The Hindu : Govt. not averse to sending troops to Iraq?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 03, 2003

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Govt. not averse to sending troops to Iraq?

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI July 2. The Government appears to have decided not to say "no" to the United States request to send troops to Iraq as part of a "stabilisation" force. Informed sources said today that this did not mean that "as of today" India had taken a decision to say "yes" to the U.S. request either.

A decision whether or not to send the troops would not be taken in a hurry. Such a decision lay in the "political domain" and had its own implications as elections neared. New Delhi's information is that the ground situation in Iraq is "bad". The almost daily attacks on "coalition" military personnel months after the "war" was declared over is a factor that the Government would have to take into account while arriving at any decision, according to sources.

On the "positive" side, the United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy on Iraq, Sergio Viera de Mello, has struck a "rapport" with the U.S.

Asked about the reported moves of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, to send troops to Iraq under the "cover" of some international organisations, the sources stressed that this, too, would be a factor in India taking a decision. India, apparently, would not like its troops to "serve" alongside Pakistani soldiers. Gen. Musharraf's move is being interpreted as an effort to queer the pitch for New Delhi.

Recently, a senior External Affairs Ministry official was in the Persian Gulf to elicit the views of Kuwait and Jordan on deployment of Indian troops in Iraq. However, New Delhi has not yet consulted Iran, a key ally in the region, on India's participation in a "stabilisation force" in Iraq.

In its June 28-29 issue, the International Herald Tribune carried a New York Times report that India was "split" on the issue of sending troops to Iraq. "Indian officials say their soldiers will not serve under direct U.S. military command and have asked for the creation of a joint command structure. Citing concerns that Iraqis will view them as occupiers, officials have also asked for a specific time-table for forming an independent government.

"U.S. officials have declined to give specific dates. Previously, they said it could take as long as two years," the report said.

While India is said to favour a "multinational" or "joint command structure", the sources said that an Indian commander would, in the current structure, eventually have to report to an overall American commander.

Separately, Ashwani Kumar, a Rajya Sabha Congress MP, has said that the U.S. request for deployment did not satisfy international law, notwithstanding the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483, because the U.S. is seen as an "occupying force".

In a statement, Mr. Kumar, who recently met some Congressmen and Senators in Washington, argued: "It is neither necessary nor legitimate for Indian blood to be shed on Iraqi soil in the given circumstances. It is earnestly hoped that the Vajpayee Government will not compromise the country's known commitment to principles and values in the conduct of its foreign policy."

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