The Hindu : Troops for Iraq: Govt. awaiting feedback

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2003

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Troops for Iraq: Govt. awaiting feedback

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 30. The Government reiterated today that it had not yet decided on sending troops to Iraq and said it was waiting for a feedback from the Foreign Secretary, Kanwal Sibal, now in Washington.

"We have not been able to decide so far," the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, told newspersons, adding that the Government expected Mr. Sibal and the Ambassador to Iraq, B.B. Tyagi, to provide inputs to evolve a decision. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said things had not moved since a visiting team from Pentagon was asked to clarify three basic questions — involvement of the United Nations, command and control of the Indian troops and logistical issues. "We are still expecting a reply. We have not received one so far," he said.

Mr. Fernandes also expected the Foreign Secretary to discuss the issue with the Pentagon but indicated that the Government was reluctant to take a decision in a hurry. "We are not looking for another round (of talks with U.S. officials)," he told newsmen after felicitating members of a successful Indo-Nepalese expedition to the Everest and another major peak, the Massif.

Mr. Advani had earlier said that India was "inclined" to send troops but would have to consider what Iraqi people felt about the presence of the Indian troops, what the plans were for restoring Iraqi administration as also the views of Iraq's neighbours, including Iran. However, today, speaking outside his North Block office, the Deputy Prime Minister evaded questions about Iraq's neighbours and in response to the question about "the people of Iraq", he said the report of the Indian Ambassador in Baghdad was expected.

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