US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI5868

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 005868 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPKO, IN, CG, SU, UNSC 
SUBJECT: INDIAN PEACEKEEPERS: SUDAN READY TO GO, MAYBE MORE 
FOR CONGO? 
 
Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, for reasons 1.4(B,D) 
 
1.  (C) Summary: Indian media reported on July 27 that a 
second Indian infantry brigade had been told to prepare to 
deploy to the UN peacekeeping operation (PKO) in the 
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  While MEA Under 
Secretary (UN Political) K Nandini told us that the MEA was 
 
SIPDIS 
unaware of any plans to add to the brigade already serving in 
the DRC, Indian Army contacts seemed to confirm to DATT the 
additional deployment.  The GOI is also ready to send a 
brigade to southern Sudan under UN auspices, but has delayed 
the deployment due to rains in Sudan and the lack of 
infrastructure on the ground, especially for quarters and 
basing.  MEA expects to receive notice from UN headquarters 
regarding the timing of the deployment and the finalization 
of a status of forces agreement to govern the PKO.  End 
Summary. 
 
Confusion in MEA about Troops for Congo 
-------------------------------------- 
 
2.  (SBU) The "Times of India" reported on July 27 that the 
GOI instructed the Army to prepare a second infantry brigade 
to join the 3,000 Indian soldiers serving in the UN PKO in 
the DRC.  The total strength of 6,000 personnel would be 
India's largest ever UN PKO participation.  MEA Under 
Secretary Nandini told Poloff on July 27 that MEA is unaware 
 
SIPDIS 
of any plans to add to the DRC mission, adding that India has 
not received any notification that the mandate for the UN PKO 
had been increased.  However, MEA does expect the UN Security 
Council to mandate additional troops before elections, which 
had been delayed from October to sometime before the end of 
2005. 
 
3.  (C) Although MEA was unaware of plans to send more 
troops, Maj Gen Sekhon (protect), the Deputy Director General 
of Military Training, when asked by DATT about an additional 
"battalion," clarified that it was in fact a brigade, and 
seemed to acknowledge the DRC deployment. 
 
Waiting for the Green Light to go to Sudan 
------------------------------------------ 
 
4.  (SBU) Nandini characterized the separate planned 
deployment of 3,500 troops to Sudan as slow.  The decision to 
negotiate a status of forces agreement between the UN and 
Sudan in theory solved earlier holdups over visas for the 
Indian soldiers, but the agreement is not yet done, Nandini 
said, adding that logistical difficulties now hamper the 
deployment.  The monsoons in southern Sudan preclude moving 
the necessary equipment, and there is no infrastructure for 
basing the forces in the area.  Nandini mentioned that the UN 
Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping had stated that 
deployment would be complete by October, but concluded, "we 
are still waiting for someone to tell us to deploy." 
 
Comment: Highlighting the PKO Contribution 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5.  (SBU) It is unsurprising that plans for additional PKO 
deployments have hit the newspapers quickly.  The GOI 
continues to trumpet its participation in UN PKOs both in 
public and in interactions with Emboffs.  Clearly, India sees 
its historically strong contributions as one of its prime 
qualifications for a permanent seat on the UN Security 
Council. 
 
6. (U) Minimize considered. 
BLAKE