Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1600
2009-07-30 13:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS PARTNERSHIP WITH
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C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 001600
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF IN
SUBJECT: AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS PARTNERSHIP WITH
INDIA
Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 001600
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF IN
SUBJECT: AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS PARTNERSHIP WITH
INDIA
Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: In a July 26-27 visit, Afghan Foreign
Minister Spanta announced the establishment of an
India-Afghanistan Partnership Council and discussed security
concerns with Prime Minister Singh, Foreign Minister Krishna,
and National Security Advisor Narayanan. Embassy contacts
called the visit routine. A knowledgeable source suggested
that Prime Minister Singh wants an even closer relationship
with Afghanistan, but his Congress Party-led coalition is not
in line. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar
Spanta on July 26-27 paid a visit to India at the invitation
of Indian External Affairs Minister Krishna. The Joint
Statement reaffirmed their resolve to combat terrorism,
underlined the strategic partnership between India and
Afghanistan, and noted the establishment of an
India-Afghanistan Partnership Council (NOTE: The full text of
the joint statement is available at
http://meaindia.nic.in/secframe.php?sec=jd. END NOTE). The
Council will focus on political consultation, capacity
development and education, power and water, culture, trade
and industry, health, and agriculture. Dr. Spanta also met
with Prime Minister Singh and National Security Advisor
Narayanan.
3. (C) The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had little to
share with us so soon after the visit, but Afghan hand
Qamar Agha, journalist and professor at Jamia Milia Islamia's
Centre for West Asian Studies, characterized Spanta's visit
as low-profile relationship maintenance. According to Agha,
the deliverable of a Partnership Council is consistent with
India's sizable aid commitment to Afghanistan. India is
diligent in maintaining its long standing relationship with
Afghanistan to balance against Pakistan, Iran, and even
Turkey, according to Agha. Both countries' primary worry
right now is Pakistan.
5. (C) The visit did not draw much media reaction in New
Delhi. Pramit Pal Chaudhari of the Hindustan Times related
that the Afghan Ambassador to India told him in a private
conversation that the visit was routine. Chaudhari thought
that the Afghan MFA wanted to consult with his Indian
counterpart on the controversial joint statement issued by PM
Singh and PM Gilani in Sharm el Sheikh, and on the August 20
elections in Afghanistan. According to Chaudhari, Prime
Minister Singh wants to deepen the India-Afghanistan
relationship, but the Congress Party does not have the
appetite for further bold moves in India's foreign policy
following the political fallout from the Sharm el Sheikh
Joint Statement.
6. (C) There have been some critics who see the visit as a
missed opportunity. Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik, Chairman of the
Council for Indian Foreign Policy, called the visit hurriedly
organized and not well planned. In addition to routine
bilateral issues, he said that the consultations were on
Af-Pak, the Taliban, and Baluchistan. Senior journalist and
commentator Mahendra Ved commented that Afghanistan has
always had a good comfort level with India, and that the
visit was a chance for the two sides to discuss regional
dynamics like radical Islam and Pakistan, as well as
Afghanistan's elections.
ROEMER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV AF IN
SUBJECT: AFGHAN FOREIGN MINISTER TALKS PARTNERSHIP WITH
INDIA
Classified By: Political Counselor Uzra Zeya for reasons 1.4 (B,D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: In a July 26-27 visit, Afghan Foreign
Minister Spanta announced the establishment of an
India-Afghanistan Partnership Council and discussed security
concerns with Prime Minister Singh, Foreign Minister Krishna,
and National Security Advisor Narayanan. Embassy contacts
called the visit routine. A knowledgeable source suggested
that Prime Minister Singh wants an even closer relationship
with Afghanistan, but his Congress Party-led coalition is not
in line. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Rangin Dadfar
Spanta on July 26-27 paid a visit to India at the invitation
of Indian External Affairs Minister Krishna. The Joint
Statement reaffirmed their resolve to combat terrorism,
underlined the strategic partnership between India and
Afghanistan, and noted the establishment of an
India-Afghanistan Partnership Council (NOTE: The full text of
the joint statement is available at
http://meaindia.nic.in/secframe.php?sec=jd. END NOTE). The
Council will focus on political consultation, capacity
development and education, power and water, culture, trade
and industry, health, and agriculture. Dr. Spanta also met
with Prime Minister Singh and National Security Advisor
Narayanan.
3. (C) The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had little to
share with us so soon after the visit, but Afghan hand
Qamar Agha, journalist and professor at Jamia Milia Islamia's
Centre for West Asian Studies, characterized Spanta's visit
as low-profile relationship maintenance. According to Agha,
the deliverable of a Partnership Council is consistent with
India's sizable aid commitment to Afghanistan. India is
diligent in maintaining its long standing relationship with
Afghanistan to balance against Pakistan, Iran, and even
Turkey, according to Agha. Both countries' primary worry
right now is Pakistan.
5. (C) The visit did not draw much media reaction in New
Delhi. Pramit Pal Chaudhari of the Hindustan Times related
that the Afghan Ambassador to India told him in a private
conversation that the visit was routine. Chaudhari thought
that the Afghan MFA wanted to consult with his Indian
counterpart on the controversial joint statement issued by PM
Singh and PM Gilani in Sharm el Sheikh, and on the August 20
elections in Afghanistan. According to Chaudhari, Prime
Minister Singh wants to deepen the India-Afghanistan
relationship, but the Congress Party does not have the
appetite for further bold moves in India's foreign policy
following the political fallout from the Sharm el Sheikh
Joint Statement.
6. (C) There have been some critics who see the visit as a
missed opportunity. Dr. Ved Pratap Vaidik, Chairman of the
Council for Indian Foreign Policy, called the visit hurriedly
organized and not well planned. In addition to routine
bilateral issues, he said that the consultations were on
Af-Pak, the Taliban, and Baluchistan. Senior journalist and
commentator Mahendra Ved commented that Afghanistan has
always had a good comfort level with India, and that the
visit was a chance for the two sides to discuss regional
dynamics like radical Islam and Pakistan, as well as
Afghanistan's elections.
ROEMER