US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI4632

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 004632 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/17/2015 
TAGS: ENRG, ETTC, PARM, PGOV, IN, NSSP 
SUBJECT: GOI ON NSSP REMAINING STEPS: U.S. MOVING THE 
NON-PROLIFERATION GOALPOSTS 
 
REF: STATE 112244 
 
Classified By: DCM Bob Blake, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: In response to DCM's delivery of reftel 
demarche on June 17, MEA Additional Secretary (International 
Security) Meera Shankar expressed concern that the USG was 
"moving the goalposts" on non-proliferation negotiations and 
that it would be difficult to achieve harmonization beyond 
the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) requirements.  She 
noted that although the GOI was not happy with India's gains 
from the NSSP, they had adhered to their commitments but now 
saw the USG request for harmonization with the Australia 
Group (AG) and Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) as a new change in 
the requirements.  She worried that it would be difficult to 
achieve harmonization with an "ad hoc group" beyond the 
requirements of the CWC.  DCM responded that the US is not 
moving the goalposts because harmonization of GOI control 
lists with the AG and WA is not a condition for concluding 
NSSP, nor is it new since these two lists had been part of 
our discussions since D/NSA Hadley's September 2003 visit to 
New Delhi.  Shankar requested clarification on USG intentions 
and the final contours of cooperation, and said that she 
would respond to the non-paper at a later date.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C) After DCM delivered reftel points, Shankar responded 
that she had taken note of the remaining steps to complete 
NSSP phase two and three, but her "prima facie reaction" was 
that the USG request for AG and Wassenaar harmonization was 
"moving the goalposts with respect to nonproliferation." 
When the GOI completed one step, Washington kept "putting 
fresh ideas on the table."  She was "unclear about the 
intention" of these steps, and asked whether it was to 
"facilitate more cooperation" or something else. 
 
3.  (C) As a member of the CWC, Shankar cautioned the GOI 
position is to abide by this agreement, and an "ad hoc group" 
cannot take precedence over an international convention in 
which India is a decision making member.  She observed that 
the request to harmonize with the AG and Wassenaar was 
"totally new" and that it would not be easy to go beyond that 
Convention.  She requested more information on the "final 
contours of the cooperation." 
 
4.  (C) Emphasizing that AG and Wassenaar harmonization were 
not conditions for completing the NSSP, DCM told Shankar that 
they would be helpful steps to facilitate further Indo-US 
cooperation in such areas as space.  Stressing that the US 
was not moving the goalposts, DCM explained that as India 
crosses an important milestone of completing the NSSP, 
Washington is looking forward to new possibilities for 
cooperation in a broad range of space, energy and defense 
areas.  The DCM also reminded Shankar that the US had been 
discussing the desirability of the GOI harmonizing its 
control lists with those of the NSG, MTCR, AG and Wassenaar 
since then-D/NSA Hadley's September 2003 visit to Delhi. 
Shankar reiterated that she had taken note of the points and 
could not comment immediately on further harmonization but 
would respond later to the non-paper. 
MULFORD