India seeks clarifications from US

NEW DELHI: India on Monday sought several clarifications from the US on its request for Indian troops to assist in peacekeeping in war-torn Iraq, as a high-level Pentagon team held talks with officials here in a bid to dispel Indian misgivings over the issue.
After day-long meeting between the two sides on the issue of troop deployment, an external affairs ministry spokesman said, the US team had assured that the troops would operate under the Indian flag.
However, India wants to know details of the "nature of force required for stability operations, their role, mandate and the relationship with the UN," he added.
Also, India would take a decision on the issue only after evolving a political consensus and consulting countries in that region, the spokesman added.
According to official sources, the US is seeking about 20,000 troops from India.
The six-member US team led by Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs, Peter Rodman held two rounds of discussions with the Indian delegation headed by B S Prakash, joint secretary (UN-political) in the external affairs ministry.
After the delegation level talks, the team which was here on a day''s visit, on the directive of US President George W Bush, held talks with National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra.
New Delhi also sought clarifications on development of a responsible Iraqi interim administration, future political evolution in that country and the humanitarian relief and reconstruction activities, the spokesman said.
"These discussions were part of process of wide-ranging consultations that the government proposes to hold to have a better appreciation of the situation and take appropriate decisions as necessary," the spokesman said.
The US team gave a briefing on the current political, economic and security situation in Iraq and the role India can play in contributing to security and stability of the war-ravaged country.
The parleys were held in the context of UN Security Council resolution 1483 of May 21 which appealed to member states to assist the people of Iraq in their efforts to reform their institutions, rebuild the country and to contribute conditions of stability and security in Iraq.
The US delegation included top army, air force and naval commanders from its Central Command which is overseeing operations in Iraq. The Indian side besides MEA officials included senior officials from the defence ministry and armed forces.
According to the sources, a decision could still be taken if four to five key concerns were suitably addressed, including in which areas of Iraq would Indian troops be deployed and under whose command.
Sources indicated that New Delhi wanted the troops to be posted in "non-conflict" areas.
US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill had told reporters that United States was not seeking combat troops from India and that if New Delhi does decide to send its troops, they would work under the Indian flag and not the US flag.
However, in the absence of a United Nations umbrella, India is likely to press for the creation of a peacekeeping force under international control -- such as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan.
The two countries have already held high-level discussions on India joining the stabilisation force during the visit of Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to Washington last week.
Bush had brought up the issue in his meeting with Advani. The US president had also discussed the issue with Brajesh Mishra in May.
The US has made it clear that it is not exerting any pressure on India to join the stabilisation force and it is entirely on New Delhi to take a decision. It also said that it would welcome assistance from any country "qualified" to provide support, including India, for the reconstruction and stabilisation of Iraq.
A meeting of all political parties is likely to soon discuss the issue.
The leader of Opposition Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, on Sunday had met with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to convey the concerns of her party on troop deployment.
After the meeting, Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha had said any decision on the issue would be taken after a national consensus and after speaking to all concerned.