India wants terror info, gives US little in return
New Delhi, Dec. 18: India is very keen to get information and technology from the US for counter-terrorism efforts but provides little in return, says a US embassy cable made public by Wikileaks.
The cable, dated February 23, 2007 and reproduced by The Guardian, came down heavily on security forces, calling them “corrupt and poorly trained” and said they did not conduct solid forensic investigations.
The cable explained the American assessment of why New Delhi remained a distant partner of the US on counter-terrorism efforts.
India’s lingering suspicion of US policies towards Pakistan, its fiercely independent foreign policy stance, its traditional go-it-alone strategy toward its security, and its 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, the cable said. It pointed out that while India “has been very keen to receive information and technology from us to further its counter-terrorism efforts, India provides little in return, despite our belief that the country should be an equal partner in this relationship.”
The cable said that the US perception of India’s lack of cooperation often stems in part from India’s lack of capacity to manage these issues bureaucratically.
The cable also said Indian police and security forces were overworked and hampered by bad practices, including the widespread use of torture in interrogations, rampant corruption, poor training, and a general inability to conduct solid forensic investigations.
India’s most elite security forces regularly cut corners to avoid working through the lagging justice system.
“Thus Indian police officials often do not respond to our requests for information about attacks or our offers of support because they are covering up poor practices, rather than rejecting our help outright,” it said.
A cable, dated April 18, 2006, notes that terror activities in India’s Northeast are not a priority for the government as civilian deaths in the region have fallen in recent years. Terrorism in Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Meghalaya consists of small groups whose reach does not extend out of the region.
Meanwhile, US denied that it is interfering in India’s affairs as alleged by some political parties.
While declining to address the substance of India-related Wikileaks cables, the State department spokes-man, Mr P. J. Crowley, said on Friday: “Our diplomats do what Indian diplomats do, and what we do in a country like India is no different than what Indian diplomats do in our country.”
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