This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 002949 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2015 
TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV IN PK NSSP

SUBJECT: JASWANT SINGH SUPPORTS THE SECRETARY'S MARCH 25  SOUTH ASIA INITIATIVE 
 
  Classified By: Charge Robert O. Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: Meeting with A/S Rocca and the Charge in New  Delhi on April 18, former Foreign Minister and BJP leader  Jaswant Singh expressed wholehearted support for the  Secretary's May 25 South Asia Initiative, especially its 
  SIPDIS  military aspects such as co-production.  Singh implied that  the Congress dominated United Progressive Alliance (UPA)  government was ""not motivated"" to pursue closer ties with the  US, did not understand the true meaning of a strategic  relationship, was too divided to pursue effectively foreign  policy, and that a BJP government could do better.  Unlike  other BJP leaders, Singh expressed no hostility towards  Pakistan, emphasizing the many ties between the two  countries, and describing a warm encounter between Musharraf  and former PM Vajpayee.  Singh advised the USG to be  ""patient"" with the UPA and take a long-term view on India-US  relations, as they could take time to reach their full  potential.  Singh presented the views of his party's moderate  wing, which is genuinely interested in closer ties with the  US and Pakistan.  End Summary 
  Defense Co-production 
--------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) Expressing complete BJP support for the Secretary's  May 25 offer of co-production of multi-role combat aircraft  (MRCA), Singh pointed out that co-production is a ""detailed  process"" that goes far beyond airplanes, and needs to be  ""candidly talked through.""  He was skeptical that anyone in  the UPA leadership understood the intricacies of this MRCA  project.  In his estimation, co-production was not limited to  specific types of equipment, but paid the largest dividends  when it encompassed research into new technology.  Aircraft  development today ""is not like it was for Howard Hughes,"" the  former Defense Minister quipped.  He emphasized that the  process will only be successful if it takes the legislative  process into account.  Noting that President Bush, as a  second term leader, has some ""free play"" when it comes to  co-production, Singh urged the USG to move aggressively in  that direction.  In this capacity, he recalled earlier advice  to Russian DefMin Ivanov that Moscow needed to move beyond a  seller-buyer relationship with New Delhi. 
 
¶3.  (C) Referring to the Administration's South Asia  announcements of March 25, Jaswant stated that ""I accept this  is a significant and meaningful step forward.  It is what is  demanded by today's time.""  However, he was dismissive of the  High Technology Cooperation Group, complaining that it ""has  not kept"" up with its original function of clearing high-tech  imports and exports.  In this regard, governments lag behind  entrepreneurs. 
  Moving Forward 
-------------- 
 
¶4.  (C) A/S Rocca pointed out that the US and India are  currently building on a foundation Singh laid while Foreign  Minister.  Characterizing these developments as ""momentous,""  she predicted that the process would be ""unlike anything we  have seen before.""  The US and India needed to consolidate  the gains of the first Bush Administration, to ensure that  this Initiative achieved its goals, she stated. 
  5,  (C) Singh characterized the US-India relationship as a  ""logical process,"" but that its pace will vary depending on  the personalities involved.  Currently ""there is a great  impulse"" as President Bush is deeply involved and has a  policy mandate from the American people. 
  Contrast With Congress 
---------------------- 
 
¶6.  (C) While happy with American commitment to upgrade its  ties to India, Singh was not as enthusiastic about the UPA  government.  He complained that the UPA was not as  ""motivated"" and was not united when it came to making foreign  policy decisions.  ""There are too many centers and not the  same clarity of purpose"" as on the US side.  Singh predicted  that this would result in some ""checks to forward motion, but  the process will continue."" 
 
