Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (India)

Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (India)

Content from the United States diplomatic cables leak has depicted India and related subjects extensively. The leak, which began on 28 November 2010, occurred when the website of WikiLeaks — an international new media non-profit organisation that publishes submissions of otherwise unavailable documents from anonymous news sources and news leaks — started to publish classified documents of detailed correspondence — diplomatic cables — between the United States Department of State and its diplomatic missions around the world. Since the initial release date, WikiLeaks is releasing further documents every day.

Contents

Torture

U.S. officials had obtained evidence from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on widespread torture and systematic abuse of detainees in Kashmir by Indian police and security forces. ICRC staff had made 177 visits to detention centers in Jammu and Kashmir between 2002 and 2004, meeting with 1,491 detainees. Out of these, 1,296 were private interviews. In 852 cases, detainees reported what ICRC referred to as the IT (intensive torture section): 171 persons were beaten, the remaining 681 subjected to one or more of six forms of torture:

  • electric shock (498 cases)
  • suspension from ceiling (381)
  • "roller" — a round metal object put on the thighs of sitting person, which prison personnel then sit on, crushing muscles (294)
  • stretching — legs split 180 degrees (181)
  • water torture — various forms (234)
  • sexual assault (302)

Numbers add up to more than 681, as many detainees were subjected to more than one form of IT. All the branches of the security forces uses these forms of IT and torture. The abuse always takes place in the presence of officers and detainees were rarely militants (because militants are routinely killed), but persons connected to or believed to have information about the insurgency. But still, the situation in Kashmir was "much better" as security forces no longer roused entire villages in the middle of the night and detained inhabitants indiscriminately, and there was "more openness from medical doctors and the police. There were some 300 detention centers ten years ago, but there are now "a lot fewer". ICRC, however, had never gained access to the "Cargo Building", the most-notorious detention center, in Srinagar. The abuse continued, because "security forces need promotions", while for militants, "the insurgency has become a business". ICRC concluded that India "condones torture" and that the torture victims were civilians.[1][2]

1984 anti-Sikh riots

According to Robert O Blake, several officials in the Government of India actively and passively assisted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots because of "opportunism and hatred"[3][4]

Hindu extremism

Rahul Gandhi — son of Sonia Gandhi, president of the Indian National Congress (INC) — in a conversation with Timothy J. Roemer, U.S. Ambassador to India, said that he believes Hindu extremists pose a greater threat to his country than Muslim militants. Gandhi referred specifically to more-polarizing figures in the Bharatiya Janata Party such as Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat. Also responding to the ambassador's query about the activities in the region by the Islamist militant organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Gandhi said there was evidence of some support for the group among certain elements in India's indigenous Muslim community.[1][5]

U.S. views of Rahul Gandhi

Various diplomatic cables from the U.S. Embassy in India show an evolving U.S. view of Rahul Gandhi. In late 2007, U.S. diplomats described him, "widely viewed as an empty suit and will have to prove wrong those who dismiss him as a lightweight. To do so he will have to demonstrate determination, depth, savvy and stamina. He will need to get his hands dirty in the untidy and ruthless business that is Indian politics." Other cables say that Gandhi was politically inexperienced, made repeated mistakes, and refer to criticisms of him by "political analysts and journalists". His relations with the U.S. improved over time. In November 2009, after a meeting with the U.S. ambassador, he as described as "an elusive contact in the past" but now "clearly interested in reaching out to the [U.S. government]". A cable from February 2010 describes him as "increasingly sure-footed".[6]

Counter-terrorism coordination

India's "fiercely independent foreign-policy stance, its traditional go-it-alone strategy toward its security, and its domestic political sensitivities over the sentiments of its large Muslim population, have all contributed to India's caution in working with us on a joint counter-terrorism strategy. While India has been very keen to receive information and technology from us to further its counter-terrorism efforts, it provides little in return."[7]

