US embassy cable - 05DHAKA3903

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DHAKA 003903 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, BG 
SUBJECT: INDIAN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTER VISITS BANGLADESH 
 
Classified By: A/DCM D.C. McCullough, reason para 1.4 d. 
 
1. (C) Summary:  BDG and Indian High Commission contacts 
describe Indian Foreign Minister Singh's visit as a positive 
resumption of dialogue, though little if any progress was 
made on key issues.  The Bangladeshi focus is now on the 
upcoming visits of the Indian water resources and commerce 
ministers, and the SAARC summit in November.  End Summary. 
 
2, (SBU) Local media hailed the August 6-8 visit to Dhaka of 
Indian External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, the first by a 
minister of the UPA government, as a goodwill visit signaling 
a thaw in Indo-Bangladeshi relations.  Singh's meetings 
included Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Foreign Minister Morshed 
Khan, Finance Minister Saifur Rahman, opposition Awami League 
president Sheikh Hasina, and prominent constitutional 
lawyer/oppositionist Kamal Hossain. 
 
3. (SBU) Khan told the media that their "fruitful" talks 
covered trade, water sharing, border management, UN reform, 
cross- border terrorism, illegal migration, extradition 
agreements, and the Burma-Bangladesh-India gas pipeline.  He 
called for rapid implementation of the 1975 border 
guidelines, expressed concern over Indian's border fences, 
urged the removal of trade barriers for Bangladeshi goods, 
stressed the need for India to develop land ports to 
facilitate movement of Bangladeshi products, welcomed 
continued Indian investment, expressed concern over India's 
inter-river linking project, and repeated that no terrorist 
group operates from Bangladesh.  Singh emphasized GOI 
concerns over Bangladeshi illegal immigrants, pressed for an 
extradition treaty, stated support for a bilateral free trade 
agreement, agreed to exchange information about floods and 
weather, and solicited Bangladeshi support for a seat on the 
UN Security Council. 
 
4. (SBU) In addition, BDG and GOI officials expressed hope 
and plans for future discussions on increased bus service 
between India and Bangladesh, increased scholarships for 
Bangladeshis at Indian schools, increased visas for Indians 
to Bangladesh (Note: the Indians here issue over 1,000 NIVs 
each day), future discussions on the Burma-Bangladesh-Indian 
pipeline, Bangladesh's access to Nepal through India, and the 
import of power from Bhutan.  They also announced that Indian 
Water Minister Priyaranjan Das Munshi will come to Bangladesh 
later this month to discuss water issues. 
 
5. (SBU) On August 7, Singh addressed a seminar on 
"Indo-Bangladesh Dialogue on Trade, Investment, and 
Connectivity."   He emphasized the need for both India and 
Bangladesh to counter the common threats of terrorism and 
religious fundamentalism, and advocated increased bilateral 
trade as a way to boost prosperity and good neighborly 
relations.  Khan downplayed any bilateral differences, saying 
nothing is beyond resolution as long dialogue is open. 
 
6. (C) On August 4, looking ahead to the visit, PMO Foreign 
Affairs Advisor Reaz Rahman characterized Singh's visit to 
Charge as an effort to lift the two countries out of their 
"doldrums," which he attributed more to circumstance than the 
design of either side.  He affirmed the BDG's determination 
to move the relationship forward and address the GOI's five 
areas of concern: Indian militants allegedly using Bangladesh 
as a sanctuary, illegal migration, the alleged use of 
Bangladesh as a launching pad for militant attacks in 
northeastern India, communalism, and the BDG's alleged 
reluctance to promote bilateral trade.  He identified BDG 
issues as water, India's USD 1 billion trade balance with 
Bangladesh, negative Indian media reporting on Bangladesh, 
and transit rights to Nepal.  "Let's move ahead where we can, 
and talk about the rest," he said. 
 
7. (C) Asked about the status of ULFA leader Anup Chetia, who 
remains in detention in Dhaka despite the end of his sentence 
for various immigration offenses, Rahman said, "The only 
reason we keep Chetia is our sense of sovereignty and Indian 
bullying.  We never got any credit for sealing our border 
during the Indian operation against ULFA in Bhutan."  He 
expressed the hope that coordinated border security would 
lead to joint patrols and "a new spirit of trust."  He 
insisted that the last thing any BDG would want to do is to 
help a militant group dedicated to evicting Bengalis and 
other non-Assamese from Assam. 
 
8. (C) On August 9, Home Minister of State Babar told Charge 
the Singh visit went well but offered no details.  Addressing 
a think tank seminar later that day, Foreign Secretary 
Hemayetuddin cautiously welcomed Singh's visit as "a positive 
confidence building measure"  and went on to reiterate BDG 
concerns about various Indian actions and proposals, 
including a South Asia Free Trade Agreement. 
 
9. (C) Senior Indian High Commission officials were 
cautiously upbeat to us about the visit, but noted there had 
been no movement on issues of concern.  They complained that 
the BDG denies any knowledge of ULFA leaders in Bangladesh 
except for Chetia, although they have humint and "signals" 
indicating otherwise.  They confirmed that India is committed 
to attending the SAARC summit November 12-13, and that Natwar 
Singh would return to Dhaka for the preceding ministerials. 
 
10. (C) Comment: The BDG is trying to take the high road with 
India, at least publicly, and leave behind its bitterness 
over the postponement of the SAARC summit earlier this year 
and other perceived GOI slights.  Still, it is notable that 
BDG officials talk about the need for CBM's to build a new 
spirit of bilateral trust, a sign of just how bad they think 
the relationship sank.  Now, the Bangladeshi focus is on the 
August 29 visit of the Indian water resources minister, who 
will co-chair the first meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint 
Rivers Commission since 2003. 
CHAMMAS