FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER MEETS WITH DIRECTORS OF

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000420 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/05/2019 TAGS: PTER KJUS PGOV KCRM PINR POREL IN SUBJECT: FBI DIRECTOR MUELLER MEETS WITH DIRECTORS OF INDIA'S INTELLIGENCE BUREAU AND NATIONAL INVESTIGATIVE AGENCY Classified By: Charge d'Affaires a.i., Steven White for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) In a March 3 meeting, FBI Director Robert Mueller met with the Director of India's Intelligence Bureau (IB) Rajiv Mathu and National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director Radha Vinod Raju. Director Mueller thanked the government of India (GOI) for its cooperation and access in the investigation into the November 2008 Mumbai attacks. Mathur noted those areas where the FBI proved particularly helpful to the GOI investigators, and Mueller pledged the Bureau's continued support. Both sides stressed the need for stronger collaboration and increased information sharing. End Summary. A Good Foundation to Build Upon -------------- ¶2. FBI Director Robert Mueller, accompanied by the Charge, met March 3 with India's IB Director Rajiv Mathur and NIA director Radha Vinod Raju. Also in attendance from the U.S. side were Assistant Director Michael Heimbach, Deputy Assistant Director Sean Joyce, and Legal Attache Daniel Powers; the Indian side also included IB Joint Director of Foreign Liaison and Director of the Multi-Agency Center Ashok Prasad, IB Joint Director of Operations D.P. Singh, IB Deputy Director of Operations Tappan Deka, and IB Special Assistant Naveen Singh. ¶3. (C) Mathur opened the discussion by thanking Director Mueller for FBI assistance with the Mumbai case, and singled out several areas where the IB could use additional assistance. He hoped that the Director's visit would help facilitate this. Mathur stated that Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is still of great concern and said he believed that LeT leaders are lying low during the most recent crackdown but would soon reemerge. Mathur mentioned that the GOI is facing general elections and campaigning politicians would be attractive targets to the LeT attacks. The GOI believes that LeT will target Indian transportation, specifically the trains that run from Delhi to various parts of India. Mathur requested any information the FBI could provide, not just on LeT but also on other terrorist groups in the region. In his view, India's problems were caused not only by cross-border infiltration from Pakistan, but also by terrorists coming into India from Bangladesh and Nepal. ¶4. (C) Director Mueller complimented the IB on the Mumbai investigation and stated the FBI was happy it could play a role. He hoped that the counterterrorism and law enforcement relationship between the two countries would continue to grow to include regular information exchanges and training. The U.S. cannot deal with terrorism on its own and we need full partnerships around the world, Mueller explained and the FBI shared the IB's concerns about the LeT. Although exchanges between India and the U.S. had not been robust in the past, since the Mumbai attacks the tempo has accelerated and the U.S. was working to get all relevant information to India. He reiterated that through information and intelligence exchanges, the U.S. will work with India to preempt future attacks. ¶5. (C) During the meeting, Mathur provided Director Mueller with a copy of information given by the U.S. in reference to the UN Security Council 1267 Committee and asked for further information on Arif Qasmani. Director Mueller stated that he would look into the matter. ¶6. (U) Mueller stressed that the U.S. and India should move forward on counterterrorism cooperation, noting that law enforcement and intelligence go hand-in-hand. The FBI was not an intelligence agency, but a law enforcement agency and noted that intelligence gleaned from Mumbai terrorist suspect Mohammad Kasab's interrogation had become actionable as part of the job of law enforcement. Mueller offered to have IB officers come to the U.S. for training at the FBI's National Academy. NEW DELHI 00000420 002 OF 002 National Investigative Agency -------------- ¶7. (SBU) NIA director Raju informed Mueller that with the establishment of the NIA, India had for the first time a centralized federal agency to investigate the types of crimes previously under the jurisdiction of each state. He queried Mueller as to how the FBI worked with state and local law enforcement. Mueller noted that the FBI needed to have jurisdiction over a crime before it could become involved in an investigation and even then it had to secure the cooperation of local authorities. He offered assistance from the FBI to the NIA in developing strategies for working with state law enforcement authorities. Both IB and NIA directors agreed with Director Mueller on the importance of sharing information among agencies. Director Mueller highlighted that FBI training on crime scene exploitation may be of particular value to India. One on One -------------- ¶8. (S) In a restricted session in which Director Mueller, Charge and Joint Director Ashok Prasad participated prior to the expanded meeting, Director Mathur cited three areas of concern to the IB where the U.S. could be helpful: 1) information sharing on the LeT 2) Sikh militancy and 3) technical cooperation. Sikh extremism in Punjab is a concern Mathur warned, alleging that there have been incursions into Indian Punjab by Sikh extremists. He stressed the linkages between leaders of the Sikh militancy located in Pakistan and the Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate. Mathur said the militants "are maintaining a tempo of jihad" and urged the U.S. to pay more attention and share information on this threat. ¶9. (S) Mathur also asked for more technical cooperation between the U.S. and India, specifically to track internet usage and pinpoint the exact location of a mobile phone when in use. Mueller stated he thought the U.S. had technology that could triangulate the location of mobile phones; however, he would have to look into this. Mathur was interested in technology that could track Thuraya satellite phones and asked about the means by which the GOI could request information from U.S. internet and cellular phone providers. Director Mueller stated that there are legal protections in place when obtaining this type of information. ¶10. (S) Mueller asked if the FBI could gain direct access to terrorist suspect Kasab if necessary. Mathur said the IB videotaped interrogations of Kasab which are sealed under the indictment, but would be available after March 9th. Comment -------------- ¶11. (S) Director Mueller's meetings at the Intelligence Bureau were extremely cordial and reflected what is, on face value, a genuine interest by the IB in expanding cooperation with the FBI and other U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The IB was clearly impressed by what the FBI accomplished in Mumbai and its value to the GOI's ability to build its case. While we have no illusions that the road ahead won't be bumpy, the extraordinary progress made since Mumbai bodes well for future cooperation. WHITE