AMBASSADOR MEETS MEA STATE MINISTER SHASHI THAROOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 001836

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS MEA STATE MINISTER SHASHI THAROOR

Classified By: Ambassador Tim Roemer for reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) SUMMARY: In an August 28 meeting with Ambassador
Roemer, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor
asked the U.S. to weigh in with Pakistan on cross-border
terrorism and to stay the course in Afghanistan. He
indicated that there is room for the U.S. and India to
cooperate more in Afghanistan, where India could "deliver
U.S. objectives" if the U.S. would discreetly facilitate such
cooperation. Tharoor suggested that there is also room for
increased cooperation on nonproliferation issues, but that
the U.S. must understand India's position on the NPT. On
increased UN coordination and cooperation on climate change,
Tharoor predicted we would see a move away from Non-Aligned
Movement rhetoric over time. He was optimistic about finding
areas of common interest at Copenhagen but urged the U.S. not
to lump India with China when discussing climate change. END
SUMMARY.

Increased Security Cooperation post 26/11
--------------

2. (C) Ambassador Roemer met with Minister of State for
External Affairs Shashi Tharoor at his MEA office on August

28. Turning first to security cooperation, Tharoor exhorted
the U.S. to be a source of sound advice to Pakistan on what
is needed to bring those responsible for the Mumbai attacks
to justice and roll up the terrorist infrastructure. It will
not be enough, post 26/11, to make scapegoats of five or six
individuals NOW being "fitfully" prosecuted, said Tharoor.

3. (C) Ambassador Roemer stressed that the U.S. is looking
for ways to strengthen border security, law enforcement and
counterterrorism cooperation, building on the FBI's work in
the Mumbai trial. Home Minister Chidambaram's visit was an
opportunity to bolster joint efforts. The Strategic Dialogue
meeting with Prime Minister Singh in November would be a good
opportunity to announce a new array of cooperative ventures.


4. (C) Tharoor said all this was "music to our ears," but
added that the U.S. might be perceived as indifferent to
India's troubles in the face of "bigger fish to fry" on
Pakistan's western border with Afghanistan. He appreciated
the Ambassador's reassurances on this count but pointed out
that India needs to hear the message on other levels, too.
He also stressed that the GOI had much to do on the
counterterrorism front. Tharoor mentioned that he had met
the day before with the Kochin port director and discovered
that, while Kochin is planning to bring its largest container
terminal on line in January, there is no plan in place to
prevent attacks on it; India needs training in order to be
effective where nonproliferation and security considerations
intersect, concluded Tharoor.

Afghanistan: With U.S. Facilitation, India Could Deliver
--------------

5. (C) Ambassador Roemer expressed gratitude for India's
positive contributions in Afghanistan. Tharoor said that
India is proud of its contributions and deeply committed to
its work in Afghanistan, and recognizes that it can carry out
certain projects there more easily than the U.S. can. If the
U.S. could discreetly facilitate that work, he said, India
could "deliver many U.S. objectives without putting a U.S.
face on them." He wondered, however, how long the U.S. would
remain engaged in Afghanistan, especially in light of recent
polls indicating that most Americans are not in favor of
staying on. The Ambassador reassured Tharoor of President
Obama's long-term commitment to Afghanistan and the
articulation of the Obama Administration's new strategy
announced on March 27.

Non-Proliferation: Room for Cooperation if U.S. Can
Understand India
--------------

6. (C) On nonproliferation both agreed that beyond the clear
differences there is much room for cooperation. Tharoor
argued that India's three-strand approach to nonproliferation

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was not adequately understood in Washington: India has a
long-standing, moral commitment to disarmament but
fundamentally rejects the basic assumptions of the
Nonproliferation Treaty, and because of India's "tough
neighborhood," the GOI is convinced it would be foolish and
irresponsible not to a maintain credible deterrence. India
shares a commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons but
considers that the five powers under the NPT have not made
enough progress toward that goal and, in any event, the NPT
system creates an unacceptable apartheid system. India will
not disarm if no one else moves forward. Ambassador Roemer
mentioned Rajiv Gandhi's views and contributions on
nonproliferation and inquired about common ground today.


7. (C) Tharoor pointed out that India has an "impeccable"
record on not proliferating nuclear technology. The Bush
administration recognized India's track record, said Tharoor,
but the Obama administration does not seem to have done so.
Tharoor stressed the risks PM Singh had taken in India's IAEA
votes on Iran; India does not want more nuclear neighbors.
This should have sent a strong message to Washington.


