UNCLAS NEW DELHI 008628
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PREL EAID ECON EFIN IN AF
SUBJECT: INDIA AND THE KABUL AGENDA
REF: A. STATE 203820
¶B. NEW DELHI 8247
¶C. NEW DELHI 7346
¶1. (SBU) Poloff shared Ref A points with MEA Under Secretary
(Afghanistan) Acquino Vimal on October 8, reiterating USG
appreciation for India's contributions to Afghan
reconstruction and urging continued commitment in the next
phase of assistance. Vimal reported that the GOI intends to
continue its involvement in Afghanistan, and was aware of
plans for a future donors conference, but had not been
invited yet to the "Kabul Agenda" post-Bonn discussions.
Comment and Action Request
--------------------------
¶2. (SBU) As reported in Refs B and C, New Delhi is very open
to the idea of increased engagement and assistance to
Afghanistan, and India's long-running technical assistance
programs to developing countries are well-matched to
Afghanistan's conditions. Greater Indian assistance has been
checked largely by the inability of the GOA to identify and
request targeted aid from New Delhi. As we approach the
donors conference in London in January, Post recommends that
Washington try to include the GOI in planning, both to draw
on its domestic experience in developing democratic
institutions in conditions similar to those in Afghanistan,
and to enlist its full support for and commitment to a
greater donor role. We suggest that an institute for the
promotion of democracy located in Kabul would be an ideal
project for the US and India to support jointly, contributing
to our shared goal of strengthening democratic institutions
in Afghanistan.
