VZCZCXRO2293
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHNE #2003/01 2031221
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 211221Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2713
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6950
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 5090
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 2717
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1354
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 5704
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEIDN/DNI WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 6676
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7811
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, DRL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PINR KDEM BG IN
SUBJECT: MENON SEEKS INDO-BANGLA COUNTER-TERROR EFFORT 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY: Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Mohd Touhid 
Hossain met with Indian Foreign Minister Shivshankar Menon 
during his July 17 visit to New Delhi.  During a joint press 
conference, both expressed interest in addressing security 
issues, specifically cross-border terrorism and escalating 
violence in Northeast India.  Both ministers also announced 
that pressing political and security issues would be raised 
at the Home Secretary-level when talks reconvene later this 
year.  Neither side presented specific details, but the 
meeting appeared to signal progress for bilateral Indo-Bangla 
relations.  Bangladesh's handover of four alleged insurgents 
just prior to the talks may be one indication that they are 
having an effect.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
Security Challenges Discussed 
------ 
 
¶2.  (U)  Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Mohd Touhid Hossain 
discussed a full range of bilateral issues with Indian 
Foreign Minister Shivshankar Menon during his visit to New 
Delhi on July 17.  As reported in the Indian press, Hossain 
and Menon announced joint efforts to face impending political 
and security challenges -- including on-going Naxalite-led 
violence in India,s northeast, Indo-Bangla cross-border 
terrorism, and ethno-linguistic insurgency groups -- 
reiterating that terrorism is a great threat and challenge to 
the democratic systems of both countries. 
 
 
Menon Calls for Bangla Security Cooperation 
------ 
 
¶3.  (U)  During a joint press conference with Hossain on July 
17, Menon called for result-oriented talks on pressing 
security issues with Bangladesh.  Menon sought Hosssian,s 
cooperation in tracking down suspects involved in several 
terrorist attacks, including the July 2006 serial train 
explosions in Mumbai.  Perpetrators of the attack are 
believed to have links with Bangladesh-based insurgency group 
Harkat-ul-Jehad-e-Islami (HUJI).  Both ministers emphasized 
that the security of both countries is inter-linked and that 
more specific counter-terrorism issues will be discussed at 
the Home Secretary-level later this year.  Other aspects of 
the bilateral relationship were discussed, including economic 
and commercial cooperation and water access. 
 
¶4.  (U)   This follows successful bilateral efforts on July 
12 to apprehend four Indian alleged insurgents in the 
Indo-Bangla border region, including three militants from the 
extremist National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) group 
and one smuggler, which was the first official recognition by 
Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) of Indian insurgency pressence in 
Bangladesh territory.  The NDFB militants were arrested by 
Bangladeshi authorities in 2006 after crossing the border to 
undergo militant training along the Meghalaya border 
district, according to Indian press, and were extradited July 
12 after months of close coordination between BDF and Indian 
Border Security Force (BSF).  Indian press reports have 
raised hopes that greater bilateral security cooperation will 
lead to the deportation of jailed Indian militant Anup 
Chetia, General Secretary of the radical United Liberation 
Front of Assam (ULFA). 
 
 
Comment:  Strengthening the Bilateral Relationship 
------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Comment:  While failing to reach concrete results 
on important bilateral issues, Hossain,s visit was seen here 
as an effort on part of the Bangladesh Government to forge 
closer diplomatic relations with India.  Bilateral relations, 
specifically joint counter-terrorism initiatives, are 
expected to progress further at the Home Secretary-level when 
both countries reconvene talks.  END COMMENT. 
 
NEW DELHI 00002003  002 OF 002 
 
 
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