Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1276
2009-06-18 14:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
INDO-PAK TALKS: ICE BROKEN ON ENGAGEMENT WITH
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UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001276
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS PK IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS: ICE BROKEN ON ENGAGEMENT WITH
PAKISTAN
REF: A. NEW DELHI 1266
B. NEW DELHI 1143
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001276
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS PK IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS: ICE BROKEN ON ENGAGEMENT WITH
PAKISTAN
REF: A. NEW DELHI 1266
B. NEW DELHI 1143
1. (SBU) The meeting between Prime Minister Singh and
Pakistani President Zardari on the margins of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Yekaterinburg on
June 16 (ref A) continued to dominate headlines following
press conferences by Prime Minister Singh June 17 and Foreign
Secretary Menon June 16. Speaking from identical prepared
statements, Singh and Menon each characterized the Indo-Pak
relationship as "under considerable stress" due to "terrorist
attacks against India from Pakistani territory." They both
repeated India's "expectation that the Government of Pakistan
take strong and effective action to prevent the use of
Pakistan's territory for terrorist attacks against India, act
against the perpetrators of past attacks, and dismantle the
infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan."
2. (U) In response to questions from the media, Singh
asserted that India "must try again to make peace with
Pakistan," and repeated his earlier statement to Parliament
that India would "meet them more than half-way" in this
effort. He "wished Pakistan well" in dealing with the
Taleban and Al Qaeda, but asked Pakistan to "show the same
determination in dealing with terrorists who operate from
Pakistan's soil and conduct acts of terror against our
country."
3. (U) Menon was clear that what happened in Yekaterinburg
was not a resumption of a dialogue process, but merely a
"meeting," correcting reporters who referred to it as part of
a "dialogue" or "talks." Menon asserted that "the dialogue
process has not commenced," but also made it clear that India
"would like a dialogue." Menon stressed that his mandate for
a planned follow-on meeting with his Pakistani counterpart,
Malik Ahmad Khan, was clear and narrow: to discuss
Pakistan's counter-terrorism actions and progress to date, to
lay out India's expectations for future action, and to report
back to the Prime Minister prior to the next meeting between
Singh and Zardari scheduled for July 16 on the sidelines of
the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Sharm El Sheikh.
4. (U) Indian media continued to celebrate PM Singh's tough
but statesmanlike approach to Zardari, while more thoughtful
outlets welcomed a resumption of engagement, if not a formal
dialogue process. The Times of India editorialized that
Singh struck "The Right Note," The Hindu welcomed "A Fresh
Start," and the Indian Express was pleased to see movement
"Beyond Binaries" of dialogue versus estrangement.
5. (SBU) COMMENT. While the Indian press continues to debate
whether the meeting constitutes a resumption of the Composite
Dialogue in all but name, the reality is that the ice is now
broken on the possibility of regular, open, and direct
engagement between India and Pakistan. Post will follow up
with the principals themselves upon their return to India to
discuss their next steps. END COMMENT.
BURLEIGH
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS PK IN
SUBJECT: INDO-PAK TALKS: ICE BROKEN ON ENGAGEMENT WITH
PAKISTAN
REF: A. NEW DELHI 1266
B. NEW DELHI 1143
1. (SBU) The meeting between Prime Minister Singh and
Pakistani President Zardari on the margins of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Yekaterinburg on
June 16 (ref A) continued to dominate headlines following
press conferences by Prime Minister Singh June 17 and Foreign
Secretary Menon June 16. Speaking from identical prepared
statements, Singh and Menon each characterized the Indo-Pak
relationship as "under considerable stress" due to "terrorist
attacks against India from Pakistani territory." They both
repeated India's "expectation that the Government of Pakistan
take strong and effective action to prevent the use of
Pakistan's territory for terrorist attacks against India, act
against the perpetrators of past attacks, and dismantle the
infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan."
2. (U) In response to questions from the media, Singh
asserted that India "must try again to make peace with
Pakistan," and repeated his earlier statement to Parliament
that India would "meet them more than half-way" in this
effort. He "wished Pakistan well" in dealing with the
Taleban and Al Qaeda, but asked Pakistan to "show the same
determination in dealing with terrorists who operate from
Pakistan's soil and conduct acts of terror against our
country."
3. (U) Menon was clear that what happened in Yekaterinburg
was not a resumption of a dialogue process, but merely a
"meeting," correcting reporters who referred to it as part of
a "dialogue" or "talks." Menon asserted that "the dialogue
process has not commenced," but also made it clear that India
"would like a dialogue." Menon stressed that his mandate for
a planned follow-on meeting with his Pakistani counterpart,
Malik Ahmad Khan, was clear and narrow: to discuss
Pakistan's counter-terrorism actions and progress to date, to
lay out India's expectations for future action, and to report
back to the Prime Minister prior to the next meeting between
Singh and Zardari scheduled for July 16 on the sidelines of
the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Sharm El Sheikh.
4. (U) Indian media continued to celebrate PM Singh's tough
but statesmanlike approach to Zardari, while more thoughtful
outlets welcomed a resumption of engagement, if not a formal
dialogue process. The Times of India editorialized that
Singh struck "The Right Note," The Hindu welcomed "A Fresh
Start," and the Indian Express was pleased to see movement
"Beyond Binaries" of dialogue versus estrangement.
5. (SBU) COMMENT. While the Indian press continues to debate
whether the meeting constitutes a resumption of the Composite
Dialogue in all but name, the reality is that the ice is now
broken on the possibility of regular, open, and direct
engagement between India and Pakistan. Post will follow up
with the principals themselves upon their return to India to
discuss their next steps. END COMMENT.
BURLEIGH