MEA ESTIMATES ZARANJ-DELARAM ROAD COMPLETION BY

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 008008

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR SA/A PMOON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ELTN EAID IN AF
SUBJECT: MEA ESTIMATES ZARANJ-DELARAM ROAD COMPLETION BY
DECEMBER 2007

REF: A. STATE 184232

B. NEW DELHI 7798


1. (SBU) Further to Ref A demarche, PolCouns and Poloff met
on October 14 with MEA Joint Secretary (Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Iran) Dilip Sinha, who reiterated that, because
of delays in procuring supplies and fuel for the
Zaranj-Delaram road project from Iran, the completion date
has slipped from March 2007 to December 2007. Sinha added
that construction is proceeding, and he would review the
project's progress with India's Ambassador to Afghanistan
Rakesh Sood during Sood's October 17-21 consultations in New
Delhi.


2. (SBU) Sinha also relayed rumors he had heard that the USG
is focusing on deadlines to prepare for an imminent departure
from Afghanistan. Drawing on the Secretary's remarks in
Kabul, PolCouns underlined that the US would not leave
Afghanistan prematurely. Sinha welcomed this reassurance,
noting that India was strongly opposed to any premature
withdrawal of coalition forces from Afghanistan.


3. (U) Visit New Delhi's Classified Website:
(http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/sa/newdelhi/)
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