US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI1921

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 001921 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PARM, MASS, PK, IN, External Political Relations 
SUBJECT: US ARMS SUPPLIES TO PAKISTAN BACK IN THE PUBLIC 
SPOTLIGHT 
 
REF: A. NEW DELHI 364 
 
     B. 04 NEW DELHI 7774 
     C. 04 NEW DELHI 7571 
 
Classified By: DCM Robert O. Blake, Jr. for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: With Secstate Rice due to arrive in India 
March 15, and with political memories still fresh from the 
announcement of major non-NATO Ally status for Pakistan last 
March, the issue of F-16 sales to Pakistan is rising.  Indian 
concern regarding the F-16 issue is reflected in a series of 
GOI statements, including that of Minister of State for 
External Affairs E. Ahamed, who stated in Parliament on March 
9, that while the Indo-Pak dialogue process was moving 
forward, the US transfer of arms to Pakistan would impact on 
Indian goodwill for the US.  During the January visit of 
Codel Leach, Indian MPs expressed similar concerns, 
describing US arms sales to Pakistan as an "irritant," in the 
US/India relationship (Ref A).  There is bipartisan consensus 
on this issue, as the BJP and Congress have voiced similar 
objections (Refs B and C).  End Summary 
 
2.  (U) On March 9 Minister Ahamed responded to a 
parliamentary question about India/Pakistan Confidence 
Building Measures (CBMs), raised by two Congress party MPs. 
He noted that the India/Pakistan dialogue process "was taken 
significantly forward8 by FonMin Natwar Singh,s February 
15-17 visit to Islamabad.  An MP and Embassy contact who 
lived for many years in New York, then asked whether India 
has conveyed &serious concerns to the US regarding its 
alleged arms sales to Pakistan8 at a time when the Indo-Pak 
dialogue has reached &a sensitive stage.8  Minister Ahamed 
replied that the GOI had expressed &India,s strong 
concern8 regarding the &repercussions of arms sales to 
Pakistan, including on the ongoing India-Pakistan dialogue, 
at high levels to the US government,8 and that "such 
transfers will impact on the goodwill for the US in India.8 
 
3.  (C) MEA Join Secretary S. Jaishankar also raised the 
F-16's issue in a March 11 meeting with the DCM, noting a 
"surge of rumors" regarding a possible US decision. 
Jaishankar remarked that an F-16 announcement would be a 
"huge deal," in which the government would lose the 
initiative.  "We will all get caught up in a process beyond 
our control," he averred.  DCM responded that decision-makers 
in Washington are well aware of Indian concerns. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
4.  (C) There is universal opposition in India to the supply 
of sophisticated arms to Pakistan, with the F-16 aircraft 
symbolizing a US commitment to upgrading the Pakistani armed 
forces.  The Secstate visit has raised new fears among the 
GOI that it could again be blindsided by an announcement in 
Islamabad, this time concerning new weapons supplies.  With 
Parliament now engaged, the issue is certain to be raised in 
the Secretary's New Delhi media interactions. 
MULFORD