US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) is greeted by an Indian diplomat as he arrives at Palam Air Force Station while US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell (L) looks on in New Delhi on June 23, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State John Kerry called Sunday for a "central role" for India in Afghanistan's 2014 elections as he warned of potential difficulties in the war-torn nation as US forces withdraw.
"The world's largest democracy can play a central role in helping the government of Afghanistan improve its electoral system and create a credible and independent framework for resolving disputes," Kerry said in New Delhi.
Afghanistan is scheduled to hold presidential elections on April 5, 2014 when the incumbent Hamid Karzai is due to stand down.
The country's last presidential elections in 2009 were marred by massive vote-rigging which helped prompt Karzai's rival Abdullah Abdullah to pull out of a second round.
Indian officials are expected to raise concerns with Kerry, who is on a three-day visit there, about the upcoming US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
It is also uneasy about the prospect of negotiations with the Taliban, who are sworn enemies of India.
Kerry said that no agreement would be rushed through and that "a final settlement may be long in coming."
"And let me be clear: Any political settlement must result in the Taliban breaking ties with al Qaeda, renouncing violence, and accepting the Afghan constitution - including its protections for all Afghans, women and men," said the top US diplomat.
"Afghanistan cannot again become a safe haven for international terrorism."
The subject is likely to feature high on the agenda in talks between Kerry and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday, with officials in New Delhi saying they are anxious to hear more about the future US plans in Afghanistan.
COMMENTS (15)
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@Vlad Singh: Thank you Mr "Singh"! Your very first sentence already reveals which side of the border you belong to. Your choice of disguise reveals personal issues bigger than this forum can accommodate.
@nrmr44: I think you are victim of some sort of superiority complex or false self confidence over Indian abilities which exists only on paper or in dreams. In today's world no country can exist by itself be it super power even . Choosing between U.S and Russia is like making choice keeping history of relations in mind . You may not share my view but you cannot claim to be voice of all Indians.The strategic Partnership between India and Russia is not new, it's been going on since long time and exists at many levels and some of the levels you may not be even aware of .
@Bewildered: You have chosen a very apt name for yourself - a confession of your abilities is it?
@Vlad Singh: If India is sensible enough to avoid the strategic embrace of the US, it will be sensible enough to avoid the Russian one, too. Your preference for a specific external crutch, and the poor self-image it reflects, is not shared by any one in India.
@Observer:
"Why do Pakistanis feel they have a right to poke their noses into the internal affairs of Afghanistan?"
For the same reasons India had the right to intervene in East Pakistan. Is your short memory a congenital defect or just a manifestation of malnutrition.
@Shaami:
Have you ever thought of the possibility that the Afghans do really want India to be involved in rebuilding their nation? As a sovereign country, isn't it for the Afghans to choose what kind of relationship they want with a particular country? Why do Pakistanis feel they have a right to poke their noses into the internal affairs of Afghanistan? Would Pakistanis like it if other countries dictated what is important for Pakistan?
Nobody in India trusts Kerry and in fact U.S.A, Indians know the cost (Pakistan) of being strategic partners of U.S. India have more reliable strategic partner in form of Russia. Already most of U.S corporate world is ganging up against India, So rest assured to Pakistani brothers Indians are not going to highjack your valuable partner maybe India will buy few defense equipment to postmortem it with their friend Russia .. )
@Shaami: Qatar monarchy is the main financier of the nations you mentioned and now the Taliban. Yes it is all done by getting a nod from the US but monarchy is the one who is taking the call for "Show me the money".
@shaami agreed bro.
I thought John was coming to Pakistan first and now suddenly he is in India for high level strategic talks. India is magic, it always was. John Kerry : " India, US together can build strong and smart future " - as reported by Press Trust of India.
Hail Indo-US relation and defenitely India should take part key areas of afghanistan strategic interest and get rid of pakistan intervention or interest in afghanistan any more.
Kayani helps him get Talibs to the table, and he goes to India to tell them they have a central role to play in Afghanistan. This should give generals in Pindi a pause that no matter how hard you try US will never upgrade its relation with you to a strategic level. You will always be guns for hire to be only used tactically.
Garam masala for its neighbour.
Wasn't he suppose to visit Pakistan also this time ? How come he gave the excuse of being busy with Syria related issues when it came to visiting Pakistan ? This simply means that Afghanistan can not be left entirely for Pakistan to handle. Neither US, nor Afghanistan, nor India and not even China wants that.
After destabilizing Syria and making a new group know as Friends of Free Syrian Army in Middle East and providing them with weapons and then Setting Up Taliban Office in Qatar now Mr Kerry is back in Af-Pak region to make it more unstable and dragging India into Afghanistan to make Pakistan insecure and then again India-Pak proxy war will start owing to the American Promoted Indian presence in this region and then the whole region wil remain unstable but Uncle Sam will remain happy.