New
Delhi: does the Washington-Delhi special security
relationship interfere with India's national
security or not? The debate was rekindled with
Hillary's visit. The new 'Inter User Monitoring
Agreement', a part of the nuclear treaty, gives
America access to India's nuclear strength. Analysts
say that America will have the ability to monitor
India's use of defense and nuclear paraphernalia.
BJP, leftists and other opposition parties have
indicated that the American monitoring of Indian
defense capabilities would violate India's security
and sovereignty whereas Congress (I) and other
ruling parties have stated that the treaty would not
only make India a nuclear power but also elevate
India's position to on par with the United States."

3. "...The agreement between the Obama and Manmohan
governments has now taken the two nations one step
ahead and made them close security partners. With
this India-America alliance, India is not just
emerging as a strong regional force but also paving
the way for greater political polarization, globally
and regionally. The agreement will definitely have a
lasting impact in the relations between the two
democracies. America is happy with the agreement
because it has got a new buyer for its military
equipment, just like Pakistan and Egypt. The reason
America cannot put pressure on Pakistan to fight
terrorism as much as India would like is because
Pakistan is a routine buyer of its weaponry. ..."

4. "...India did not receive the expected support
from America in one issue during Hillary's visit:
feeble American pressure on Pakistan to fight
terrorism. India's expectation that America would
put immense pressure on Pakistan was not met.
Hillary commented that Pakistan was honestly and
seriously trying to end terrorism, much to India's
dismay."

5. "India believes that Asif Ali Zardari is using
terrorism strategically against India. America has
never concurred with this Indian viewpoint. However,
Hillary stayed at The Taj in Mumbai which was
attacked by terrorists in November last year. This
conveyed a message that India and America are ready
to fight terrorism together. ...This India-America
alliance will further polarize Asia and South Asia
and Nepal will become a more important strategic
point for the two alliances - India-America and
China-Pakistan. Nepal, in transition itself, will
again come under the force of superpowers and
regional powers. In other words, issues such as
Tibet and the Dalai Lama will take on a new
dimension and Nepal needs to enhance its diplomatic
balancing ability."

MOON