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C O N F I D E N T I A L PARTO 100603 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/04/2018 
TAGS: OVIP RICE CONDOLEEZZA PREL PHUM KIRF PGOV
PTER, IR, PK, IN 
SUBJECT: (U) SECRETARY RICE'S OCTOBER 4 2008 MEETING WITH 
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH: REGIONAL ISSUES 
 
¶1.  (U)  Classified by:  Paul Wohlers, Deputy Executive 
Secretary, S/ES, Department of State, Reason 1.4 (d). 
 
¶2.  (U)  October 4, 2008: 7:00 p.m.; New Delhi, India. 
 
¶3.  (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Secretary 
Ambassador David Mulford 
South and Central Asia Assistant Secretary Richard Boucher 
Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. General William Fraser 
Ted Osius (Notetaker) 
 
India 
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh 
National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan 
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister T.K.A. Nair 
Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon 
Special Envoy to the Prime Minister Shyam Saran 
Ambassador to the United States Ronen Sen 
Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Gaitri Kumar 
Joint Secretary, Prime Minister's Office, Pankaj Saran 
Virendar Paul (Notetaker) 
 
¶4. (C) SUMMARY.  Prime Minister Singh expressed India's 
readiness to resume a composite dialogue with Pakistan and 
expand areas of cooperation with its western neighbor. 
The Secretary described U.S. efforts to strengthen local 
governance in Afghanistan and increase the size of its 
army.  Urged by the Secretary to look at Indian 
investments in Iran with a view to changing that country's 
behavior, Singh pledged to continue enforcing UN Security 
Council resolutions and stated that the Iran-Pakistan- 
India pipeline has yet to move beyond "an exchange of 
notes."  In response to the Secretary's question about 
violence against Christians in India, Singh said the 
government had the capability to restore order and protect 
the rights of religious minorities.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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Sustained Interest in India Yields Historic Progress 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Singh thanked the Secretary for her sustained 
interest in India, demonstrated since she published in 
Foreign Affairs more than eight years ago.  The Secretary 
replied that Singh's vision and follow-through had 
produced historic progress in U.S.-India relations. 
 
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Ready to Pick Up the Threads in Pakistan 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶6. (C) Asked by the Secretary about changes in Pakistan, 
Singh replied that, until February 2007, an intense India- 
Pakistan dialogue had led to progress on key territorial 
issues.  "We cannot redraw our borders," he said, but we 
can make borders less of an obstacle to people-to-people 
exchanges.  "We are ready to pick up the threads" of the 
dialogue, he continued, because India's people want to 
normalize relations and because a moderate, stable 
Pakistan is in India's interest.  However, cease-fire 
violations and infiltration via the Line of Control had 
increased since April, and the July bombing of India's 
embassy in Kabul greatly complicated India's ability to 
maintain a dialogue.  As evidence of India's desire to 
work with the new government in Islamabad and expand areas 
of cooperation, it had announced plans for new trade 
routes and its willingness to resume the Composite 
Dialogue.  Singh characterized President Bush as agreeing 
with him that the "jury is still out" on whether 
Pakistan's government had the will or the ability to 
contain elements that are causing problems, including 
within the Pakistani military.  He added that "jihadist 
elements cannot be wished away," and stated that 
Afghanistan's problems cannot be resolved without solving 
Pakistan's. 
 
¶7. (C) The Secretary said she believed the new Pakistani 
government wanted to do the right thing, but might not 
have the ability.  President Zardari had established good 
relations with Chief of the Army Staff Kayani, but 
Pakistan faces formidable economic challenges.  She 
recalled that President Bush had urged Zardari to 
strengthen relations with India, and expressed hope that 
the two countries would soon resume their Composite 
Dialogue.  The Secretary commended India's restraint 
following the Embassy bombing in Kabul.  Stating that "the 
sky is the limit" for India-Pakistan relations, Singh 
replied that he envisioned "one large market" on the 
subcontinent and hoped Pakistan would move in the right 
direction. 
 
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Indian Activity in Afghanistan an Open Book 
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¶8. (C) The Secretary described a U.S. review of strategies 
in Afghanistan, especially in light of strong Taliban 
moves in Helmand province that complicated efforts to 
stabilize the southern and southeastern parts of the 
country.  She discussed U.S. determination to increase the 
size of Afghanistan's army, and ways that Provincial 
Reconstruction Teams had begun strenghthening local 
governance.  After reviewing India's more than $1.2 
billion in commitments for rebuilding Afghanistan, Singh 
referred to former Pakistani President Musharraf's claims 
that Indian actions were aimed at destabilizing Pakistan. 
"We want our activities in Afghanistan to be an open 
book," he asserted, adding that India had nothing to hide 
and nothing to gain from an unstable neighbor.  The 
transition to democracy in Afghanistan will not be easy, 
he continued, as superimposing modern institutions on a 
tribal society has certain limitations.  "Democracy is not 
a mechanical process," he concluded. 
 
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Iran-Pakistan-India Pipeline Yet to be Conceptualized 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
¶9. (C) The Secretary raised U.S. concerns about Iran and 
the difficulties faced by the International Atomic Energy 
Agency in pursuing questions about Iran's nuclear program. 
As a result of three UN Security Council Resolutions, Iran 
had lost investment, she said.  She asked that India look 
carefully at its own investments with a view to changing 
Iranian behavior.  Singh replied that India did not 
support Iran's nuclear ambitions and that he had urged 
President Ahmadinejad to work with the world community and 
satisfy doubts about Iran's nuclear program.  India's 
effort has been and will be to use its influence with 
Iran, he confirmed.  The Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline "has 
yet to be conceptualized," he stated, adding that the deal 
had not moved further than the exchange of notes.  Singh 
voiced "philosophical concerns" about the use of 
sanctions, arguing that sanctions cause more suffering 
among common people than in ruling circles. 
 
¶10. (C) The Secretary responded that Iran, with a history 
of concealing uranium enrichment activities, could receive 
international support for its civilian nuclear industry if 
it would only cooperate.  Singh insisted that India 
adheres faithfully to UN Security Council resolutions, but 
added that due to domestic concerns, he needed to use 
language in Parliament that would placate India's 25 
million Shia Muslims who are influenced by Iran.  He said 
President Ahmadinejad had promised to send him a paper he 
had drafted on the world's future.  The Secretary 
responded with skepticism, saying she would like to see 
the paper if Ahmadinejad delivers it.  Singh speculated 
that Ahmadinejad wished to be invited to sit "at the high 
table" with the United States.  The Secretary expressed 
U.S. willingness to meet with Iran as soon as it suspends 
enrichment activities.  She described a complex Iranian 
decision-making structure and tensions within it.  Singh 
agreed with the Secretary's characterization, noting that 
statesmanship is required to manage such tensions in a 
developing country. 
 
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India Will Protect the Rights of Religous Minorities 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶11. (C) Asked by the Secretary about recent violence 
against Christians, Singh explained the background of 
violence in Orissa.  He said it remained unclear who had 
set the process in motion, but that the murder of a Hindu 
saint had triggered a chain reaction.  He described the 
population of the affected area as consisting largely of 
primitive tribals, and committed the government to 
protecting the human rights of all the state's people. 
"We have sent in central forces to support the local 
authorities," he said, "and we will remain in touch with 
the state government until the matter is resolved."  The 
Indian system will deal with the problem, Singh concluded. 
 
 
RICE