US embassy cable - 04NEWDELHI7674

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 007674 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PHUM, PREF, IN, CH, Indian Domestic Politics, UN 
SUBJECT: GOI UNAPOLOGETIC ON DARFUR NO ACTION VOTE, 
WELCOMES CLOSER CONSULTATIONS ON "PROBLEM CHILDREN" 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoffrey Pyatt, Reasons 1.4 (B,D). 
 
1.  (C) SA/INS Director Blake and Polcouns used a December 2 
meeting with MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S. Jaishankar to 
convey our disappointment at the recent GOI vote at the UN in 
favor of "no action" on the resolution concerning the plight 
of refugees in Darfur. Polcouns also urged further efforts to 
synchronize our approaches to multilateral human rights 
issues. 
 
2.  (C) Jaishankar was unapologetic about the vote, but 
agreed that more intensive consultations between New Delhi 
and Washington on such issues would be beneficial, suggesting 
that this dialogue be included in the next meeting of the 
U.S.-India Global Issues Forum in early 2005.  Jaishankar 
then warned that on some issues, such as Burma, Sudan and 
Iran, diverging strategic interests would lead New Delhi to 
dissent from Washington's approach.  He commented that 
"sometimes principles must be tempered when larger issues are 
at stake," referring to the large capital investment the 
Indian Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh (OVL) has in 
Sudan and India's fast rising demand for energy. 
 
3.  (C) Jaishankar described Burma, Sudan and Iran as the 
"three problem children" in our relationship, and agreed that 
the GOI and USG should clearly communicate their respective 
interests and policies concerning these countries.  For 
instance, he noted that New Delhi has a clear idea of U.S. 
"redlines" in these countries, but the same might not be true 
of Washington.  He added, that if the U.S. knew the stakes 
the GOI has in Sudan the U.S. might better understand India's 
approach.  Although the U.S. and India often have different 
objectives when conducting bilateral relations with these 
three countries, both would benefit by sharing views and 
ideas.  Jaishankar and Blake agreed that it would be a good 
idea to have DAS/Joint Secretary level trips to each capital 
to discuss these issues. 
 
4.  (C) Reflecting on our increasingly substantive regional 
dialogue, he noted that sometimes regional bureaus in both 
bureaucracies appear reluctant to add a bilateral U.S.-India 
dimension to discussions that could complicate Indian or U.S. 
diplomacy.  He cited the example of the U.S. presentation on 
China at the recent Foreign Office Consultations, which the 
GOI found unrealistically sanguine about the 
Washington/Beijing relationship and Chinese intentions. 
 
5.  (U) SA/INS Office Director Blake has cleared this cable. 
MULFORD