M A I N   N E W S

Decision not to affect ties: Myers
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 29
Asserting that he was not visiting New Delhi to press India to participate in the stabilisation force in Iraq, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Richard B. Myers, today said that any decision in the negative would not in any way affect the Indo-US ties.

He said that the decision to commit troops to the stablisation force in Iraq would be of individual nations and that India’s decision did not bother the USA.

“India’s refusal to send troops does not bother us. The USA is a good friend of India. I am grateful for India’s cooperation in war against international terrorism.” General Myers said.

Addressing newspersons here, he, however, said that there was need for more countries to contribute to the stabilisation force in Iraq as well as Afghanistan.

General Myers pointed out that though the situation in Iraq was “complex and challenging”, Washington had the military might to overcome it. He asserted that the USA was committed to bringing stability to Iraq and Afghanistan and not to allow terrorist bases to grow there.

General Myers, during his talks with the Indian military and political leadership, also gave an assessment of the prevailing ground situation in Iraq.

He discounted reports that he had come here with the basic purpose of pressing with New Delhi to participate in the stabilisation force. He added that this visit of his had been planned at least three months ago and was not one worked out on a short notice. He pointed out that the USA had received commitment from 34 countries to be available for Iraq.

The visiting US general also denied that the USA had asked India to be part of the international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. He declared that the operations in Afghanistan would soon be taken over by the NATO force.

Describing his talks with the Chairman Chief of Staff Committee Admiral Madhvendera Singh and Air Chief S. Krishnswamy as “very productive”, he said these had centred on boosting bilateral military ties.

The US General also met National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, Army chief General N.C. Vij and Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad before leaving for Islamabad in the afternoon.

He said that talks during his present visit were mainly focused on the joint defence policy group (DPG) meeting proposed to be held in Washington on August 6 and 7.

He pointed out that north and south Iraq were stable and that the stablisation forces were facing problems in central Iraq between Tikrit and Baghdad.