HindustanTimes.com

Monday, September 2003

No Indian troops for Iraq, says Powell

Press Trust of India
Washington, September 29

United States' Secretary of State Colin Powell has said he did not
expect India to provide troops for stabilisation operations in Iraq but
still hopes other nations will send their forces after a UN resolution.

"The Indians, they have indicated they would not be in a position to provide
troops. And I don't expect that position to change," Powell said in an
interview to CNN on Sunday.

Asked if he was disappointed on India's reply, Powell said "I would like to
have seen the Indians provide troops, but you know each nation has to make
its own judgment. We can't order troops in by diktat.

"We have to persuade them that it is in the interest of international order
for them to provide troops, and we are pleased that so many nations have
done that," he said

The secretary of state said he was optimistic about other nations
contributing troops for stabilisation efforts in war-ravaged Iraq.

Powell said the US earlier had conversations with India about providing
troops ... "and it's become clear in recent months that, for a variety of
reasons, internal domestic politics and other reasons, the Indians would not
be in a position to provide troops."

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