US embassy cable - 04NEWDELHI7571

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 007571 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/30/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PTER, MASS, IN, PK, INDO-PAK, Indian Domestic Politics 
SUBJECT: BJP ASSAILS CONGRESS OVER PAKISTAN F-16 SALES 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 7389 
 
Classified By: Charge Robert O. Blake, Jr., Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (U) In its recent national meeting in Ranchi, Jharkhand, 
the BJP National Executive for the first time attacked the 
United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government's foreign 
policy, assailing in particular the Congress' mismanagement 
of the Pakistan F-16's issue.  In its November 29 "Resolution 
on Some Current Issues in Foreign Policy," the BJP takes aim 
at India's relationship with Pakistan and criticizes both the 
UPA government and the USG.  The document describes the 
National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government's 1998 nuclear 
test as a "sterling achievement," as well as India's ability 
to meet "the challenge of economic sanctions," and establish 
"healthy and fruitful relations with "the USA, the EU, 
Russia, Japan, ASEAN and other countries." 
 
2.  (U) The Resolution lists the NDA's Pakistan policy as its 
greatest foreign policy achievement.  Citing the joint press 
conference by PM Vajpayee and President Musharraf in 
Islamabad on January 6, 2004 as a moment of "historic 
significance," the document claims that it served as the 
"basis of further dialogue between India and Pakistan."  It 
contrasts this achievement against what it describes as the 
UPA government's "inept handling" of India/Pakistan 
relations.  The BJP claims that the UPA has done nothing to 
stop Pakistani infiltration of terrorists into India, and 
that "the infrastructure of terrorism remains intact in 
Pakistan and PAK Occupied Kashmir," while the India/Pakistan 
dialogue has "become wholly Jammu and Kashmir-centric." 
 
3.  (U) The Resolution reminds the USG that it must "ensure 
that it does nothing to derail the delicate peace process 
between the two countries," and condemns the "decision of the 
US Government to supply sophisticated arms to Pakistan in the 
name of fighting terrorism."  Alleging that the US has agreed 
to supply F-16 aircraft to Pakistan, the BJP describes it as 
a matter "of greatest concern," that will "have the most 
adverse impact on the current India-Pakistan peace process." 
Noting that "when the Vajpayee government was in office we 
had effectively persuaded the US Government to desist from 
such moves," the resolution condemns the UPA for failing "to 
persuade the US Administration to desist from taking such a 
dangerous step."  The resolution hopes that the Bush 
Administration will "not jeopardize the peace process between 
India and Pakistan, and the bilateral relationship between 
India and the USA, by helping Pakistan augment its offensive 
capacity." 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
4.  (C) The resolution focuses primarily on the UPA and to a 
much lesser extent on the USG, largely to placate BJP 
extremists who have repeatedly called for the party to return 
to "Hindu nationalism."  The conflict between the Sangh 
Parivar (family of Hindu groups) and BJP moderates has grown 
increasingly virulent and is threatening to tear the party 
apart (Reftel).  The BJP leadership is reluctant to return to 
the Hindutva agenda, fearing that it would destroy the NDA 
coalition and pave the way for electoral disaster.  A 
nationalist attack on Pakistan, the UPA and the USG is a 
low-cost way for them to assuage the hurt feelings of their 
right wing. 
 
5.  (C) As our GOI contacts have warned, the F-16's issue is 
taking on the same kind of symbolic importance here that it 
has in Pakistan.  Regardless of the merits of the case, a US 
decision to provide Pakistan with F-16's will be used by the 
BJP to assail the Congress' management of India's foreign 
policy -- and in that regard will be a blow to those in the 
GOI who are trying to deepen our partnership. 
BLAKE