US to India: Help Cairo conduct polls

The polls are expected to be in September.

As Egypt prepares to to undertake major political reforms and initiate the transition to a genuine democracy,the United States is learnt to have indicated to India that it would like New Delhi to assist Cairo in the conducting proper elections and play a constructive role in the transition process. The polls are expected to be in September.

Sources said this was brought up by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in her conversation with Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao who was in the US last week to follow up on decisions taken during US President Barack Obamas visit to India last November.

Clinton is said to have cited Indias strong democratic credentials as a major plus while underscoring the importance of Indias potential role in Egypt.

Rao,for her part,conveyed that while India was willing to provide help,it would rather wait for a request from Egypt. On a broader plane,both sides discussed the evolving situation in the Arab world at considerable length. India made it clear that as a democracy,it supports its successful evolution in any part of the world.

India and US have also launched a dialogue on the Middle East to share information on the region which is fast turning into a political hotbed given the movements mushrooming in different countries after the success of the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

In the backdrop of the role India has played in Afghanistan and the fact that it is now a UN Security Council member,sources said,the US side was keen that the two coordinate their positions on such issues.

While India has no problem with greater consultation and coordination,sources pointed out that India has built its own credibility as a democracy among developing countries and,as a result,Indias popular imagery in Egypt or other countries in the Middle-East is quite different from that of the US. There is a view here that India should be cautious while collaborating with the US on democracy-building initiatives.

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It may,however,be recalled that the two sides have agreed to undertake joint initiatives in Africa and Afghanistan.

On balance,sources said,what is important to note is that the India-Egypt relationship was hardly making any progress when Hosni Mubarak was at the helm of affairs and that the transition now offers an opportunity to rebuild these ties.

In this context,India may consider being pro-active and Kuwaits anniversary celebrations,for which External Affairs Minister S M Krishna leaves tomorrow,provides a good stage as many leaders from the region will converge there on this occasion.