NSA NARAYANAN MEETS WITH U/S BURNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 001228

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PK IN
SUBJECT: NSA NARAYANAN MEETS WITH U/S BURNS

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Burleigh for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) SUMMARY. National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan
saluted the dynamic nature of the U.S.-India relationship in
a June 11 meeting with Under Secretary Burns, stating "we
don't want a hiatus." The NSA encouraged visits of senior
U.S. officials, and described cooperation on defense and
counterterrorism as having reached the "takeoff stage." U.S.
Burns iterated that the U.S.-India relationship was of
paramount importance to the new administration. Narayayan
also pointed to the Agricultural Knowledge Initiative and
cooperation in science and technology and education as areas
of importance to the new Indian Cabinet. The NSA also
encouraged greater exchanges between U.S. and Indian think
tanks. He urged the U.S. not to speak of an "exit strategy"
in Afghanistan, but to stay the course to achieve stability.
End Summary.



2. (C) In an upbeat and wide-ranging June 11 discussion with
Under Secretary William Burns, Assistant Secretary Robert
Blake, and Charge d'affaires Peter Burleigh, NSA Narayanan
acknowledged that India had a lot of work to do on internal
security, as he had discussed with U/S Burns in the
one-on-one exchange prior to the group meeting. The Indian
government looked forward to growing cooperation in the
Defense and Counterterrorism areas, and would welcome an
early visit by Admiral Blair and General Jones. Narayanan
expected the close ties developed during the previous U.S.
administration to continue and become even stronger. He
encouraged U/S Burns to be frank about any problem areas in
the relationship.


3. (SBU) Narayanan shared that the Prime Minister and the new
Indian government were also particularly interested in moving
forward on the Agricultural Knowledge Initiative. The
government wanted to build on the Green Revolution's
successes, and saw maintaining India's ability to feed itself
as the most important goal. "Agriculture should be our most
important achievment." Narayanan said the government also
looked to the U.S. for expanded exchanges on education and
science and technology issues. "We want to rev up
cooperation, given the new governments on both sides."


4. (SBU) Burns assured the NSA that India was at the top of
this Administration's list of priorities. He noted there was
a strong foundation and bipartisan support for a vibrant
relationship between the U.S. and India. "Our bilateral
relationship on defense and counterterrorism has reached the
takeoff stage," replied Narayanan. The undersecretary
pointed out that the U.S. would like to take tangible steps
on a number of outstanding issues, in order to advance the
relationship.


5. (SBU) NSA Narayanan focussed much of the discussion on his
desire to foster improved links between think thanks in the
U.S. and India. Although some exchanges are already
occurring, he felt there should be more structure to the
interactions. He also hoped there would be greater
cooperation between U.S. insitutions and think thanks outside
of Delhi, particularly on topics such as foreign policy,
defense, security, and economics. Ambassador Shankar pointed
out that the Indian Council on World Affairs was trying to
rejuvenate itself. It could be one potential interface.
Although the Aspen Strategy Group brought some people
together, most of those were already senior officials and
policy shapers. Narayanan said he would like to see an
effort to reach younger people.


6. (C) The NSA raised Afghanistan and Pakistan only at the
end of the meeting, Burns said that the U.S. placed the
highest priority on successful outcomes in Afghanistan. The
U.S. was "committed to working with regional players," and
was making some progress, but a sustained effort was still
required. U.S. efforts were ongoing to convince the
Pakistani civilian and military leadership to take action,
and we were being very attentive to how U.S. assistance was
being used, as well as to the security of nuclear facilities
in Pakistan. Burns and Blake stressed that the U.S.
appreciated India's assistance to Afghanistan, and pointed
out that we are trying to open transit lines to facilitate
Afghan exports to the region. Narayanan replied that India
would like to maintain and increase its assistance to
Afghanistan, but U.S. talk of an "exit strategy" raised
concerns that its people would be left vulnerable. India
continued to received threats regarding its personnel and
projects in Afghanistan, so the spectre of the coalition's
withdrawal raised fears. Talk of an exit strategy also
encouraged those who believe they could just "wait out" the
Americans, added Narayanan. "We must win" in Afghanistan,
"to stop the forces of extreme religious ideology from
gaining ground. If Afghanistan is lost, Pakistan will
definitely go." India had to face that fact that many in
Pakistan habrobred "absurd suspicions" that India wanted to
take over Pakistani territory, even though India wanted a to
take over part of Pakistan no more than it wanted to "take
over part of New Guinea."


7. (C) Looking forward to upcoming visits, Narayanan stressed
that he looked forward to more exchanges on areas of mutual
interest, particularly regarding Afghanistan and developments
on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The goal of the terrorist
campaign was to divide Indian society, he related, and it was
evident that the terrorist network was a worldwide enterprise
that had links in many countries.


8. (SBU) Under Secretary's Burns office has cleared this
message.
BURLEIGH