PRIME MINISTER SINGH DISCUSSES REGIONAL SECURITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 001338 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER MOPS PK IN SUBJECT: PRIME MINISTER SINGH DISCUSSES REGIONAL SECURITY WITH NSA JONES Classified By: CDA Peter Burleigh for Reasons 1.4 (B and D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. Prime Minister Singh shared his views on the bilateral relationship and regional security challenges with visiting National Security Advisor Jones June 26. The Prime Minister welcomed the Secretary of State's planned visit to develop the "enormous opportunities" in the relationship, and reiterated his invitation to President Obama to visit India. Singh welcomed "sustained, intensive dialogue on all issues," highlighting trade and investment, space, energy and the environment, and defense. Jones stressed the need to conclude an agreement on End Use Monitoring (EUM); Indian National Security Advisor Narayanan replied that differences remained with regard to only two words in the text. Singh said India "entirely supported" UN Security Council Resolution 1847 and had no sympathy for the nuclear ambitions of North Korea, or for that matter, of Iran. He added that he believed India could work with the U.S. "in important ways" to move forward the President's nonproliferation agenda outlined in his speech in Prague. ¶2. (S) SUMMARY CONTINUED. Singh asserted that building a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Afghanistan was in India's interest, but was "a long-term enterprise requiring long-term commitment." He remarked on India's good relationship with Afghan President Karzai, but stressed his hope that the elections would result in a peaceful transition of power to whomever was elected. Turning to Pakistan, Singh delivered an impassioned plea that the U.S. use its influence to encourage Pakistan's military leadership to keep the government's commitments not to allow its territory to be used for terrorist attacks against India. Referring to the November 2008 terrorist attacks, Singh said India needed assurances there would be "no more Mumbais" before he could agree to normal "neighborly" dialogue. Singh was "particularly grateful" for FBI cooperation following the Mumbai attacks and proposed more robust intelligence cooperation to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Singh advised that the U.S. deal with Pakistan bilaterally on these issues rather than try to bring India into any kind of trilateral security dialogue. END SUMMARY. ¶3. (SBU) Participants: National Security Advisor General (ret.) James Jones Charge d'Affaires Ambassador Peter Burleigh National Security Council Senior Director Don Camp Political Officer David Holmes (note-taker) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister's Office Pankaj Saran Director in the Prime Minister's Office Virander Paul PM Proud of India's Partnership with the U.S. - - - ¶4. (C) In an introductory call on Prime Minister Singh June 26, National Security Advisor Jones described his visit as the first in a series of missions to evaluate the implementation of U.S. strategy in the region, and to convey the President's view that the U.S.-India relationship is of paramount importance. The Prime Minister expressed his "pride" in India's strategic partnership with the United States and welcomed the "enormous opportunities" for an even more promising new chapter in the relationship under President Obama. He reciprocated the warm sentiments in President Obama's letter delivered by Under Secretary Burns, adding that he looked forward to a visit from the President, recalling the President's "promise" at the G-20 meeting in London to bring his wife and children with him to India. NSA Jones reiterated the President's desire to receive the Prime Minister in Washington at a date of his choosing in October or November. PM Singh recalled the "privilege" of addressing NEW DELHI 00001338 002 OF 004 a joint session of the U.S. Congress during his visit in 2005, in which he stressed that some partnerships were build on principles and some on pragmatism, but that ours was based on both. ¶5. (C) PM Singh spoke expansively about the importance he placed on the U.S.-India strategic partnership and its great potential. "There are no barriers to a more robust relationship," he said, dismissing Cold War differences as a "thing of the past, a closed chapter." He stressed that India's relationship with the U.S. enjoyed widespread support throughout Indian society, observing, "Hardly a family does not have a relative with ties to the U.S." The Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was a "landmark," leaving "no bilateral irritants to stand in the way of our growing relationship." Now "the sky's the limit," according to Singh, adding that his government welcomed "sustained, intensive dialogue on all issues." He underscored the enormous scope for increased cooperation in "all directions," highlighting trade and investment, space, energy and the environment, and defense, among others. He looked forward to the Secretary's visit to establish a road map for the next phase of the relationship. Defense Cooperation Promising, But First End Use Monitoring - - - ¶6. (C) PM Singh saw great promise in the defense relationship, saying he wanted to expand joint exercises, as well as explore partnerships in co-production, research, and development. NSA Jones stressed the need to conclude an agreement on End Use Monitoring (EUM). Singh then turned to National Security Advisor Narayanan and said he thought it had been resolved. Narayanan replied that differences remained with regard to only two words in the text. Afghanistan: A Long-term Enterprise Requiring Long-term Commitment - - - ¶7. (S) NSA Jones described the new U.S. approach in Afghanistan in which military options were no longer dominant, but rather part of a broader effort to bring stability through better government and economic development for the Afghan people. He also praised India's contribution to Afghan reconstruction, adding that India was uniquely positioned to assist in achieving a good outcome in Afghanistan. PM Singh asserted that