Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10KOLKATA29
2010-02-26 10:59:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Kolkata
Cable title:  

INDIA'S NEXT TOP GENERAL OFFERS POSSIBLE COUNTERINSURGENCY

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER IN BG AF 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 1044
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RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 0089
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RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA 3185
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000029 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, SRAP, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/26/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IN BG AF
SUBJECT: INDIA'S NEXT TOP GENERAL OFFERS POSSIBLE COUNTERINSURGENCY
INSIGHTS FOR AFGHANISTAN

REF: NEW DELHI 334

CLASSIFIED BY: Matthew Asada, A/Consul General.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KOLKATA 000029

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INSB, SRAP, EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/26/2020
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IN BG AF
SUBJECT: INDIA'S NEXT TOP GENERAL OFFERS POSSIBLE COUNTERINSURGENCY
INSIGHTS FOR AFGHANISTAN

REF: NEW DELHI 334

CLASSIFIED BY: Matthew Asada, A/Consul General.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: In a February 11 meeting, India's departing
Eastern Commander and next Chief of Army Staff, LTG V.K. Singh,
discussed India's success with its ongoing northeast
counterinsurgency operations, improved security with Bangladesh,
the military's take on the Maoist/Naxal threat and the
India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. While stressing that
there is no "one-size-fits-all" counterinsurgency strategy, he
conveyed his personal, unofficial view that the Indian Army's
experience in reintegrating northeast insurgents may be of some
value to the international community as it examines
counterinsurgent reintegration in Afghanistan. Given his
personal experiences with the Eastern Command, as its commander
and as one of its officer in the 1971 India-Pakistan War,
India's next top general may place more emphasis on India's
eastern border than some of his predecessors. He continues to
speak fondly of his time at the U.S. Army War College in
Carlisle and welcomes closer U.S.-India strategic cooperation.

Eastern Command's Counterinsurgency Focus: Insights for
Afghanistan


2. (C) On February 11 the Consul General paid a 45-minute
courtesy call on the current Eastern Commander and India's next
Chief of Army Staff, LTG V.K. Singh. One of six geographic Army
commands, the Eastern Command located in Kolkata in historic
Fort William is responsible for defending northeast and eastern
India, including the strategic Siliguri corridor, from external
or secessionist threats. The Eastern Command has extensive
counterinsurgency experience with ongoing campaigns in Assam,
Nagaland and Manipur. Singh was keen to emphasize the
importance of coordinated military and political operations, and
local cultural expertise to the success of his counterinsurgency
campaigns. According to him, military operations have prompted
insurgent groups such as the United Liberation Front of Assam
(ULFA) or Karbilongri North Liberation Front (KNLF) to come to

the negotiations table (on the day of the meeting almost 400
KNLF militia surrendered to the military). He underlined the
importance of successful reintegration programs. While
stressing that there is no "one-size-fits-all" counterinsurgency
strategy, he conveyed his personal, unofficial view that the
Indian Army's experience in reintegrating northeast insurgents
may be of some value to the international community as it
examines counterinsurgent reintegration in Afghanistan.

Positive Impacts of improved India-Bangladesh Relations


3. (C) He confirmed that improved India-Bangladesh
counterterrorism cooperation was having a positive impact on
India's ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the area. He
noted an improvement in military-military ties (he had visited
Dhaka last year),but according to him they had always been
good. He complimented Bangladesh's interim military government
on managing a successful return to civilian elected rule in 2008
- as he remarked a "quite unusual feat in this part of the
world."

Maoist/Naxal Threat - Law and Order, Not Secessionist


4. (C) He reiterated the official position that since the
Maoist/Naxal threat was "not secessionist, but rather one of law
and order" the police and state governments, and not the
military, bore the responsibility for addressing the challenge.
The military could, and is, working on a limited basis with the
police in an advisory or training capacity, but they are not
involved in active, kinetic operations. However, the military
is monitoring the threat to ensure that it does not get out of
hand. He advised against any overt U.S. assistance in this
domestic, internal matter.

Chinese Protests Over Arunachal Pradesh - Not So Subtle Reminder
from India's Neighbor


5. (C) While dismissing media hype over alleged Chinese border
incursions into the Indian border state of Arunachal Pradesh, he
acknowledged differences between the two countries on the
matter. While more reserved on the sensitive topic, he
hypothesized three areas of potential future conflict between

KOLKATA 00000029 002 OF 002


China and India: clash of actual "hard" interests (border,
water, energy),regional ambitions, and global alliances. He
interpreted Chinese protests over Arunachal Pradesh as a
not-so-subtle Chinese reminder to India of its presence in the
neighborhood and concern over improving U.S.-India relations in
light of the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.

Comment


6. (C) Singh, while generally friendly and open, was unusually
candid for a man in uniform (he spoke without a note taker). It
is unlikely that he will be as accessible or free to speak in
his new position. He has a genuine soft spot for the Eastern
Command, given his experiences as its commander and as one of
its officer in the 1971 India-Pakistan War. This may translate
into India's next top general placing more emphasis on India's
eastern border than some of his predecessors, although Pakistan
will continue to preoccupy the military establishment. His
comments regarding Indian expertise in counterinsurgency
warfare, and the importance of reintegration, may signal an
opportunity to engage with the Government of India on the
lessons learned from the northeast and what they might mean for
Afghan reintegration. While the Government of India continues
to be skeptical regarding reintegration (Reftel),this may be an
opening for discussions and engagement. He continues to speak
fondly of his time at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle and
welcomes closer U.S.-India strategic cooperation.
PAYNE