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RHOVVKG/COMSEVENTHFLT
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 002397 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: PRIME MINISTER SINGH'S 
WASHINGTON VISIT 
 
SUMMARY: Prime Minister Singh's Washington visit, while 
generating mixed reviews, found a largely positive 
though measured reception in the Indian press. Several 
reports emphasized that, although there were no big 
ticket announcements, the visit bode well for continued 
meaningful engagement and a new direction to the U.S.- 
India strategic partnership. Some analysts said the 
visit dispelled fears over the perceived tilt of the 
U.S. towards China. While President Obama was perceived 
reassuring Prime Minister Singh of India's priority, 
demands were made to "convert symbolism into 
substance." Reports called on Prime Minister Singh to 
leverage a more helpful position of the U.S. in the 
region for dealing with India's two nuclear neighbors 
and the fight against terrorism among other key issues. 
 
Many reports, however, argued that, despite the hype 
and glamour of the state dinner, the visit lacked 
substance, and that the Obama administration was not 
taking India seriously. Reports called a "let-down" the 
two countries' perceived failure to reach agreement on 
reprocessing nuclear fuel, further noting that the 
bilateral relationship is "living on past credit rather 
than current commitments." END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------------------- 
MATURING TIES AND THE WAY FORWARD 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶1. "MATURING TIES," editorial in centrist, independent 
English daily, THE TIMES OF INDIA: "The outlook for 
Indo-US ties going forward is substantive, though it 
might not be spectacular, and promises decent 
dividends. It is in India's interests to push through 
more market reforms and scale up its economic clout as 
it seeks a solid equation with the US and a greater say 
in global affairs. Upon his return, this should top 
Singh's agenda." 
 
¶2. "BETWEEN FRIENDS," editorial in English daily, THE 
INDIAN EXPRESS: "Having won the necessary strategic 
reassurance from the White House, it is now up to Delhi 
to think more creatively about the India-US 
relationship and develop some big ideas for Obama's 
planned visit to Delhi next year." 
 
¶3. "THE AMERICAN GRAFFITI READS...," editorial in 
centrist, independent English daily, HINDUSTAN TIMES: 
"Obama reassured Singh that India is a priority. Now to 
convert symbolism into substance. The summit was a 
success in sketching a roadmap for the future of the 
relationship. The test will be to see how well the map 
can be navigated in the real world." 
 
¶4. "A GOOD VISIT, BUT DON'T OVER-HYPE IT," editorial in 
independent English daily, DECCAN CHRONICLE: "Prime 
Minister Singh's state visit to the United States 
earlier this week has on the whole ended on a positive 
note. A key objective of the trip was to gauge the 
current climate in Washington regarding India's own 
rise. The earlier George W. Bush administration was 
 
NEW DELHI 00002397  002 OF 004 
 
 
remarkable in that it gave India wide room in the 
region, opened doors for it internationally through the 
civil nuclear agreement in the face of stiff opposition 
from nuclear hawks at home and sharp resentment in 
China and Pakistan, and invested in a bilateral ties 
across a broad range." 
 
¶5. "CAPITOL IDEA," editorial in centrist English daily, 
THE TELEGRAPH: "There was the lurking fear that the 
bonhomie that existed between India and the US during 
the presidency of George W. Bush would not endure 
during Mr. Obama's term.  All such gloomy predictions 
have been dispelled.  Thus both in terms of politics 
and economics, the Indo-US relationship is Buttressed 
by genuine areas of cooperation that benefit both 
countries." 
 
¶6. "DIPLOMATIC SUCCESS," editorial in left-of-center 
Bengali daily, SAMBAD PRATIDIN:  "The diplomatic 
success that Manmohan Singh has been able to achieve 
during his Washington visit to corner neighboring 
Pakistan on the eve of the 26/11 anniversary deserves 
congratulation.  It is now being felt that after 
Singh's visit the relations between the two countries 
would be strengthened.  Obama's accepting the Prime 
Minister's invitation to visit India in 2010 has also 
sent new signals in the international arena.  This is 
the success of India." 
 
¶7. "WHAT'S INDISPENSABLE?" article in English daily, 
THE INDIAN EXPRESS: To be fixated on comparisons with 
US-China ties is to miss the point. The emphasis is on 
economic, technological and R&D cooperation and joint 
efforts to bring about a knowledge century are perhaps 
the most meaningful results of this summit. That does 
not have the sex appeal of the Indo-US nuclear deal, 
but this is a solid foundation for the Indo-US 
cooperative effort. 
 