a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Afghanistan was in the interest of India, the region, and the world. India was deeply committed -- "in (its) own way" -- to Afghan reconstruction, pledging $1.2 billion to date primarily for infrastructure and training. India would stay the course despite casualties, such as the attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul that resulted in 62 fatalities. Singh stressed that Afghanistan's rehabilitation was "a long-term enterprise requiring long-term commitment." Singh remarked on India's good relationship with Afghan President Karzai, but hoped above all that the elections in August would be smooth and lead to a peaceful transition of power to whomever was elected. Pakistan: Give Up Terror, Nothing to Fear from India - - - ¶8. (S) NSA Jones described his sense that a welcome shift was taking place within Pakistan toward a greater willingness to take effective action against militants and terrorists. He shared that he had been puzzled by the deal cut by the Pakistan government in 2006 with militants in the North West Frontier Province, which turned the passes along the Af-Pak border into "a highway" for militants, and was then stunned that they tried to do the same thing again in Swat. The Pakistanis now seemed to understand that they must be more direct and forceful to restore order in their country and stability in their government. They now seemed to be using NEW DELHI 00001338 003 OF 004 force wisely, taking a human approach to refugees, and cooperating better with Afghanistan, which collectively was yielding good results so far. ¶9. (S) PM Singh delivered an impassioned plea to encourage Pakistan to keep its commitments not to allow its territory to be used for terror. He stressed the strong efforts he had made over the past five years to engage Pakistan in sustained dialogue on all bilateral issues despite the suffering he said Pakistan's low-cost proxy war -- its "strategy of one thousand cuts" -- had inflicted on the Indian people over the decades. He referred in particular to Lashkar e Taiba's (LeT) attack on the Indian Parliament in 2001 that "could have taken out the whole Indian political establishment, which possibly would have been even worse than Mumbai." He stressed the enormous burden these incidents placed on Indian leadership that would have liked to support dialogue. Despite his belief that "dialogue is the only way" and that "our destinies are closely linked," Singh shared that it was difficult as a leader to take the high road while a constant stream of intelligence reports indicated terrorist attacks continued to be planned. He lamented that you "can choose your friends, but not your neighbors," and under present circumstances "a neighborly dialogue could not take place." ¶10. (S) PM Singh expressed his hope that the world community would impress upon Pakistan that support for terrorism was "totally unacceptable among civilized nations." Perhaps only then would Pakistan "finally have the wisdom to realize its support for terrorism would not pay dividends." Singh stressed repeatedly his hope that, since India had no formal contact with the Pakistani armed forces, the U.S. could use its "enormous influence" with Pakistan's military leaders to persuade them that "terrorism was not the way and they must take a different route." NSA Jones observed that President Zardari had recently said publicly that Pakistan faced a greater threat from the Taliban than that from India. Singh replied, "I can assure you Pakistan has nothing to fear from us -- please take that message back with you." Bilateral CT and Intel Cooperation ... But no Trilateral Talks - - - ¶11. (S) PM Singh attached "great importance" to working with the U.S. on shared threats and welcomed forward movement on intelligence cooperation. He was "particularly grateful" for FBI cooperation following the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai. He recalled, however that six U.S. citizens were killed in the Mumbai attacks, and proposed more robust intelligence cooperation to help bring the perpetrators to justice. Singh said most importantly India needed assurances there would be "no more Mumbais," but expressed his concern that all the intelligence he has seen points to recurring threats. NSC Senior Director Don Camp recounted that NSA Jones had said publicly and to President Zardari that "there cannot be another Mumbai." ¶12. (S) NSA Jones observed that terrorists sought to exploit "seams in our governments," which underscored the importance of staying in close touch -- "not every six months, but rather every week" -- on shared security challenges. For this reason, NSA Jones inquired whether India would consider exploring a three-way dialogue on security issues with the U.S. and Pakistan. PM Singh did not agree, replying that he had had extensive bilateral talks with a variety of Pakistan's leaders -- Musharraf, Zardari, and Gilani -- and that although they said the right things, they did not live up to their promises. PM Singh asserted, "The issue is terrorism; there cannot be two viewpoints." He added, "When it comes to terrorism, the whole world stands united." PM Singh said the U.S. should deal with Pakistan bilaterally on these issues. Nonproliferation and North Korea: India Stands with the NEW DELHI 00001338 004 OF 004 International Community - - - ¶13. (S) NSA Jones observed that North Korea was also exploiting difference in the international community to its advantage, presenting a destabilizing threat to the region and the world. NSA Jones described a North Korean ship heading toward Burma and asked PM Singh what would be the right course of action. Singh replied that India "entirely supported" UN Security Council Resolution 1847 and stood with the international community against the nuclearization of northeast Asia, adding that India has no sympathy for the nuclear ambitions of North Korea, or for that matter, of Iran. Singh added that he believed India could work with the U.S. "in important ways" to move forward the President's nonproliferation agenda outlined in his speech in Prague. ¶14. (U) NSA Jones cleared this message. BURLEIGH