INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO SR HOLBROOKE: PAKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 000415

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IN
SUBJECT: INDIAN NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR TO SR HOLBROOKE: PAKISTAN
MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT HOLDS THE KEY

Classified By: Leslie Viguerie for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) In a February 16 meeting with Special
Representative Richard Holbrooke, National Security Advisor M.K.
Narayanan emphasized that Pakistan's relationship with India would be
driven by the Pakistani military. Defense Secretary Vijay Singh, who
also attended, noted that the Indian and Pakistani militaries had
minimal contact, but India had a direct interest in Pakistan's
effectiveness in conducting counter-insurgency operations in the
west. On Afghanistan, both sides discussed the upcoming election and
Holbrooke urged GOI officials to tell visiting Afghan Lower House
Speaker Qanuni to accept the August 20 election date.


2. (C) Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard
Holbrooke, accompanied by Ambassador, met February 16 with Indian
National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan. Also in attendance from
the U.S. side were Deputy Commander PACOM Lt. Gen. Douglas Fraser,
Deputy Commander CENTCOM Lt. General John Allen, the Special
Representative's Military Advisor Major General Burton Field, and
Paul Jones, Deputy Special Representative; the Indian side also
included Defense Secretary Vijay Singh and NSA staff. Holbrooke
explained his responsibilities as Special Representative and
emphasized the importance of Indian views in the formulation of the
new administration's Afghanistan and Pakistan policy.


3. (C) Narayanan welcomed U.S. willingness to consult with New Delhi
on Afghanistan and Pakistan and take India's perspective into account
when the U.S. conducted its strategic review. Narayanan said his
meeting with General Petraeus at last week's Munich Security
Conference had been useful in understanding the scope of the review.


4. (C) Narayanan and Secretary Singh appreciated readouts on the
military situation in Pakistan from Lt. General Allen and Major
General Field. Singh noted that the Indian and Pakistani military
had few, if any contacts. Nevertheless, India's interests were
directly affected by Pakistan's success in fighting a
counter-insurgency campaign in the west. India had learned the hard
way about the difficulties of counter-insurgency operations. Singh
noted that New Delhi had even offered suggestions to Pakistan in the
past about such operations but Islamabad had not acted on the advice.


5. (C) Narayanan stressed that the Pakistani military establishment
and, in particular, Pakistani Chief of ARMY Staff General Kayani and
ISI Director General Pasha, would play the critical role in
determining the tenor of Indo-Pakistani ties. If Kayani was
committed to taking steps that would lead to a more productive
relationship, then India could consider doing more itself. At the
same time, Narayanan expressed skepticism that such change was
possible, arguing that the Pakistan military establishment must be
aware of the presence of Lashkar-e-Tayiba (LeT) training camps in
Punjab.


6. (C) At a later lunch focused on Afghanistan, discussion centered
on the presidential election date in Afghanistan. Narayanan shared
concerns that the upcoming election process should not add to
instability. He noted that Afghan Lower House Speaker Mohammad Yunis
Qanuni was currently in Delhi, and said India supported the Election
Commission's proposal for August 20 polling. Holbrooke urged GOI
officials to tell Qanuni to accept the August 20 election date. The
security situation and police training were also touched on during
the lunch.


7. (U) Ambassador Holbrooke has cleared this message.

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