This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T KATHMANDU 002366
SIPDIS
NOFORN
STATE FOR SA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2013
TAGS: PREL PTER NP IN
SUBJECT: NEPAL: AMBASSADOR RELAYS CONCERNS ABOUT
ACTIVITIES OF INDIAN INTELLIGENCE AGENTS
REF: A. REF: KATHMANDU 2282
B. KATHMANDU 2298
Classified By: AMB. MICHAEL E. MALINOWSKI. REASON: 1.5 (B,D).
1. (S/NF) On December 3 the Ambassador raised with Indian Ambassador Shyam Saran reports that intelligence agents
assigned to the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu have been characterizing USG policy and motives in Nepal as malevolently
aimed at undermining Nepal's sovereignty. The Ambassador told Saran that the reports had been passed to us by several
Nepali political sources, who claimed to have had such conversations in the recent past with Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW) agents based at the Indian Embassy. He also briefed Saran about unsubstantiated reports suggesting that some
Nepali Maoist women may have received training at a security facility in Dehra Dun in northern India (Ref A). Noting
that Nepalis, both within the government and in the opposition, sometimes attempt to play off Indian and American
interests, he stressed that the information passed on by these sources had not been verified. He noted that the reports
predated the meeting between Nepali Maoists and Communist Party of Nepal - United Marxist Leninist General Secretary
Madhav Nepal in Lucknow (Ref B)--an event that has SIPDIS set Nepali nationalists teeth on edge against India. The
Ambassador emphasized that he was communicating these concerns to Saran as a friend and ally.
2. (S/NF) Ambassador Saran thanked him and expressed concern, describing the reports as ""unfortunate"" and not an
accurate reflection of official GOI policy--a point confirmed in his recent policy discussions in New Delhi (see para
3). The GOI is committed to ensuring Nepal's stability, he said, adding that he has obtained unprecedented levels of
development and security assistance for the kingdom. Nonetheless, sometimes people in different branches of the GOI ""go
off on their own,"" he acknowledged, and promised to look into the reports.
3. (S/NF) In a separate meeting on November 30, Saran briefed the Ambassador on the just-concluded policy deliberations
in New Delhi. He stressed that his interlocutors had expressed concern about possible spill-over of the insurgency onto
Indian territory. According to Saran, Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes told him that ""the fight against the
Maoists is also India's fight."" Saran noted, however, that certain quarters within the GOI had argued that India should
maintain contact with the Maoists in order to influence them and to keep open communication channels in the event of a
worst-case scenario in which the Maoists ultimately gain power.
4. (S/NF) We cannot discount the possibility that our Nepali sources, many of whom resent India's influence in their
country, may have their own motives in conveying to us reports of Indian double-dealing. We have always found Saran
professional, collegial, and cooperative, and believe that he does not sanction--and may probably not be aware of--all
of RAW's activities in Nepal. His acknowledgement that some in the GOI ""go off on their own"" and that some advocate
maintaining contact and influence with the Maoists is his first admission to us that some elements within his Embassy
may be working at cross-purposes to official GOI policy.
MALINOWSKI