¶7.  (C) Singh advised the USG to have patience, noting that  ""a base must first be built before the process acquires a  life of its own, and we have not yet reached that point.""  A  number of issues will arise that must be candidly addressed  in a free-flowing dialog characterized by trust, he stated. 
  The Broader View 
---------------- 
 
¶8.  (C) A/S Rocca agreed, noting that the USG has ""a genuine  desire to move now and strike while the iron is hot.""  She  noted that the Administration is taking ""a broader view"" that  goes beyond the US/India relationship, and is trying to  determine the shape of the world and what realignments will  be required in the future.  In this capacity, she praised  India as a democratic role model which could play a central  role in this broader view. 
India and China 
--------------- 
 
¶9.  (C) Singh contrasted India, which he maintained has  always been a nation, with its Asian rival China.  Even under  colonialism in the absence of its own government, India was a  nation, while China is dependent on a formal government  mechanism or things begin to go awry.  ""The Indian nation  continues to operate despite its government,"" he pointed out  with a laugh.  Singh described the Indian historical model as  ""federalism without the memory of federalism.""  Unlike China,  Singh asserted, India has always had a ""native democracy""  that predates the formal establishment of the parliamentary  system.  Sometimes, this insistence on formal democracy  handicaps indigenous democratic functioning, as was the case  in Northeast India where New Delhi tried to introduce a  variety of ""democratic institutions"" at the expense of  ""tribal egalitarianism."" 
  Trip to Washington 
------------------ 
 
¶10.  (C) While he is trying to restrict his overseas travel,  Singh noted that he plans to be in Washington in late May to  revive his connections there.  A/S Rocca offered to help make  Singh's Washington visit a success. 
  The Musharraf Visit 
------------------- 
  ¶11.  (C) Singh was enthusiastic about the Musharraf visit and  the improving Indo-Pak relationship, pointing out that ""we  are the same folk, even if the Pakistanis deny it.  We are  not really separate, we speak the same language.""  The  problem, he noted, was that when people are so close, their  relationship often becomes characterized by a high degree of  emotion.  Both countries must move beyond that and into  substance.  The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service ""should not  stop, although it will have problems."" 
  ¶12.  (C) Singh professed more comfort with Musharraf (whom he  and former PM Vajpayee had met earlier in the day), saying  that he had ""much less starch in his uniform"" than during his  previous visit in 2001 for the Agra Summit, when he behaved  more like a general and less like a head of state.  He noted  that it is a ""bonus"" that military dictators grow into their  jobs and become more comfortable with each passing year. 
Musharraf's biggest problem is that no one in his government  provides him with ""candid advice on what he is not doing  right.""  Singh pointed out that this is a ""South Asian  problem"" rather than a Pakistani problem, as Indira Gandhi  was also surrounded by sycophants. 
  Graceful Conclusion 
------------------- 
  ¶13.  (C) A/S Rocca concluded by noting that Singh should  receive considerable credit for starting the current process  of improved India/US relations.  Singh demurred, maintaining  that the credit was not quite deserved, as ""individuals  become symbols for developments.""  Two great nations came to  the point where things had to happen, and ""I was there by  chance,"" he said. 
  Comment 
------- 
  ¶14.  (C) The meeting was significant for the things that  Singh did not say as much as for the things he did.  During  the past month, BJP leaders have strongly criticized the US,  the Modi visa denial, and the Secretary's South Asia  initiative for a number of reasons, but Singh ignored them  completely.  He also focused almost exclusively on the  military side of the Initiative, speaking at length on the  potential benefits of military co-production, but made no  mention of the civilian components or the US offer of F-16's  to Pakistan.  It was also notable, that unlike others in the  BJP, Singh expressed no hostility towards Pakistan, and was  positive about the GOI's Pakistan policy.  Not surprisingly,  he reserved his greatest criticism of the UPA government for  its handling of its ties with Washington, suggesting that a  BJP government would manage them much better.  Nonetheless,  in view of the recent strong criticism of the US by BJP  second and third tier leaders, Singh concluded that the  India/US relationship was gaining momentum and could soon  pass the point of no return. 
  15,  (U) A/S Rocca cleared this cable. 
BLAKE  "