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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 NEW DELHI 000243 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA AND S/SRMC KATE BERGLUND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL IN
SUBJECT: SECENSETTER FOR SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO MUSLIM 
COMMUNITIES FARAH PANDITH'S VISIT TO INDIA 
 
¶1. (U) Mission India warmly welcomes you on your first visit to 
India as Special Representative to Muslim Communities.  You will 
find an Indian government that is more committed than ever to 
building a durable and wide ranging USG-GOI relationship after Prime 
Minister Singh's Washington visit in November.  The U.S.-India 
Strategic Dialogue launched by the Secretary in July 2009 has 
succeeded in focusing both governments on fulfilling President 
Obama's aspiration to make the U.S.-India relationship one of the 
"defining partnerships of the 21st century."  Also key to your 
objective, the U.S.-India people-to-people ties continue to 
strengthen across every field of human endeavor.  Muslim engagement 
in India provides a unique opportunity given the size of the 
country's Muslim population and the powerful influence of Sufism on 
Indian Islam.  There is a tremendous reserve of good will among 
Muslim leaders for President Obama.  We hope to seize the 
opportunity of your first visit to the region to begin building 
social, cultural, and economic networks that will benefit current 
and future generations of Indian Muslims.  End Summary. 
 
Strategic Dialogue: Broader and Deeper Than Ever Before 
----- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Secretary Clinton launched the current phase of the rapid 
expansion in the U.S.-India relationship during her visit in July, 
when she and Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna announced a 
new Strategic Dialogue, structured around five pillars and 18 
sub-dialogues.  During Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's historic 
first official state visit of the Obama Administration in November, 
our governments announced major outcomes representing each of the 
five pillars of the Dialogue.  Highlights include a Counterterrorism 
Cooperation Initiative; a Green Partnership to strengthen 
U.S.-Indian cooperation on clean energy, climate change, and food 
security; the Indo-U.S. Clean Energy Research and Deployment 
Initiative; the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative; a 
meeting of the CEO Forum; and an MOI for the establishment of a 
Global Disease Detection Center.  We look forward to building on 
these solid foundations for the first official Strategic Dialogue 
meeting in Washington this spring and a visit to India by President 
Obama sometime in 2010. 
 
Internal Politics: a Raucous Democracy 
----- 
 
¶3. (SBU) We have a true partner in the current Indian government led 
by Prime Minister Singh, but its capabilities are not without 
limits.  The strong performance by the Congress Party and its United 
Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies in India's national elections in 
2009 gave the Prime Minister Singh's coalition a mandate to govern 
and -- freed from dependence on half-hearted allies on the Left -- 
to promote a closer relationship with the United States.   Despite 
the strong endorsement by the electorate and a floundering 
opposition, the UPA government has gotten off the blocks somewhat 
slowly.  The government grew less confident after its honeymoon 
period was cut short by the fallout over a joint statement from 
Singh's July 2009 Sharm-el-Sheikh meeting with Pakistani Prime 
Minister Gilani.  The Sharm debacle rallied Singh's otherwise 
disjointed political opponents, while reminding the Prime Minister 
of his constraints despite his mandate. The tentativeness of the 
government was again on display during the winter session of 
Parliament, during which an unruly opposition united over populist 
causes and sidelined civil nuclear liability legislation and 
long-awaited financial sector liberalization.   The government is 
again on the defensive over demands for the creation of a separate 
state of Telangana from Andhra Pradesh.  On February 3 it bowed to 
political pressure and announced the formation of a five-person 
Committee to evaluate the issue. 
 
Economic Ties 
----- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The U.S.-India economic relationship is dynamic and 
 
NEW DELHI 00000243  002 OF 004 
 
 
expanding, with the United States serving as India's largest trading 
partner in goods and services and one of its largest foreign 
investors.  While U.S. exports to India have increased five-fold 
from USD 3.6 billion in 2000 to USD 17.7 billion last year, India is 
still only the 17th largest trading partner for the United States, 
showing tremendous potential for further growth.  India is taking on 
increasingly important roles in multilateral economic forums, from 
the WTO Doha Round negotiations and the G-20, to the World Bank, IMF 
and the UNFCCC negotiations in Copenhagen. 
 
