Will India allow stationing of troops?

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, SEPT. 17. India has told the United States that if asked it would allow the stationing of American troops and equipment on a temporary basis, The Washington Post said, going on to make the point that a formal request from Washington to New Delhi has not been received.

Nevertheless, it is seen politically as a major and significant development in that it would be the first time in India's history that foreign troops will be on its soil. And in a strategic sense, administration officials and analysts are saying that New Delhi's offer provided U.S. commanders with a nearby backup in case Pakistan baulks at the idea of American combat units coming in.

``We have given unconditional and unambivalent support for any action the United States may take to deal with the problem of global terrorism,'' an Indian official has been quoted in The Post report, datelined New Delhi.

What is being pointed out is that facilities in India could be used to house fighter planes as also to refuel long-range bombers; and the thinking is that the Indian intelligence network, given their long history of tracking extremist groups could provide vital information to the United States.

Also stressed is the fact that the Indian offer of cooperation with the United States in the latter's global war on terrorism is without conditions or attachments.

That is, Pakistan has told the United States that a multinational force on the ground in Pakistan should come from Islamic nations; India has not placed any such conditions.

Analysts are pointing to some of the strategic and operational limitations in India's offer, the main being that in the absence of a shared border with Afghanistan, the U.S. would still have to ferry troops and equipment to Pakistan for any conflict in Afghanistan.

But politically, the Indian offer could be used as a leverage to extract more from Islamabad as well.

In fact, there has been the argument that when it comes to the role of Pakistan, much would depend on what it is that the U.S. has planned. In the absence of this, much writing would only remain in the realm of speculation. For instance, if the Bush administration is going to place a major premium on a long-term strategy of tracking, hunting and liquidating terrorists, then Islamabad's contribution could be on the intelligence front with the ISI playing a big role.

Senior administration officials are being quite guarded in their statements about what Washington is planning, both in terms of the short term and the longer term. But if there is one thing the Republican administration is not doing, it is alienating any nation as it goes about this business of building an anti- terrorism coalition, even in any indirect fashion.

The Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, on Sunday was asked if he was ``one hundred per cent comfortable'' with Pakistan being in the U.S. camp in this war against terrorism. To which Gen. Powell remarked,``...yes,I trust them.

They have been very forthcoming. We should compliment them on their forthcomingness rather than speculating about their sincerity.''

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'No request from U.S.'

MOSCOW, SEPT. 17. India today said the United States had not yet sought New Delhi's permission for using its territory for carrying out strikes against Afghanistan.

The visiting National Security Adviser, Mr. Brajesh Mishra, told Russian reporters here India had not received any formal proposal from the U.S. for possible deployment of American troops on Indian bases, the State-run Ria-Novosti agency said.

- PTI

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