Acting coordinator for counter-terrorism, Frank Urbancic, described India's police and security forces as "overworked and hampered by bad police practices, including the wide-spread use of torture in interrogations, rampant corruption, poor training, and a general inability to conduct solid forensic investigations."[7]

2008 Mumbai attacks

The INC tried to use the conspiracy theories behind 2008 Mumbai attacks, targeting its main political rival, the BJP, to gain support of the Indian Muslim community for the 2009 Indian general election, the INC cynically pulled back from its original dismissal and lent credence to the conspiracy. The cable alleged, "The entire episode demonstrates that the Congress Party will readily stoop to the old caste/religious-based politics if it feels it is in its interest.[8]

Bid for permanent UNSC seat

A U.S. State Department cable called India a "self-appointed frontrunner for permanent UNSC seat". However, despite the criticisms, the U.S. remains supportive of India's bid for a seat in the U.N., along with that of Japan, Brazil and Germany.[9]

Biometric database

The U.S. State Department solicited "biographical and biometric information on key NAM/G-77/OIC Permanent Representatives, particularly India, China".[9]

India-Pakistan relations

The U.S. conducted its own secret analysis of India's military contingency plans, which are codenamed Cold Start.[10] India has said that if sufficiently provoked, it would mount a rapid invasion of Pakistan. The U.S. said in a cable that it highly doubted the Indian Army was capable of doing so: "It is the collective judgment of the mission that India would likely encounter very mixed results. Indian forces could have significant problems consolidating initial gains due to logistical difficulties and slow reinforcement".[10] However, Roemer warned that for India to launch the Cold Start doctrine, would be to "roll the nuclear dice". It could trigger the world's first use of nuclear weapons since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.[10] Indian leaders no doubt realize that, although Cold Start is designed to punish Pakistan in a limited manner without triggering a nuclear response, the Indians cannot be sure whether Pakistani leaders will in fact refrain from such a response".[10] To counter the Indian doctrine, U.S. diplomats in Islamabad were told Pakistan was working on producing smaller, tactical nuclear weapons such as nuclear artillery that could be used on the battlefield against Indian troops.[10]

India-Tibet relations

Shiv Shankar Menon, the current Indian national security advisor said, though "the Tibetan movement has the sympathy of the Indian public, and India has been a generally supportive home to tens of thousands of Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, for nearly 50 years, the tacit agreement that Tibetans are welcome in India as long as they don't cause problems is being challenged".[11]

Bahrain-India relations

Bahrain's King Hamad holds a positive view of India and urged the U.S. to use India's help in Afghanistan. He considers India as a positive force in the region.[12]

Lashkar-e-Taiba assassination plot

Seven months after the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba had plans to assassinate Narendra Modi.[13]

Maoist violence in India

Indian Maoists are "not dependent on support from outside India" and are moving towards a more unified command system. A U.S. cable reproduced by the media said, "In some respects more so than the GOI (Government of India) -- are concerned that Naxal terrorism, which covers a broad region of Eastern, Central, and Southern India, is growing in sophistication and lethality and will be a significant long-term challenge." "Unlike terrorists in Kashmir, these Naxalite groups are not dependent on support from outside India; the GOI and independent experts assess that Naxals purchase some weapons from Nepalese Maoists, but (per the GOI) `the relationship is commercial, not ideological'." The cable pointed out that the Maoists, such as those in the Communist Party of India (Maoist), "are moving toward a more unified command system than the plethora of small jihadi groups that co-exist alongside LeT (Lashkar-e-Taiba) and JeM (Jaish-e-Mohammed)." It said that while jihadis are expanding their area of operations to conduct attacks, particularly in cities, "Naxals are expanding the area of (rural) territory they effectively control (i.e. collect taxes, adjudicate disputes, etc.)".[14]

