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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 002541 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018 
TAGS: IN PGOV PHUM PREL PTER SOCI KWRF
SUBJECT: INDIAN HOME MINISTRY SECRETARY GUPTA RECEPTIVE TO 
OFFER OF  COUNTERTERRORISM ASSISTANCE AND TO U.S. CONCERNS 
ABOUT RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE 
 
REF: A) NEW DELHI 2498 B) NEW DELHI 2513 C) CHENNAI 315 
 
NEW DELHI 00002541  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador David Mulford for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Ambassador met with Home Ministry Secretary 
Madhukar Gupta on September 19 
to give condolences for the September 13 terrorist attacks, 
offer the GOI a look into the 
USG's model of counterterrorism, and express U.S. concerns 
about recent violence directed at 
religious minorities in the Indian states of Orissa and 
Karnataka (Ref A, B, and C). Gupta, 
a seasoned bureaucrat, described India's multiple efforts in 
countering terrorism and candidly 
spoke of the challenges presented by coordinating local 
efforts with national and state 
efforts.  He was receptive to our offer to have an Indian 
team visit the United States to 
examine the U.S. counterterrorism model post-9/11, but only 
following India's holiday season. 
He also agreed to receive a paper on the comprehensive 
measures taken by the USG post-9/11. We 
will quickly follow-up by providing such a document.  On the 
matter of religious freedom and 
recent anti-Christian violence, Gupta appeared equally 
engaged and described the steps the GOI 
is taking to bolster law and order in Orissa and Karnataka. 
End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
GOOD RECEPTION ON OFFER OF COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
 
¶2. (C)  Ambassador opened by expressing condolences for the 
victims of the serial terrorist 
attacks that occurred in New Delhi on September 13.  The 
terrorists are using similar methods 
in targeting various parts along the breadth and length of 
India, providing great challenges 
for any national government. The Ambassador candidly told 
Gupta that maybe now is an opportune 
time to deepen counterterrorism cooperation with India in 
light of this new terrorist challenge 
and the debate within India about passing a new 
anti-terrorism law. Like India, the United 
States has a federal structure and faced a similar challenge 
of coordinating among various 
levels of government administration after the 9/11 attacks. 
Perhaps, India could benefit 
by examining some of the immense changes the U.S. Government 
made.  The Ambassador was clear 
that the United States does not seek joint counterterrorism 
operations with India but suggested 
that we could provide the GOI with a paper describing the 
comprehensive steps the USG has taken 
post-9/11 to prevent future acts of terrorism and improve 
coordination between law enforcement 
agencies in the United States.  Gupta replied that he would 
welcome such a paper and had received 
a similar offer and paper from the German Embassy this week. 
He agreed that coordination across 
jurisdictions is a challenge, and said the GOI has a 
three-tier approach focused on the national, 
state, and local levels.  The GOI has also established a 24/7 
multi-agency center but admitted 
that this has been plagued by staffing problems. 
 
¶3.  (C) The Ambassador directed Gupta's attention to the RSO 
and Legal Attach who described 
the changes the United State made to improve coordination 
across federal, state, and local 
jurisdictions. Legal Attach told Gupta that the United 
States learned lessons the hard way. 
Prior to 9/11, there was no political will or multi-agency 
approach to countering the terrorist 
threat.  However, after 9/11, the US Government created a 
community-based model of prevention 
that focused on a bottom-up approach of more direct 
interaction with local and state law 
enforcement.  The model ensured that local and state police 
officials were able to connect 
with other USG officials across the United States and with 
international partners.  Gupta 
 
