US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI5117

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005117 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/04/2015 
TAGS: PREL, EAID, AF, IN, PK, UNSC, India-Afghanistan 
SUBJECT: AFGHAN FM ABDULLAH DISCUSSES TALIBAN VIOLENCE, 
US-AFGHAN PARTNERSHIP WITH GOI 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 3746 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt. Reasons 1.4(b,d) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah's July 3-5 
visit to New Delhi was uneventful, but gave the GOI a chance 
to display its continued commitment to Afghan reconstruction 
and its determination to play a role in Central Asia through 
its relationships in Afghanistan.  According to the Afghan 
Embassy, India's Foreign Minister commented favorably on the 
US-Afghanistan strategic partnership, but expressed concern 
over the risk to Indian business and aid efforts from 
continued Taliban violence in Afghanistan.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (U) Abdullah's July 3-5 visit included calls on FM Natwar 
Singh and PM Manmohan Singh.  Media reports of both meetings 
focused on Abdullah's accusations that "outside supporters" 
were assisting Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan, but also 
highlighted India's contributions to Afghan reconstruction, 
noting that approximately half of India's USD 500 million 
pledge of assistance has been disbursed.  The MEA's public 
statement on the visit emphasized India's continued 
commitment to Afghan development, and thanked Afghanistan for 
the "constructive role" it plays in the Organization of the 
Islamic Conference (which India has not been able to join) 
and its decision to co-sponsor the G-4 framework resolution 
on UN Security Council expansion. 
 
3.  (C) MEA Director (Afghanistan) Namgyal told Poloff on 
July 5 that Abdullah's visit was "not very intense," noting 
that Abdullah discussed Indian involvement in reconstruction 
efforts as well as Afghanistan's security concerns.  Abdullah 
was "very worried" about the increased Taliban activity in 
Afghanistan, but asserted that the attacks would not be able 
to derail the reconstruction and democratic progress 
Afghanistan was making, Namgyal reported.  In contrast to 
media reports focusing on Abdullah's complaints about 
Pakistani supporters of the Taliban, Namgyal highlighted 
Abdullah's conciliatory July 4 public statements, made after 
his meetings with GOI officials, in which the Afghan FM 
commended Pakistan's efforts to crack down on extremists 
operating in its territory. 
 
4.  (C)  Afghan Embassy Political-Economic Counselor Abdul 
Shoogufan echoed Namgyal's positive assessment of the 
meetings in a July 5 discussion with Poloff.  While Abdullah 
did outline his concerns about Pakistani support for Taliban 
remnants to his GOI interlocutors, he also sought to assure 
the GOI that incidents of violence were few and far-between, 
and should not be an impediment to Indian reconstruction 
projects and business activities in Afghanistan, Shoogufan 
said.  FM Natwar Singh reiterated India's commitment to 
reconstruction in Afghanistan, and commented favorably on the 
US-Afghan strategic partnership, noting that a stable and 
secure Afghanistan is in India's interest, and India 
recognizes the need for the "international community" to 
remain engaged in Afghanistan to ensure that outcome 
(Reftel). 
 
5.  (C) The two Foreign Ministers discussed preparations for 
the PM's planned late August visit to Kabul, to include the 
signing of MOUs on Indian training and assistance for Afghan 
workers in medicine and education, Shoogufan said.  (Note: 
Media sources have reported that the PM's visit will take 
place in September to coincide with the inauguration of the 
Indian-constructed Afghan Parliament building.  End Note) 
They also reviewed their efforts to convince Pakistan to 
allow transit of Indian goods overland to Afghanistan, with 
Abdullah noting that this was an area for Afghanistan to 
continue working.  Shoogufan pointed out that persuading 
Pakistan would require a concerted effort by both Afghanistan 
and the US. 
 
Comment 
------- 
5.  (C) Although early press reports seized on Abdullah's 
references to "outside supporters" of the Taliban, his later 
statements commending Pakistan's efforts to clamp down on al 
Qaeda and Taliban elements pleased his GOI hosts, who have 
toned down their own condemnations of Pakistan in order to 
nurture the recent warming of Indo-Pak relations.  The 
upcoming visit of the PM to Kabul (the first in 30 years) 
will be a significant opportunity for India to showcase the 
reconstruction aid to Afghanistan of which it is very proud, 
and to reinforce its effort to position itself as a friend of 
Afghanistan and a growing player in Central Asia.  Also 
notable is the fact that India is continuing to press the 
issue of transit rights through Pakistan, which New Delhi 
sees as key to its long-term agenda in Central Asia. 
BLAKE