New Delhi, June 21
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) today left it to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to take an appropriate decision on the issue of sending troops to Iraq.
“The Prime Minister should take an appropriate decision on the issue of sending troops to Iraq keeping in mind the national interest and the interest of the Iraqi people,” NDA Convener and Defence Minister George Fernandes told newspersons after a meeting of the constituents which lasted for nearly one-and-a-half hours.
The meeting of the ruling coalition was held even as the USA is yet to get back with their response to the clarifications sought by the Vajpayee government.
Replying to questions, Mr Fernandes said a decision could be taken only after the Prime Minister returned from Beijing.
He said the Prime Minister would hold discussions with other political parties, including the Samajwadi Party, on the issue.
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said New Delhi was yet to receive clarifications from the USA on the issue of command and control structures in the event of India deciding to send troops to Iraq.
“There were a number of questions put before the US team which was here for discussions on this issue. Some, they were able to reply, to some others they said, they will get back after discussions in Washington,” he said.
Although a Pentagon team which was here on Monday to allay Indian concerns about the type of assignment had tried to assuage India by proposing that the Indian troops would serve in the relatively safe Kurd-dominated northern Iraq yet it did not clarify on the command and control structure.
The government is facing severe problem in taking a stand on the issue in view of the continuing resistance from opposition parties, including the Congress, the Left, the Samajwadi Party, the Rashtriya Janata Dal.
The USA has been mounting pressure on India as it strongly feels that Indian troops could somewhat relieve the pressure on the beleaguered US Army.
