ELECTION ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN: INDIA WILL

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 002567 SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREL KDEM AF IN SUBJECT: ELECTION ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN: INDIA WILL CONSIDER ANY REQUEST REF: A. STATE 61560 ¶B. NEW DELHI 395 ¶1. (SBU) MEA Joint Secretary (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran) Dilip Sinha told PolCouns on April 6 that while India had not received any specific request from Kabul for assistance with the September 8 parliamentary elections, New Delhi was willing to look favorably at our request. Sinha emphasized India's commitment to contributing as much as possible in Afghanistan, noting that the GOI had agreed to provide technical training for the Parliamentary Secretariat. He added that he would check with both the UNDP, whose request this is, as well as the Government of Afghanistan. ¶2. (SBU) Updating on India's pledge during President Karzai's February New Delhi visit to complete the Kabul to Pul-i-Khumri transmission line project (ref B),Sinha explained that the GOI was still in the process of obtaining internal approvals. Although this would take "some time," he was optimistic that construction could still start in April as the GOI had intended. ¶3. (SBU) Noting the importance of Indian support for Afghanistan, PolCouns reintroduced the idea we had initially proposed to Sinha's predecessor, Arun K. Singh, of a day of consultations in Washington. PolCouns suggested that if Sinha should visit the US on other business, he consider meeting with Special Coordinator for Afghanistan Ambassador Quinn and possibly US officials responsible for Iran as well. MULFORD