¶5. (U) India was somewhat shielded from the global economic downturn 
due to its conservative central bank and SEC-equivalent restricting 
many of the derivative innovations linked to the global financial 
crisis, and its relatively low reliance on exports.  However, while 
India's "Wall Street" was less affected, its "Main Street" bore the 
brunt of the downturn, with slower growth, tighter access to credit, 
declining exports, and higher unemployment.  That said, the Indian 
economy continues to be one of the fastest growing economies in the 
world, even as the global slowdown and financial crunch moderated 
GDP growth from nine percent in FY 2007-08 to 6.7 percent in FY 
2008-09.  Lagging agricultural productivity and poor -- but 
improving -- infrastructure continue to constrain growth. 
Accordingly, top Indian economic priorities remain physical and 
human infrastructure development and spreading economic benefits 
into rural India. 
 
Islam in India: Figures and Foundations 
----- 
 
¶6. (U) According to the 2001 Census, over 138 million Muslims live 
in India, making it the second or third most populous Muslim country 
(Note - various estimates have Pakistan and India tied for second 
place.  End Note).  Most contacts believe this figure is under 
representative and predict the actual number is substantially 
higher, closer to 160 to 180 million Muslims.  Despite their 
impressive numbers, Muslims are a minority in India representing 
only 13.4 percent of the total population.  States with the highest 
Muslim population include: Jammu and Kashmir (67 percent), Assam 
(30.9 percent), Kerala (24.7 percent), West Bengal (25.2 percent) 
and Uttar Pradesh (18.5 percent).  Uttar Pradesh (UP) has the most 
Muslims with a population of 30 million.  The status of Muslims 
across India generally mirrors the overall population, where 
development has been strongest in southern and western India. 
Accordingly, Muslims in UP and West Bengal lag behind their 
counterparts in Kerala and Hyderabad. 
 
¶7. (SBU) More than demographics, the key to understanding the 
subcontinent's Muslim population is appreciating the profound impact 
that Sufism has had on the nature and spread of Islam in India.  The 
Sufi message of love and harmony promoted by Sufi saints and through 
its various orders, particularly the Chishti order, has profoundly 
shaped the experience of Islam in the subcontinent.  Noted Islamic 
scholar Imam Mohammad Mian Mazhari noted that the Sufi "unorthodox 
approach," which accepted the local customs of South Asia, including 
Hindu influences, facilitated its spread in India. When Sufi Muslims 
came to India as far back as the 12th Century, they embedded older 
South Asian traditions within a syncretic Islamic tradition.  Muslim 
contacts emphasize that Sufi Islam is "mainstream" Islam for both 
Sunnis and Shias in India. 
 
Sunni Muslims: Barelvi vs. Deobandi 
----- 
 
¶8. (SBU) Over 85 percent of Indian Muslims are Sunni.  Most contacts 
emphasize that because Muslims are a minority in India, they have 
traditionally avoided public disputes between Shias and Sunnis, 
although communal violence has periodically flared up in UP. 
Commentator Sultan Shahin told Poloff that Indian Muslims "expend 
their fighting instinct" on political battles against the Indian 
government or proponents of Hindutva (political Hinduism).  However, 
Shahin and others explained that tension exists between two Sunni 
 
NEW DELHI 00000243  003 OF 004 
 
 
movements -- Barelvi and Deobandi -- rooted in differences in 
ideology, wealth, education, and views on reform. 
 
