Date:20/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/20/stories/2003022006050100.htm

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War should be last option

By Amit Baruah

NEW DELHI Feb. 19. India today said that the weapons inspectors of the United Nations must have the full opportunity to complete their task in Iraq, but equally the U.N. Security Council could not be "expected to wait indefinitely'' to secure "immediate, active and unconditional cooperation'' under Resolution 1441.

Replying to a discussion on Iraq in the Lok Sabha, the Union Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, said that the BJP-led Government's position remained that a "war should be avoided'' and that all the parties must cooperate to find a peaceful resolution to the issue. Filling in for the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, who is in Russia, Mr. Singh's response did not satisfy the Opposition members, who demanded that New Delhi take a categorical position against war in West Asia.

Mr. Singh did not respond to the repeated Opposition suggestion that the House pass a resolution on Iraq, but the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj, said the Government had to retain flexibility on the issue.

A majority of the members who spoke during the debate were extremely critical of the United States, and none supported military action against Iraq. Many of them pointed to the large, cross-continent anti-war demonstrations. Stating that wars and conflicts were "always the last option,'' Mr. Singh said that Iraq had to faithfully comply with the Security Council resolutions.

New Delhi's position was guided by its belief in maintaining the U.N.'s relevance in matters relating to international security, the need to implement Resolution 1441, avert a humanitarian crisis in Iraq and the importance of maintaining international and regional stability. It was also guided by India's vital political, economic and security interests in the region, including the security and welfare of the large Indian diaspora in the Gulf, and the traditionally strong economic ties with Iraq, which had weakened on account of the U.N. sanctions, Mr. Singh stressed.