¶8. "MANMOHAN4S SINGH'S STRAIGHT TALK," editorial in 
Hindi daily, AMAR UJALA: "PM Singh's U.S. visit is 
significant in many ways. This visit strategically 
opens many such doors. While India has misgivings about 
President Obama's joint communiqu in Beijing, U.S.- 
India relations are truly at a warm people-to-people 
level. Above all, it was remarkable how PM Singh minced 
no words in protesting American protection to China and 
Pakistan. That is no mean achievement!" 
 
----------------- 
THE ASIAN BALANCE 
----------------- 
 
¶9. "SINGH, OMABA AND THE ASIAN BALANCE," op-ed by C. 
Raja Mohan in English daily, THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS: 
"Singh's gains in Washington are certainly reversible 
given the fact that US stakes are real and high in both 
Beijing and Islamabad. Having moved the US towards a 
more helpful position in relation to India's challenges 
vis-a-vis China and Pakistan, Singh must now fully 
leverage it by demonstrating diplomatic agility and 
 
NEW DELHI 00002397  003 OF 004 
 
 
strategic purposefulness in dealing with its two 
nuclear neighbours. The game has just begun." 
 
¶10.  "TAKE AWAY FROM WASHINGTON," op-ed by K. 
Subrahmanyam in centrist English daily, THE TIMES OF 
INDIA: "President Obama appreciated India's role in 
reconstruction and rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan. 
The two leaders agreed to enhance their respective 
efforts in this direction. With this statement 
President Obama has made it clear he did not endorse 
the apprehensions expressed by the Pakistanis and 
accepted by some Americans including General McChrystal 
that Indian development activities in Afghanistan were 
a cause for concern for Pakistan." 
 
¶11. "FLOODS OF PRAISE:  WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF PM'S 
VISIT TO THE U.S.?" editorial in independent Kannada 
daily, VIJAYA KARNATAKA:  "The only significant gain of 
Prime Minister Singh's visit to the U.S. is that the 
grand welcome reception.  America did not extend 
categorical support to India's stand in important 
matters. While praising Prime Minister Singh on one 
side, President Obama, on the other side, had laid his 
hands on the shoulders of China and Pakistan." 
 
¶12. "WISDOM DAWNS ON OBAMA," editorial in centrist 
Marathi daily, NAVSHAKTI: "The popular impressions of 
U.S. appeasement of China, created after U.S. President 
Obama's China visit, were somewhat mellowed down after 
the one and a half hour meeting between the president 
and the Indian Prime Minister Singh. Both the leaders 
have spoken in one voice against terrorism of all 
kinds. The next logical step in the U.S.-India 
bilateral relationship is the actual action plan to 
deactivate the terrorist bases operating from Pakistani 
soil." 
 
¶13. "APKA SWAGAT HAI, SAYS OBAMA," editorial in 
November 27 centrist Marathi daily, PRAHAR: "It is 
quite clear that Obama values India as a crucial ally 
in South Asia. After his China visit, political 
observers had made conclusions about his obvious tilt 
towards China. But the openness with which Singh spoke 
about China and Pakistan shows Obama is aware of 
India's role in the geo-politics of the region." 
 
----------------- 
LACKING SUBSTANCE 
----------------- 
 
¶14. "LAST MILE IN THE NUCLEAR DEAL," editorial in left- 
of-center English daily, THE HINDU : "There can be 
little question that the failure to reach agreement on 
the arrangements and procedures for reprocessing spent 
American fuel on Indian soil during Prime Minister 
Manmohan Singh's visit to the United States is a let- 
down. The fact that the two sides were looking at the 
agreement as a major deliverable from the visit 
suggests the bilateral relationship is living on past 
credit rather than current commitments. India must act 
on the realization that there is no reason for it to 
 
NEW DELHI 00002397  004 OF 004 
 
 
lose sleep over the delay in settling the reprocessing 
issue." 
 
¶15. "A DEAL GONE SOUR," article by Bramha Chellaney in 
English daily, DNA: "The ritzy state dinner US 
president Barack Obama hosted in honour of Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh at the White House could not 
obscure the fact that Singh's visit yielded little in 
substance." 
 
¶16. "NO SUBSTANCE," editorial in left-of-center Kannada 
daily, PRAJAVANI:  "The meeting between Prime Minister 
Singh and US President Obama has not achieved anything 
significant.  President Obama has given several 
assurances with regard to many issues including civil 
nuclear deal, climate change, but none of them are 
concrete.  US President Obama did not yield to India's 
request to put more pressure on Pakistan with regard to 
26/11 terror strikes and he did not make any 
categorical statement in that regard." 
 
¶18. "FROM AMERICA WITH A SMILE," article in English 
daily, THE PIONEER: "Irrespective of what Prime 
Minister Manmohan Singh's spin doctors in South Block 
say, it is as plain as daylight that the Obama 
Administration is not taking India seriously." 
ZEYA