US invites India for Iraq effort

Government spokesman Navtej Sarna, on his part, has gone on record saying that the MEA had not been approached by the US for troops to Iraq. He was quoted saying that Indian peacekeeping mission could only take place under the UN auspices.

It is learnt that Albert Thibault, Deputy Chief of Mission, and Steve Sboto, Military Attache at the US Embassy in Delhi, met the Indian Army brass on Tuesday and discussed the ‘‘stabilisation’’ force proposal. Ambassador Robert Blackwill has also floated the issue at the highest levels.

However, visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage told reporters that he had briefed the Indian leadership in general on reconstructions efforts in Iraq. ‘‘There was no specific request for troops nor anything of that nature was discussed,’’ he said.

Bound by the Parliament resolution on Iraq that mandates the UN route, the US ‘‘stabilisation force’’ proposal is being intensively debated at the official level and the final decision is still to be taken by the political leadership.

It seems that the Government will have little objection to sending a peacekeeping force to Iraq if the UN is brought into the picture on Iraq.

The Iraq developments were discussed by the informal meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) last week.

Sources said that Thibault hinted to the top brass of the Indian Army that Washington was planning to bring a resolution in the UN Security Council and there was even a possibility of New Delhi administering one of the four military sectors in Iraq.

Incidentally, the US has already circulated a draft resolution for discussion in the Security Council this week that gives sweeping powers to Washington and London as ‘‘occupying powers’’ and wants the UN to play the role of a coordinator for humanitarian relief and setting up of Iraqi police.

The first indication that India could be part of the ‘‘stablisation force’’ came from Polish Deputy Defence Minister Januz Zemke this week. He said: ‘‘We are also getting signs that certain Asian countries, for example India, Pakistan and the Philippines, would be prepared to send troops.’’ According to the minister, the US, Britian and Poland would administer three of the four sectors. ‘‘A possible fourth sector would be managed by a country yet to be determined,’’ he said.

But sending Indian men in uniform to Iraq is not so simple, notwithstanding the Parliament resolution. New Delhi is chary of sending peacekeepers to Iraq without UN sanction as it would amount to supporting a ‘‘liberating or occupying force (depends on whether you are on the US side or not)’’.

While the Army brass told US diplomats that decision to send troops vests with the political leadership, they made it clear that in case of an affirmative decision, the command and control of troops will be with the Indian commander — in this case a two-star general.

It is understood that the Army brass briefed Fernandes though it is still not clear whether the Americans have raised the issue with Brajesh Mishra, who is currently in Washington. Perhaps the Indian position will crystallise once the US brings the UN into picture.