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India says no to sending troops to Iraq
T. R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 11
Even as India has turned down a US request to send troops to Liberia, it has allayed Israel’s misgivings that the hi-tech defence equipment being made available to this country might worm its way to Iran.

“Israel’s main concern is about its hi-tech equipment for India’s defence needs falling into the hands of Iran. India has assured Israel nothing will go out and there should not be any worry on that count,” authoritative sources in the Defence Ministry said here today.

This has been Israel’s major concern beyond the fight against terrorism. This was brought to the fore as India and Israel have a number of defence projects in the making. “There is no way there can be any leakage of the technology being procured from Israel to Iran and there was conviction that the Israeli leadership went back satisfied,” the sources said.

During his talks with the Indian leadership, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had underlined the need for greater synergy in the fight against terror.

The BJP-led NDA government’s position on sending troops to Iraq remains unchanged even if the fresh resolution by the George Bush administration is adopted by the United Nations.

“At the moment, the government’s view is that we cannot afford to send troops to Iraq or Liberia given the situation in the north-western sector. It is a no to any request for sending troops as we are not in a position to do so now,” the sources emphasised.

Terrorist activities are continuing in Jammu and Kashmir and hardly any day passes without an incident. In the backdrop of such a situation and the prevailing atmosphere in Iraq, sending Indian troops to that beleaguered country is not possible.

Sources acknowledged that Israel was keen to supply electronic fencing and other hi-tech gadgets for key defence and military installations in J and K. “We are looking at our borders with neighbours in the eastern region as well where infiltration may not be terrorist-related. We need to strengthen our borders by effective fencing through sensors and electronic gadgetry.”

The Phalcon Airborne Warning and Control System had been cleared. The cost of the three Phalcons was yet to be finalised. The time frame would depend on when the price negotiations were completed with Israel supplying the main equipment exclusively to India to be mounted on the Russian IL-76 aircraft.

On the Arrow missile, the sources said the Israelis explained it would not be possible to supply the same without the green signal from the US. It was for Israel to take up this issue with the Americans.

India and Israel discussed several joint ventures in the defence sphere involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and being a partner in building conventional submarines. Israel was keen to build submarines and had no connection with the Indian Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV). No major decision had been taken in research and development.

The Agni I and II are “where they are”. The test of Agni III would take place “at the appropriate time and we are still on the job.” India was also in the process of purchasing 12 Mirage aircraft from Qatar which were not second hand or old. “These aircraft have 80 per cent of its life left,” the sources added.