US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI6594

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 006594 
 
SIPDIS 
 
KATHMANDU PASS RICHELSOPH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KDEM, IN, NP, CH, KS, India-Nepal 
SUBJECT: MEA STICKS WITH TWIN PILLARS, SKEPTICAL ON UN 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 6411 
 
Classified By: A/DCM Geoff Pyatt for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (C) A skeptical MEA Joint Secretary (North) Ranjit Rae 
told A/DCM on August 26 that the GOI will receive UN envoy 
Lakhdar Brahimi in New Delhi on August 30, but was puzzled by 
what the UN might expect to accomplish in Nepal.  In contrast 
to reports in Kathmandu and among non-governmental Indian 
Nepal experts (septel) of a growing embrace of republicanism, 
Rae said the GOI has no plans for now to abandon its "twin 
pillars" policy.  The Palace has not made any request as of 
yet for a meeting between the King and PM Manmohan Singh on 
the margins of the UNGA summit, he reported.  He added that 
Brahimi has not mentioned to India the idea of a four party 
(India, US, UK, UN) meeting on Nepal in New York. 
 
2.  (C) Notwithstanding the RNA debacle at Kalikot, Rae 
remarked that New Delhi still sees a Maoist victory as 
impossible given the guerrillas' rudimentary arms and lack of 
broad support, and observed that any arms provided to the RNA 
at this point would only postpone the eventual political 
settlement that must end the conflict.  Nevertheless, the GOI 
is disturbed by continued reports of Chinese and Pakistani 
arms deals with the RNA, and hopes the US will object to the 
transactions (reftel).  Rae said that his China division 
counterpart was meeting August 26 with the PRC Ambassador to 
reiterate Indian unease.  For now the GOI believes the PRC is 
disinclined to adventurism in Nepal and shares India's 
concern about a deteriorating political situation.  MEA also 
plans to protest to the South Korean Ambassador after 
receiving an overflight request for a shipment of 
rocket-propelled grenades from South Korea to Nepal. 
 
3.  (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website: 
(http//www.state.sgov/p/sa/newdelhi) 
MULFORD