Cash for votes in South India

Political parties regularly bribe voters, in the form of cash, goods, or services, before elections in South India. It may range from financing the construction of a community well to putting into an envelope and delivering it inside the morning newspaper. Politicians and their operatives have admitted to violating election rules to influence voters. The money used to pay for the bribes come from the money raised through fundraising. The practice is thought to have swung many elections where the race was close.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Burke, Jason (16 December 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: India Accused of Systematic Use of Torture in Kashmir — Beatings and Electric Shocks Inflicted on Hundreds of Civilians Detained in Kashmir, US Diplomats in Delhi Told by ICRC". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/16/wikileaks-cables-indian-torture-kashmir. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  2. ^ Staff writer (17 December 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables Detail Torture on Detainees in Kashmir". Indo-Asian News Service (via Deccan Herald). http://www.deccanherald.com/content/121355/wikileaks-cables-detail-torture-detainees.html. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  3. ^ "US saw Cong hand in anti-Sikh riots, reveal Wiki leaks - Times Of India". Indiatimes. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-06/india/29515961_1_anti-sikh-riots-gujarat-riots-nanavati-commission-report. Retrieved 10 May 2011. 
  4. ^ "Cable Viewer". WikiLeaks. http://wikileaks.ch/cable/2005/08/05NEWDELHI6310.html. Retrieved 10 May 2011. 
  5. ^ Copy of diplomatic cable dated 3 August 2009 (16 December 2010). "US Embassy Cables: Ambassador Warned That Radical Hindu Groups May Pose Bigger Threat Than LeT in India". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/219238. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  6. ^ Burke, Jason (16 December 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: Rahul Gandhi Warned US of Hindu Extremist Threat — Scion of India's Leading Political Family Told Ambassador Radicalised Hindu Groups Could Create Religious Tension and Political Confrontation". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/16/wikileaks-rahul-gandhi-warned-us-hindu-extremism. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  7. ^ a b Copy of diplomatic cable dated 23 February 2007 (16 December 2010). "US Embassy Cables: India a Diffident Ally in the 'War on Terror' — US". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/97802. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  8. ^ Copy of diplomatic cable dated 23 December 2008 (10 December 2010). "US Embassy Cables: Mumbai Conspiracy Allegations 'Outrageous' – US Ambassador". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  9. ^ a b Staff writer (30 November 2010). "WikiLeaks: Hillary Called India 'Self-Appointed Frontrunner for Permanent UNSC Seat'". NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/article/wikileaks-revelations/wikileaks-hillary-called-india-self-appointed-frontrunner-for-permanent-unsc-seat-69388. Retrieved 30 November 2010. 
  10. ^ a b c d e Leigh, David (30 November 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables Expose Pakistan Nuclear Fears — US and UK Diplomats Warn of Terrorists Getting Hold of Fissile Material and of Pakistan-India Nuclear Exchange". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/nov/30/wikileaks-cables-pakistan-nuclear-fears. Retrieved 13 December 2010. 
  11. ^ Burke, Jason (16 December 2010). "WikiLeaks Cables: Dalai Lama Called for Focus on Climate, Not Politics, in Tibet — Exiled Buddhist Leader Told US Ambassador to India That 'Political Agenda Should Be Sidelined' in Favour of Climate Issues". The Guardian (London). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/16/wikileaks-dalai-lama-climate-change. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  12. ^ Copy of diplomatic cable dated 4 November 2009 (29 November 2010). "Wikileaks Cablegate: Bahrain's King Hamad on India's Role in Afghanistan". IBN Live. Retrieved 13 December 2010.
  13. ^ Mohan, Vishwa (6 December 2010). "Lashkar Planned To Kill Narendra Modi: Wikileaks". Times News Network (via The Economic Times). http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/Lashkar-planned-to-kill-Narendra-Modi-Wikileaks/articleshow/7051726.cms. Retrieved 13 December 2010. 
  14. ^ Staff writer (18 December 2010). "WikiLeaks: Maoists Not Getting Support from Outside India". Headlines India. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  15. ^ "206688: cash for votes in South India" (2009-13-05), The Hindu.

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