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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 000212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2020 
TAGS: MASS KOMC PREL PTER SENV BG CE PK IN
SUBJECT: HFAC STAFFERS MEET WITH INDIAN MEA OFFICIALS 
 
Classified By: POLCOUNS Uzra Zeya for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
¶1. (SBU) On January 12, House Foreign Affairs Committee 
staffers Jasmeet Ahuja and Greg McCarthy met with Indian 
Ministry of External Affairs officials to discuss U.S.-Indian 
defense relations, civil nuclear cooperation, and the role of 
water issues in India's bilateral relations . 
 
Indo-American Defense Relationship at a Crossroads 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Americas Division Director Vani Rao kicked off the 
meeting by describing the India-U.S. defense relationship as 
"satisfactory," but one that was at a crossroads.  Rao 
questioned how to move the relationship forward, focusing on 
export control issues.  (Note: Rao's comments on export 
controls echoed similar messages in virtually every recent 
interaction with more senior Indian officials, including 
Minister Antony's meeting with Secretary Gates and Ambassador 
Roemer's first meeting with NSA Menon.  End Note)  Rao shared 
that the U.S. is regarded as a "much more difficult partner" 
than India's "traditional" defense partners: Israel, France, 
and Russia.  In response to Ahuja's query about Indian 
reluctance on signing defense foundational agreements, Rao 
replied that Indian needs more clarity from the U.S. on the 
tangible benefits for India. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The two also discussed U.S. aircraft sales to India, 
and Ahuja expressed concern over what the Indian military 
services had described, according to Ahuja, as delays caused 
by MEA interference.  Rao did not acknowledge this as the 
cause for delays and instead pointed to frustration on behalf 
of the services with the "lack of transparency in the 
acquisition process and multiple issues that arose after 
agreements had been signed."  In closing, Rao emphasized that 
the defense relationship would benefit from a revisiting of 
export control regimes. 
 
Indo-Pak: "Water is Not an Issue" 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran (PAI) Division Director 
Gopal Bagley was enthusiastic about discussing Indo-Pakistani 
water issues despite repeating several times that water was 
not an issue of concern between India and Pakistan. 
Regardless of India's entitlements in the 1960 Indus Waters 
Treaty -- for example, the building of water storage 
facilities along the border -- India had yet to take 
advantage of any "rights", according to Bagley, mostly 
because Pakistan has purposely delayed the implementation of 
any projects.  Despite this complaint, Bagley remained intent 
on downplaying any concerns over water resource issues 
between India and Paksitan. 
 
¶5. (SBU) A short discussion over Indo-Pak dialogue since the 
2008 Mumbai attacks followed, during which Bagley assured the 
staffers that India was not placing any restrictions on talks 
with Pakistan.  Ahuja praised India's restraint after the 
Mumbai attacks, and the two discussed mutual concerns over 
the possibility and repercussions of another 26/11-like 
attack. 
 
¶6. (SBU) McCarthy asked Bagley "why is it not in India's 
interest to have a settlement" with Pakistan on Kashmir, to 
which Bagley replied that this was not the case, saying "of 
course it is in our interest to have a settlement."  He 
reiterated standing Indian policy that Pakistan needs to 
vacate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.  Making an analogy to the 
India-Pakistan conflict, McCarthy asked if India would ever 
withdraw from Kashmir as the Israelis withdrew from the Gaza 
strip.  Bagley retorted with a categorical "no", dismissing 
the comparison and assuring McCarthy that India would not 
withdraw from Kashmir. 
 
Sri Lanka & Bangladesh 
---------------------- 
 
 
NEW DELHI 00000212  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) Ahuja conveyed unease over India's "reticence" to 
condemn the Sri Lankan government's treatment of the Tamils, 
but Bangladesh - Sri Lanka - Maldives (BSM) Division Director 
Suresh Reddy assured Ahuja that the GOI was taking this issue 
up with Colombo.  The two shared concerns over China's 
growing influence in Sri Lanka, with Reddy adding that 
increased Chinese influence in Bangladesh was also a concern 
for the GOI.  Such concerns were mitigated, according to 
Reddy, because China's interest in both of these states was 
economic.  The two briefly discussed India's relief efforts 
in Sri Lanka. 
 
Civil Nuclear Cooperation 
------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Ahuja raised ongoing reprocessing consultations in a 
brief meeting with Disarmament and International Security 
Affairs (DISA) Division Director Amandeep Singh Gill and 
asked why the Indians sought more than one reprocessing 
facility, when the 123 Agreement only referred to "a 
facility."  Gill replied that this issue had been "discussed 
at length and an understanding had been reached," though 
others remained.  On Part 810 assurances, Gill said it 
appeared to some in the Indian government that the U.S. was 
seeking new assurances beyond the scope of the 123 Agreement, 
but he assured Ahuja that the Indian government was 
nevertheless working with the USG to provide the necessary 
assurances.  Gill said it was difficult to know when 
Parliament would take up civil nuclear liability legislation, 
but he hoped it would be in the next session.  He said the 
U.S. should look at India as a partner, adding that he looked 
forward to the Civil Nuclear Energy Working Group (CNEWG) 
meeting in February in Mumbai. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Staffdel Ahuja cleared this message. 
ROEMER