VZCZCXRO5333
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
DE RUEHNE #1535/01 2050829
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 240829Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7487
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 001535 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/INS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER ECON ENRG SOCI IN
SUBJECT: A/S BLAKE DISCUSSES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP DIALOGS 
WITH INDIAN MEA 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY: Assistant Secretary Robert Blake met with 
Indian Joint Secretary (AMS) Gaitri Kumar July 21 and 
outlined next steps in the new Strategic Dialogue.  They 
agreed that Counter Terrorism was an immediate focus and that 
Home Minister Chidambaram should visit Washington as soon as 
possible. They identified the possibility of holding the 
first energy dialog between Steven Chu and Indian Renewable 
Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah on the sidelines of an 
October climate change and renewable energy conference in 
India.  Deputy Chair of the Planning Commission Montek 
Ahluwalia plans to attend the G-8 and G-20 meetings in 
Pittsburgh as a sherpa creating an opportunity for a formal 
economic dialog meeting. A/S Blake suggested that Indian 
Education Minister Kapil Sibal reach out to U.S. Secretary of 
Education Arne Duncan and schedule a visit.  Gaitri conveyed 
that the Indian Parliament would like to invite the First 
Lady to participate in the launch of a new GOI education 
campaign in New Delhi.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian 
Affairs Robert Blake met with Indian Ministry of External 
Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary (Americas) Gaitri Kumar on July 
¶21.  A/S Blake offered thanks at the conclusion of a 
successful visit by Secretary Clinton.  Gaitri said that 
Clinton was "amazing" with an impressive grasp on Indian 
sensitivities. 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  Blake and Gaitri discussed how to proceed with the 
strategic partnership dialogs between the United States and 
India and agreed that a robust schedule of visits would set 
deadlines to motivate progress on deliverables.  They agreed 
to aim high on identifying specific, credible deliverables 
for Prime Minister Singh's November 24th visit to the U.S. 
and for a possible high level visit to India sometime in 
¶2010.  They also agreed to quickly prioritize dialogs, and to 
encourage individual agencies to focus on them as soon as 
possible.  Gaitri indicated that this is the approach the 
Deputy Chair of the Planning Commission would like to take 
and that he will get cabinet ministers involved and 
personally work with PM Singh in order to get appropriate 
resources and officers. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  They identified counterterrorism as a more 
immediate agenda item, and agreed that Home Secretary 
Chidambaram should visit D.C. very soon.  Blake emphasized 
that Chidambaram's counterparts in D.C. were ready to meet 
with him and suggested setting dates for a visit in mid 
October of 2009 to encourage increased cooperation on 
training and intelligence sharing.  Gaitri agreed to 
communicate the suggestion to Chidambaram promptly.  (Note: 
Chidambaram's staff have now suggested that he was ready to 
visit in late August.) 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Clean energy also presented immediate 
opportunities.  Gaitri suggested that since FutureGen is 
currently restructuring, it could be used as one deliverable 
for a visit.  Blake pointed out that Steven Chu has been 
invited to a climate change and renewable energy conference 
in India in October.  He suggested that Indian Renewable 
Energy Minister Farooq Abdullah invite Chu as a keynote 
speaker and conduct the first energy dialog meeting on the 
sidelines of the conference.  Gaitri responded 
enthusiastically, saying that Abdullah is enthusiastic and 
energetic. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Regarding the economic dialog, Gaitri said that 
GOI has an economic agenda paper to share with the U.S., and 
noted Deputy Chairman Ahluwalia would plan to go as a sherpa 
to G-20 and G-8 meetings in Pittsburgh.  She suggested that a 
meeting to set a mutual agenda could be scheduled during that 
time.  Blake pointed out that the economic dialog receives 
the input of the CEO's Forum, and informed Gaitri that the 
U.S. CEO's Forum is being restructured with a set of criteria 
and an application process for members.  The forum will not 
be reconstituted in time for the UN General Assembly session 
in September, but the U.S. goal is to be ready for 
substantive meetings on the sidelines of the PMs visit. 
Gaitri agreed with the proposed timeline. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In the education dialog, Blake suggested that 
Indian Education Minister Kapil Sibal reach out to U.S. 
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and schedule a visit.  It 
would be best if Kapil went to the U.S. first, followed by 
alternating visits, said Blake. Gaitri pointed out that 
before he was Secretary, Duncan had reached out to GOI to 
bring Indian math and science teachers to Chicago schools, a 
project that is now under way.  As a deliverable for 
President Obama's visit, Gaitri suggested setting up 
partnerships between U.S. and Indian universities. 
 
NEW DELHI 00001535  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU)  Gaitri conveyed that the Indian Parliament would 
like to invite the First Lady to participate in the launch of 
a new education campaign in New Delhi.  The Foreign Minister 
and Foreign Secretary have agreed that Kapil may invite her. 
Gaitri said that the MEA would share the information with the 
U.S. Embassy. 
 
¶9.  (U)  Assistant Secretary Blake did not have the 
opportunity to clear this message. 
WHITE