¶9. (SBU) The Barelvi school, which proudly promotes the Sufi ideal 
of pluralism, has a following of over 75 percent of Sunni Muslims in 
India.  Many Barelvis converted to Islam from Hinduism and Sufi 
influence allowed them to retain elements of their prior faith and 
culture.  Unfortunately, they tend to lag behind economically and 
educationally.  Imam Mazhari blamed the Barelvis' current lot on the 
Partition -- before Indian independence, Barelvis sided with the 
Muslim League that supported the creation of Pakistan.  The 
Interfaith Harmony Foundation's (IHF) Khwaja Iftikhar Ahmed agreed, 
adding that the move was in reaction to the Congress Party's 
alliance with the Deobandis.  Barelvi contacts lamented that 
Partition heartburn has left them "politically orphaned."  To this 
day, Barelvis resent the perceived Deobandi influence over the 
Congress Party and its allies, and the very public support the 
Congress Party has thrown behind their rivals, including the 
appearance of the Home Minister and National Security Advisor at 
Deoband rallies over the past year.  This chip weighs heavily on the 
Barelvis' shoulders, despite the fact that all 29 Muslim MPs and 
five Muslim cabinet members are Barelvi. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Deobandis, who make up approximately 20 percent of India's 
Sunni population, follow a more puritanical version of Islam, 
shunning many Sufi traditions.  Deobandis mainly reside in western 
UP and are the elite of Indian Sunnis.  The Deoband school, based in 
UP, has become a model of Islamic scholarship and graduates have 
founded Deoband institutions throughout South Asia and beyond. 
Compared to their Barelvi compatriots, Deobandis more closely 
resemble Wahhabis in their austere interpretation of Islam and more 
conservative stance on social issues, including the role of women. 
Deobandis have tried to distance themselves from Wahhabism because 
of the stigma associated with conservative Arab Muslims.  Imam 
Mazhari estimated that less than five percent of Indian Muslims are 
"true Wahhabis," but he fears the numbers are growing. 
 
Shia Muslims - Searching for a New Identity 
----- 
 
¶11. (U) The Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 16-24 
million Shia Muslims live in India, making it the country with the 
third largest Shia population after Iran and Pakistan (Note - again, 
estimates put India and Pakistan on par with each other.  End Note). 
 Shias compose approximately ten percent of India's total Muslim 
population.  According to commentator Zafar Agha, there are three 
main divisions of Shias in India: Asna-e-Ashari, the group to which 
the majority of Shias belong, residing in north India and Hyderabad; 
Dawoodi Bohras originally from Gujarat but now living in 
Maharashtra; and Khojas, former traders who also migrated from 
Gujarat to Maharashtra. 
 
¶12. (SBU) Historically, Shias enjoyed the status of India's 
landlords.  Unfortunately, this linked their fate to the decline of 
the landed property system after independence and Shias lost their 
political and economic clout.  Agha admits that compared to Sunnis, 
Shias failed to adapt to the new democratic India, where numbers 
(i.e. votes) matter and Shias fall short.  They have struggled 
economically because employment had been viewed as beneath the Shia 
landholders.  Contacts observe that Shia youth, especially women, 
are changing the mind set in the community and exploring career 
opportunities in both high tech and traditional fields. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Shias are searching for a new political identity as well. 
According to Agha, Indian Shias tend to be more liberal and 
cosmopolitan and feel a kinship with higher caste Hindus. 
Historically, they have supported the Congress Party.  Given the 
patrilineage of their imams, Shias easily relate to the dynastic 
politics of the Congress Party, including Congress heir Rahul Gandhi 
of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.  In certain elections Shias have thrown 
their support behind other parties, including the BJP, in 
 
NEW DELHI 00000243  004 OF 004 
 
 
retaliation for Congress' cozy relationship with Deoband.  Both Agha 
and Imam Mazhari noted that Shia and Barelvi leaders have discussed 
forming a political alliance to counter Deoband and the increasing 
influence of Wahhabism.  The alliance would balance each group's 
strength: Barelvis have the numbers and Shias have a higher level of 
education and more contact with the Indian elite. 
 
We Welcome You 
----- 
 
¶14. (U) Again, we very much welcome you to India.   Your visit to 
New Delhi will allow you to meet with key officials and politicians, 
young innovators, and Muslim business, cultural, and religious 
leaders.  Your meetings in Mumbai will further explore these contact 
groups, as well as plug into India's rich culture of social activism 
and Bollywood.  We look forward to laying a strong foundation for 
future visits to India. 
 
ROEMER