Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1266
2009-06-17 12:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDO-PAK TALKS: MEDIA REPORTS OF LEADERS' FIRST
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001266
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PK IR IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS: MEDIA REPORTS OF LEADERS' FIRST
MEETING SINCE MUMBAI ATTACKS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001266
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PK IR IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS: MEDIA REPORTS OF LEADERS' FIRST
MEETING SINCE MUMBAI ATTACKS
1. SUMMARY: Indian Prime Minister Singh and Pakistani
President Zardari met on the sidelines of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Yekaterinburg June
16, their first meeting since the Mumbai terrorist attacks
last November. Indian media widely applauded PM Singh's
comments, crediting U.S. pressure for encouraging a mild thaw
in relations. Singh and Zardari directed their respective
Foreign Secretaries to meet in late June or early July, and
the two leaders agreed to meet again in Sharm El Sheikh on
the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit July
16. Foreign Secretary Menon cautioned, however, that the
meeting did not constitute a resumption of the Composite
Dialogue. Separately, PM Singh also interacted with Iranian
President Ahmedinejad on the margins of the SCO, but Delhi
has yet to make any public statements on the disputed Iranian
elections. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Indian Media Praise Singh,s Bold Approach, Credit U.S. Role
--------------
2. Prime Minister Singh opened his planned one-on-one meeting
with Pakistani President Zardari on the sidelines of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in
Yekaterinburg June 16 by asserting in the presence of media
that "Pakistan territory should not be used for terrorism
against India." India's major dailies portrayed the meeting
in a positive light, commending the Prime Minister's decision
to engage Zardari while maintaining a tough stance toward
Pakistan. Press reporting presented Singh,s approach as
"no-nonsense" and "blunt" and portrayed Zardari as being
embarrassed by Singh's sharp initial remarks which were made
in the presence of the press. The Times of India
characterized the meeting as an important step, saying, "the
India-Pakistan chill is now officially over;" the Indian
Express also led with the "First signs of Thaw in India-Pak
26/11 Freeze".
3. Several press reports credited U.S. pressure for helping
to make the meeting between Delhi and Islamabad possible. In
a front-page timeline titled "From Attacks to Talks," the
Hindustan Times linked the meeting to the message Under
Secretary Burns delivered while in Delhi last week that the
U.S. would be pleased to see increased dialogue between the
two countries. The Pioneer highlighted the U.S. reaction
that a resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue was encouraging,
and The Indian Express said the move sent out a signal to the
U.S. that Delhi's step towards a dialogue with Islamabad
shows that it is not "obstructionist."
--------------
More Talks Expected This Summer,
but No Composite Dialogue Yet
--------------
4. Singh and Zardari directed their respective Foreign
Secretaries to meet in late June or early July and the two
leaders agreed to meet again in Sharm El Sheikh on the
sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit July 16,
according to press reports. While the media seemed eager to
characterize the meeting in Yekaterinburg as the resumption
of a formal dialogue with Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Menon
was more cautious. Avoiding suggestions that India gave in
to pressure to start talks despite the lack of concrete
action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, Menon
said, "We can't wish away the factors that have disrupted the
dialogue," adding that there were no plans to resume the
Composite Dialogue process anytime soon.
--------------
Silence on Disputed Iranian Election
--------------
5. PM Singh also interacted with Iranian President
Ahmedinejad on the margins of the SCO summit. Although
Indian media avidly reported on the Iranian Guardian
NEW DELHI 00001266 002 OF 002
Council's decision to recount votes from the disputed June 12
election, the Indian Government has not yet issued an
official statement.
6. Post will obtain further information from GOI contacts
after PM Singh and his delegation return from Russia.
BURLEIGH
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER PK IR IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS: MEDIA REPORTS OF LEADERS' FIRST
MEETING SINCE MUMBAI ATTACKS
1. SUMMARY: Indian Prime Minister Singh and Pakistani
President Zardari met on the sidelines of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Yekaterinburg June
16, their first meeting since the Mumbai terrorist attacks
last November. Indian media widely applauded PM Singh's
comments, crediting U.S. pressure for encouraging a mild thaw
in relations. Singh and Zardari directed their respective
Foreign Secretaries to meet in late June or early July, and
the two leaders agreed to meet again in Sharm El Sheikh on
the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit July
16. Foreign Secretary Menon cautioned, however, that the
meeting did not constitute a resumption of the Composite
Dialogue. Separately, PM Singh also interacted with Iranian
President Ahmedinejad on the margins of the SCO, but Delhi
has yet to make any public statements on the disputed Iranian
elections. END SUMMARY.
--------------
Indian Media Praise Singh,s Bold Approach, Credit U.S. Role
--------------
2. Prime Minister Singh opened his planned one-on-one meeting
with Pakistani President Zardari on the sidelines of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in
Yekaterinburg June 16 by asserting in the presence of media
that "Pakistan territory should not be used for terrorism
against India." India's major dailies portrayed the meeting
in a positive light, commending the Prime Minister's decision
to engage Zardari while maintaining a tough stance toward
Pakistan. Press reporting presented Singh,s approach as
"no-nonsense" and "blunt" and portrayed Zardari as being
embarrassed by Singh's sharp initial remarks which were made
in the presence of the press. The Times of India
characterized the meeting as an important step, saying, "the
India-Pakistan chill is now officially over;" the Indian
Express also led with the "First signs of Thaw in India-Pak
26/11 Freeze".
3. Several press reports credited U.S. pressure for helping
to make the meeting between Delhi and Islamabad possible. In
a front-page timeline titled "From Attacks to Talks," the
Hindustan Times linked the meeting to the message Under
Secretary Burns delivered while in Delhi last week that the
U.S. would be pleased to see increased dialogue between the
two countries. The Pioneer highlighted the U.S. reaction
that a resumption of the Indo-Pak dialogue was encouraging,
and The Indian Express said the move sent out a signal to the
U.S. that Delhi's step towards a dialogue with Islamabad
shows that it is not "obstructionist."
--------------
More Talks Expected This Summer,
but No Composite Dialogue Yet
--------------
4. Singh and Zardari directed their respective Foreign
Secretaries to meet in late June or early July and the two
leaders agreed to meet again in Sharm El Sheikh on the
sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement summit July 16,
according to press reports. While the media seemed eager to
characterize the meeting in Yekaterinburg as the resumption
of a formal dialogue with Pakistan, Foreign Secretary Menon
was more cautious. Avoiding suggestions that India gave in
to pressure to start talks despite the lack of concrete
action against the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks, Menon
said, "We can't wish away the factors that have disrupted the
dialogue," adding that there were no plans to resume the
Composite Dialogue process anytime soon.
--------------
Silence on Disputed Iranian Election
--------------
5. PM Singh also interacted with Iranian President
Ahmedinejad on the margins of the SCO summit. Although
Indian media avidly reported on the Iranian Guardian
NEW DELHI 00001266 002 OF 002
Council's decision to recount votes from the disputed June 12
election, the Indian Government has not yet issued an
official statement.
6. Post will obtain further information from GOI contacts
after PM Singh and his delegation return from Russia.
BURLEIGH