John Kerry advocates key role for India in Afghan polls

US secretary of state John Kerry on Sunday called 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 after arriving in New Delhi on a three-day visit to kick-start the strategic dialogue.

Afghanistan is scheduled to hold presidential elections on April 5, 2014 when the incumbent Hamid Karzai is due to stand down.

India and the US have taken a different course on the crucial security issue of ending conflict in Afghanistan. Ahead of withdrawing its military from the war ravaged country, the US has opened channels of communications with Taliban.

But India has red flagged the process, fearing the dialogue may confer legitimacy to insurgent groups and also convey the impression of two competing state authorities for Afghanistan.

The visit will also give New Delhi an opportunity to seek information and details from the US over reports that India was the fifth most tracked country by the American intelligence which used a secret data-mining programme to monitor worldwide Internet data. Though cyber security is part of the homeland security dialogue and the issue between the national security councils, joint secretary (America) at the ministry of external affairs, Vikram Doraiswami confirmed that Kerry’s visit is certainly an opportunity for India to take up all issues on our agenda. — With agency inputs