Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1641
2009-08-04 13:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:
NEW MEA COUNTERTERRISM DIRECTOR SOUMEN BAGCHI
how-toVZCZCXRO4227 RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHNE #1641 2161303 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 041303Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7611 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7871 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 6690 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3601 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 6439 RHMCSUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 8497 RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 8356 RHMCSUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001641
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR PK IN
SUBJECT: NEW MEA COUNTERTERRISM DIRECTOR SOUMEN BAGCHI
SETTLES IN; HOME MINISTER CHIDAMBARAM WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
BETWEEN SEPT. 8 AND 13
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001641
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR PK IN
SUBJECT: NEW MEA COUNTERTERRISM DIRECTOR SOUMEN BAGCHI
SETTLES IN; HOME MINISTER CHIDAMBARAM WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
BETWEEN SEPT. 8 AND 13
1. (SBU) Soumen Bagchi, the new director of counterterrorism
(CT) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),
expressed interest in expanding U.S. - India CT cooperation
in an Aug. 3 courtesy call in New Delhi. S/CT and Poloff
brought the new CT Director up to date on pending activities,
including:
-- the outcomes of the bilateral Counterterrorism Joint
Working Group (CTJWG) held in June in Washington,
-- the US-India Bilateral Countering Terrorist Financing
conference to be held September 14-17 in Delhi,
-- the regional Countering Violent Extremism conference to be
held in Dhaka,
Bangladesh, September 27-30, and
-- the ongoing program of Anti Terrorism Assistance training.
2. (U) Repeating a question that has become a theme with our
Indian government interlocutors Director Bagchi inquired
about the difference between "counterterrorism" and
"countering violent extremism" and explained that if they are
basically the same, changing the name only introduced
confusion.
3. (SBU) Emboffs also stressed U.S. interest in proceeding
with discussions on the Secure Freight Initiative and the
Megaports program, and suggested it would be good to make as
much progress as possible in advance of Prime Minister
Singh,s visit to the U.S. in November.
4. (SBU) Regarding plans for Home Minister Chidambaram's
upcoming visit to the United States, Director Bagchi
suggested we continue to work with the MEA America's desk to
get further information on a firm date and the desired
program in the United States. In a subsequent meeting,
Americas Joint Secretary Gaitri Kumar told DCM and
PolMinCouns that Minister Chidambaram would like to settle on
dates convenient to his U.S. hosts between September 8 and
13. His primary focus is on using technology to counter
terrorism. He would like to visit NCTC, and meet with
appropriate officials, including, if possible, NSA General
Jones, DNI Blair, CIA Director Panetta, and FBI Director
Mueller.
5. (SBU) Bio Info: Mr. Bagchi reports to Special Secretary
Vivek Katju, without the usual bureaucratic framework of an
Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary in between them. Mr.
Bagchi has served in San Francisco, MEA,s office in Mumbai,
and Bangladesh.
ROEMER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PINR PK IN
SUBJECT: NEW MEA COUNTERTERRISM DIRECTOR SOUMEN BAGCHI
SETTLES IN; HOME MINISTER CHIDAMBARAM WOULD LIKE TO VISIT
BETWEEN SEPT. 8 AND 13
1. (SBU) Soumen Bagchi, the new director of counterterrorism
(CT) at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA),
expressed interest in expanding U.S. - India CT cooperation
in an Aug. 3 courtesy call in New Delhi. S/CT and Poloff
brought the new CT Director up to date on pending activities,
including:
-- the outcomes of the bilateral Counterterrorism Joint
Working Group (CTJWG) held in June in Washington,
-- the US-India Bilateral Countering Terrorist Financing
conference to be held September 14-17 in Delhi,
-- the regional Countering Violent Extremism conference to be
held in Dhaka,
Bangladesh, September 27-30, and
-- the ongoing program of Anti Terrorism Assistance training.
2. (U) Repeating a question that has become a theme with our
Indian government interlocutors Director Bagchi inquired
about the difference between "counterterrorism" and
"countering violent extremism" and explained that if they are
basically the same, changing the name only introduced
confusion.
3. (SBU) Emboffs also stressed U.S. interest in proceeding
with discussions on the Secure Freight Initiative and the
Megaports program, and suggested it would be good to make as
much progress as possible in advance of Prime Minister
Singh,s visit to the U.S. in November.
4. (SBU) Regarding plans for Home Minister Chidambaram's
upcoming visit to the United States, Director Bagchi
suggested we continue to work with the MEA America's desk to
get further information on a firm date and the desired
program in the United States. In a subsequent meeting,
Americas Joint Secretary Gaitri Kumar told DCM and
PolMinCouns that Minister Chidambaram would like to settle on
dates convenient to his U.S. hosts between September 8 and
13. His primary focus is on using technology to counter
terrorism. He would like to visit NCTC, and meet with
appropriate officials, including, if possible, NSA General
Jones, DNI Blair, CIA Director Panetta, and FBI Director
Mueller.
5. (SBU) Bio Info: Mr. Bagchi reports to Special Secretary
Vivek Katju, without the usual bureaucratic framework of an
Additional Secretary or Joint Secretary in between them. Mr.
Bagchi has served in San Francisco, MEA,s office in Mumbai,
and Bangladesh.
ROEMER