The Times of India

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2003

India yet to decide on troops to Iraq

NILANJANA BHADURI JHA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK NEW DELHI: There will be a lot a Iraq on the menu over
the weekend before
the Pentagon team arrives here on Monday to talk India into sending troops
to the war-torn nation.

Matters need to be sorted out at home before talks take place with the US
and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will hold a meeting on Sunday
morning with Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi and other senior Congressmen on
the issue. Sonia had written to Vajpayee last week expressing concern at
reports that Indian troops would be deployed in Iraq.

The Congress has opposed "deployment of Indian troops under any arrangement
other than a UN command or as part of a multi-national peacekeeping force
that has the explicit mandate of the UN." Given the UN's pliant role in the
Iraq issue so far, the latter part of the statement is being seen as an
escape route should the party be forced to dilute its stand.

As the meeting with the PM draws nearer, in fact, the Congress is already
sounding more ambivalent. Party Spokesman Abhishek M Singhvi admitted that a
final word could be said only after the party got "inputs from the
government."

Other parties like the Left have also warned the government against sending
Indian troops.

"There is no UN-sponsored administration in Iraq. Further, there will be no
UN peacekeeping force. The US military will continue as the occupying force
and any troops sent there will work under the US command. It is also clear
that in the name of a "stabilisation force", the US wants troops from allied
countries to share the burden of pacifying Iraq and to quell any opposition
to its illegal occupation," a strongly worded Left statement said.

Though the US team's pressure is likely to be intense too, the government
itself is treading warily, given the political ramifications of such a step
in an election year.  At stake, admit leaders on both sides, is the Muslim
vote. Sending troops to Iraq will hurt Muslim sentiments it is felt.

The Opposition parties have also asked why Indian troops should face bullets
in the aftermath of a unilateral war waged by the US, and casualties would
only add fuel to the electoral fire.

The government has to sort these issues out with the Opposition before going
into discussions with the Pentagon delegation on Monday. It is expected also
to seek to clarification with the US on who will have command of the Indian
troops if they are sent.

So far, Indian troops have only been deployed for peacekeeping duties under
UN command.

The US team, which arrives here on Sunday night, will be in India only for a
day. It will return on Monday night after delegation level talks with the
Ministry of External Affairs. Joint Secretary (UNP) B S Prakash will lead
the Indian side in the talks.

A commitment of any kind is unlikely immediately. The government has
indicated it would like to consider all aspects, primarily a strong negative
public sentiment, before it takes a decision.

Also, the monsoon session of Parliament begins on July 14 and the government
may choose to take the matter to that forum. The Parliament had adopted a
resolution in the Budget session criticising the US-UK action in Iraq.

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