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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 002542 
 
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 00002542  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 
 
NEW DELHI 00002542  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
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 
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 effectivenuNH9dSywNI(Q%$Q0DQ_3Q 
QABQQ?7\Q)_QbQCQTQRsQQ?Q="FI71:5P|Q*]iZy);yQv S$QNl'Ge]_QN>@#FIQ}kxQwQz\vYl12Q%M8fPlHjk?QQ"KQgdlQQ4}OQHhw9Q(fE7s"Q ]3]$LdHq,DEQHQz=QQGQQQk +)f5\"NQQ8Qd;Sl?HcyQQ0>)}L"E%QSQOQQvQQxp(G%)' R 
>~QwVQ&s8n$QQvdQQt9gTGSQr+"}bXgZQ4[iQQQQ$J$jg Q~MAdxXa>QfQS?atKh=Cs;3P@-HQ=1QQ;Q"r Qn'HQVQQQs*VQ]6QV]FAt)(2Q(rQUCune1QTQe&+Qq)J= '\/QK4QEmQQ:SQ'QR+L}sP/6+5.QQzQ-QUc;QQExbjxR 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 
 
NEW DELHI 00002542  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
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, 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