8. (C) Acknowledging that the U.S. and India have had
different approaches on nonproliferation and disarmament,
Ambassador Roemer suggested that the U.S. and India could
find areas for cooperation, like the Proliferation Security
Initiative or the Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty. He thanked
Tharoor for the GOI's recent positive actions, such as its
effective handling of a suspicious North Korean ship earlier
in August, and expressed hope that Special Advisor for
Nonproliferation and Arms Control Bob Einhorn and Under
Secretary for Arms Control Ellen Tauscher could soon visit
India to help find common ground. Tharoor assured the
Ambassador that the U.S. will find receptiveness on these
issues if discussions are framed with a clear understanding
of India's red-lines.

United Nations Cooperation
--------------

9. (C) Ambassador Roemer asked Tharoor why India and the U.S.
so rarely manage to coordinate effectively at the UN despite
the significant improvement in bilateral ties. Tharoor
explained that there is an attitudinal transition going on in
the Indian system, but that bureaucrats remain reluctant to
abandon established positions. He mentioned that he had
personally spoken with the Prime Minister, the External
Affairs Minister, and the Foreign Secretary about areas where
India should reexamine its positions. There must also be
better cooperation in New York, he pointed out, adding that
India's UN Ambassador had recently hosted U.S. Ambassador to
the UN Susan Rice for lunch as an initiative to reach out at
her level.


10. (C) Tharoor emphasized that there was no fundamental
disagreement on UN cooperation. Democracy, he said, is "an
important calling card for India in the world" that balances
its colonial past. There is no need for India to be shy
about this or to stick with its Non-Aligned Movement
attitudes forever, said Tharoor, but it will take time to
change views. He did believe there was positive momentum and
interest in some changes.

Climate Change: Changes on the Horizon
--------------

11. (C) Along the lines of seeking common ground on U.N.
issues, the Ambassador pushed Tharoor to "think aloud" about
where we could work together on climate change and energy
security. Tharoor stated that the rhetoric surrounding the
issue must change, and highlighted that PM Singh wants India
to be part of the solution, especially because India is among
the biggest victims. Tharoor was confident that such a
change of rhetoric is coming and emphasized that "we must
move away from demonizing each other," adding that India will
stop accusing the U.S. of not doing its share, but the U.S.
needs to stop lumping India with China. India is not in the

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same league in terms of per capita emissions or total energy
use, yet India is NOW portrayed as out front of China in the
global discussion on climate change. Furthermore, added
Tharoor, India must grow its economy in order to alleviate
poverty. Ambassador Roemer assured Tharoor that was a shared
priority and cited Secretary Clinton's recent statements and
visit. They agreed to work together to identify common
interests at Copenhagen. Ambassador Roemer asked what type
of signal the U.S. might see from PM Singh. Tharoor said it
was too early to say but the GOI was looking for solutions.

Deliverables for Upcoming Visits
--------------

12. (C) Ambassador Roemer noted that there were several
outstanding issues on civilian nuclear cooperation: public
declaration of reactor park sites, declaration of safeguarded
facilities to the IAEA, civil nuclear liability legislation,
Part 810 license assurances, and the ongoing reprocessing
consultations. Tharoor assured the ambassador that all of
these issues were in the right hands and that the GOI was
aware of the PM's visit to Washington as a deadline for
action.


13. (C) Tharoor inquired about progress on opening Indian
consulates in Seattle and Atlanta. Ambassador Roemer
indicated that it could be a positive development if issues
surrounding the new Indian consulates as well as building
permits for the U.S. consulate in Mumbai could be solved for
the PM's visit. He noted that the Mumbai situation with
building permits being delayed had been long and costly.
(Comment: This is the second time in two high level meetings
that the GOI has directly asked for help on the consulate
issue for the PM's visit. From a strategic negotiating
perspective, this issue might take the same amount of time to
resolve as the negotiations on the five remaining civilian
nuclear issues important to the U.S. End Comment.)

Comment
--------------

14. (C) Tharoor does not have direct responsibility for
Indo-U.S. ties, but will be a valuable interlocutor because
of his high-profile UN background, GOI connections, and the
significant amount of time he has spent living and working in
the U.S. He is increasingly becoming the face of the MEA
given EAM Krishna's underwhelming performance. We'll
continue to reach out to Tharoor and engage him on a wide
array of topics of mutual interest, including UN cooperation,
climate change, and nonproliferation. END COMMENT.
ROEMER