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