US embassy cable - 04NEWDELHI8261

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, India-Iraq 
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