INDIA UNCERTAIN ABOUT ITS NICHE IN IRAQI ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 008261

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EAID IZ IN
SUBJECT: INDIA UNCERTAIN ABOUT ITS NICHE IN IRAQI ELECTIONS

REF: STATE 274965

Classified By: PolCouns Geoff Pyatt, Reasons 1.4 (B,D).


1. (C) Summary: MEA Joint Secretary (Americas) S.
Jaishankar reiterated GOI desire to assist in Iraq's
elections, but expressed uncertainty about India's role in
light of their own political constraints in a meeting with
PolCouns and Pol-MilOff on December 29. Regarding the
proposed role of the International Mission for Iraq Elections
(IMIE),he was uncertain that was the niche India should fill
and was concerned that some of the other states involved in
the IMIE (especially Canada) did not share India's
sympathetic view of US efforts in Iraq. He promised to raise
the issue with Foreign Secretary Saran upon Saran's return
from Pakistan. End Summary.


2. (C) Jaishankar (who has played a leading role on Iraqi
elections as part of his Americas portfolio) indicated that
India was concerned about tying its role in Iraq to that of
other governments. In this context, he noted considerable
skepticism about the January elections during New Delhi's
consultations in Ottawa recently, commenting that India found
itself in the ironic role of "defending the US position" to
Ottawa.


3. (C) He went on to reiterate the GOI's strong desire to
play a useful role in the elections in a manner that their
domestic constituency would support in the aftermath of the
kidnapping of three Indian truck drivers in Iraq in the
summer. He also expressed frustration that there has been no
UN response to India's previous proposals for assisting in
the elections, lamenting that "our proposals are being sat on
in New York."


4. (C) Regarding PolCouns' description of the role of the
IMIE to observe the polling process from Jordan (reftel),
however, Jaishankar was doubtful that India would
participate, saying, "We're not sure that is the niche we
should be filling." "We're looking for middle ground between
what is acceptable here and what is realistic and useful
there," he added. He promised to raise the issue with FS
Saran upon Saran's return from travel, and reiterated India's
intention to re-engage in Iraq.


5. (U) Baghdad minimize considered.
MULFORD