NEW DELHI 00002541  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
responded that the GOI is confident in its effectiveness at 
the federal and state level but 
that the local level, the constable on the patrol, remains a 
challenge.  Over the years, 
the effectiveness of the local police has eroded.  The GOI 
has pressed states to remedy 
this and renew the constable system. The GOI is also making 
efforts to involve civil society 
such as business organizations and civil defense.  Gupta 
illustrated the success of cooperating 
with civil society by citing the lack of casualties from the 
terrorist attack in the Greater 
Kailash neighborhood on September 19.  Only 15 days earlier, 
the people of the area had 
practiced a drill and therefore were able to evacuate the 
area around the bombing within 
five minutes.  Gupta added that the use of local elements by 
terrorist outfits, such as 
Lashkar-e-Toiba, to execute terrorist acts is a particular 
challenge.  Like the United 
Kingdom, India has to keep in mind the huge sensitivities of 
the local communities within 
which violent extremists often operate.  Gupta agreed that it 
would be useful to see the 
U.S. model and what India could replicate.  The Ambassador 
emphasized that one of the 
most important requirements is a recognition by all 
stakeholders of the scope and nature 
of all that needs to be changed. 
 
¶4. (C) Gupta suggested that a discussion on technology as 
well as how one can detect 
whether terrorists are placing explosives could be useful. 
The Ambassador agreed and 
invited Gupta to send a team to visit the United States.  The 
Legal Attach added that 
the team could also tour the U.S. National Counterterrorism 
Center.  Gupta agreed, adding 
that he would be happy to send a team after two or three 
months when the holiday season 
passed. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT TAKING ACTIONS AGAINST TO STOP FURTHER 
ANTI-CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE 
--------------------------------------------- ---------------- 
 
¶5. (C) Moving to the matter of religious freedom, the 
Ambassador told Gupta that the 
Secretary will release the International Religious Freedom 
(IRF) report today.  Since 
the report can be sensitive, he told Gupta that he wanted to 
highlight some specific issues. 
The U.S. Embassy sent a team to Orissa (Ref A) which reported 
the complex social and economic 
factors that combined with religion to trigger the violence 
in the state. Regarding 
Karnataka, the Ambassador frankly told Gupta that the USG and 
many groups in the U.S. 
are very concerned about the nature of the violence directed 
toward Christians.  The 
USG is aware that some new Christian groups in Karnataka 
utilize aggressive proselytizing 
tactics; however, the actions by the police suggest that some 
of the violence is 
politically motivated.  The Ambassador informed Gupta that 
the recent violence against 
Christians do not fall in the reporting period of the IRF but 
would very likely receive 
attention during the report's public release. 
 
¶6. (C) Agreeing with the Embassy's analysis of the situation 
in Orissa, Gupta described the 
complex tribal and caste tensions in the state.  He believed 
the fundamental problem is related 
to caste.  Gupta stressed that that the GOI has sent clear 
directives to state and local 
officials not to maintain law and order and not allow 
disruptive actions that cause further 
turmoil. Turning to Karnataka, Gupta said he shared U.S. 
concerns and told the Ambassador 
that has talked daily to the Karnataka state secretary about 
maintaining peace.  In addition, 
 
NEW DELHI 00002541  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
the GOI has issued a strong message to the state government. 
(Note. The media report that 
the GOI is preparing a formal warning to the Karnataka 
government under Article 355 of the 
Indian constitution. Article 355 states that it shall be the 
duty of the Union to protect 
every State against external aggression and internal 
disturbance.  End Note.)  Gupta stressed 
that this type of tension always attracts some "lumpen 
elements" who cause further disorder; 
however, he understands that people cannot be allowed to take 
the law into their own hands. 
The Ambassador reiterated U.S. concerns about the 
participation of the police in the violence 
and the importance of police neutrality.  Gupta replied that 
this is unfortunately sometimes 
the case throughout the world; however, the GOI hopes the 
strong message it has sent to the 
state government proves effective. (Note. The past two days 
has seen very little 
anti-Christian violence in the state.  End Note.) 
 
 
¶7. (C)  Comment. Gupta seemed receptive to our offer to pass 
a paper describing our post-9/11 
counterterrorism model, in addition to sending a GOI team to 
visit the United States. We need 
to quickly follow-up by sending the paper.  The USG has often 
had a difficult time engaging 
the Indians on counterterrorism.  The opening provided by 
this meeting could change this 
dynamic if the GOI eventually finds the U.S. model useful in 
improving its own national 
model to meet the terrorist challenge. (Note. The Legal 
Attach plans to send the paper to 
the GOI next week. End Note). 
 
MULFORD