New Delhi, June 16
Even as a high-level Pentagon team today urged India to send its troops for the proposed “stabilisation force” in Iraq, opposition to the proposed move grew here further.
While Indian officials sought clarification from the USA on the mandate of the stabilisation force in Iraq, the Opposition parties said that India should send its troops only under the United Nations mandate and after consulting Iraqi neighbours. The clarifications,
which have been sought by the government, include the nature of forces required for stability
operations, their role, mandate and the relationship with the UN, an External Affairs
spokesperson said after daylong meeting between the two sides.
The government
officials asked the visiting US officials about the current status of the Iraqi interim administration, future political set-up in that country and the humanitarian relief and
reconstruction activities.
The US team led by Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs Peter Rodman held two rounds of discussions with the Indian delegation headed by Mr B.S. Prakash, Joint Secretary (UN-Political), External Affairs Ministry.
After the delegation-level talks, the Pentagon team met National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal separately.
“These discussions were part of the process of wide-ranging consultations that the government proposes to hold to have a better appreciation of the situation and take appropriate decisions as necessary,” the spokesperson said.
She said the US team gave a briefing on the current political, economic and security situation in Iraq and the role India could play in contributing towards security and stability in the war-ravaged country.
The parleys were held in the context of UN Security Council Resolution 1483 of May 21 which appealed to member-states to assist the people of Iraq in their efforts to reform their institutions and rebuild the country.
The US delegation included top army, air force and naval commanders from its Central Command which is overseeing operations in Iraq. The Indian side, besides MEA officials, included senior officers of the Defence Ministry and the armed forces.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda has come out against sending troops to Iraq.
In a letter to Mr Vajpayee, Mr Deve Gowda has said any move to send Indian troops to Baghdad would be against the spirit of the resolution adopted by Parliament which had in its last session sought immediate withdrawal of US-led coalition forces from Iraq after the “illegal invasion.”
The former Prime Minister cautioned Mr Vajpayee, saying that ultimately India would be blamed for “legalising the invasion of Iraq by America and its allies.”
“If the people of Iraq are allowed to form their own government and that government requests India to send troops for its reconstruction, the Government of India can consider such a request,” he said, adding that it could also be considered in case of involvement of the United Nations. The issue was discussed at a 70-minute meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had with Leader of the Opposition and Congress President Sonia Gandhi yesterday.
