CONFIDENTIAL
023352
MDHIAN 3800
TO THE AIRPORT TOGETHER, TO INFORM HARDEEP AT THE LAST MOMENT THAT HE IS FREE TO GO, BUT TO GIVE HIM THE OPPORTUNITY, IF HE WISHES, TO BOARD THE FLIGHT WITH THE OTHER TWO. MRS VYAS ACCEPTED THAT WE SHOULD USE OUR JUDGEMENT ON THIS.
8.
ARRANGEMENTS ARE NOW IN HAND FOR RAJIV KAKKAR, ASHWANI KUMAR AND HARDEEP SINGH TO FLY TO BANGKOK AND THENCE CALCUTTA ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE FLIGHTS, ON 5 SEPTEMBER (TG 603 LEAVING HONG KONG AT 0800 LOCAL, THEN IC 732 LEAVING BANGKOK FOR CALCUTTA AT 1400 LOCAL).
9. WE ALSO TOLD MRS VYAS THAT WE HAD BEEN SURPRISED TO LEARN ONLY ON 4 SEPTEMBER, IN THE MFA NOTE, THAT THE INDIAN AUTHORITIES HAD FOR SOME TIME HAD INTELLIGENCE OF A POSSIBLE SIKH TERRORIST ATTACK AGAINST THE INDIAN COMMISSION IN HONG KONG. WE WERE ALWAYS WILLING TO CO-OPERATE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AGAINST TERRORISTS AND THEIR PLANS, BUT TO DO SO WITH MAXIMUM EFFECT, WE NEEDED TO KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE WHAT THESE PLANS WERE. ANY THREAT AGAINST A TARGET IN HONG KONG WAS ALSO A DANGER TO HONG KONG LIVES AND PROPERTY: IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW OF SUCH THREATS AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLĖ. MRS VYAS SEEMED EMBARRASSED. SHE AT FIRST INSISTED THAT HONG KONG SPECIAL BRANCH HAD BEEN WARNED OF THE THREAT BUT, AFTER WE HAD DOUBLE-CHECKED IN HER PRESENCE, ACCEPTED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. SHE SAID SHE WOULD TRY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAD EARLIER WARNING OF ANY FUTURE THREATS.
COMMENT
10. IF ALL GOES WELL (AND WE SHALL REPORT IMMEDIATELY IF IT DOES NOT) THIS PAINFUL SAGA SHOULD REACH A CONCLUSION SATISFACTORY TO BOTH SIDES ON 5 SEPTEMBER. BUT THERE IS STILL SCOPE FOR SNAGS: FOR EXAMPLE THE SIKHS MIGHT DECIDE AT THE LAST MOMENT TO RESIST REMOVAL. WE ALSO HAVE SOME SYMPATHY WITH INDIAN CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY AT BANGKOK. ARRANGEMENTS THERE WILL OF COURSE DEPEND ON INDIAN/THAI COLLABORATION.
11. SEVERAL PUZZLING ELEMENTS REMAIN IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS CASE, NOT LEAST THE SUDDEN LOS OF INDIAN INTEREST IN HARDEEP SINGH, AND THE ALLEGED TERRORIST THREAT AGAINST THE INDIAN COMMISSION. THE INDIANS HAVE CLEARLY NOT BEEN ENTIRELY FRANK WITH US ON ALL
POINTS.
PATTEN
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CONFIDENTIAL