India remains non-committal on sending troops to Iraq
IRNA
New Delhi, Oct 18, IRNA -- A fresh United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) on Iraq may have been unanimously passed but that does not necessarily translate into countries committing their troops to Iraq yet, local press reported here on Saturday. India, for one, has cited "several developments" since the July 14 Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decision to send troops in the event of an "explicit UN mandate for the purpose," developments that would have a bearing on any future decision on the matter. The new UNSCR 1511 "authorizes a multinational force under unified command to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq." Asked where India stood vis-a-vis this renewed Security Council call for troops, India`s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said, "We have noted the mandate for setting up of a multinational force under a unified command as also the immediate reaction of several important countries such as Germany, Russia and France." On the question of India`s commitment of troops, Sarna said, "there have been several developments since our decision on July 14, 2003, and any future decisions in this regard will be taken keeping in mind the realities of the situation on the ground, our international responsibilities and domestic needs and security concerns." Since its July 14 commitment, New Delhi has been debating the prudence of sending troops to Iraq at all, the Government conscious that such a decision could have a direct bearing on the forthcoming General Elections. In fact, US President George Bush last month openly admitted that he "understood" the Indian Government`s hesitation on this count in an election year. On his part, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New York last month clearly asserted that India would not be engaged in a peace-enforcement operation, emphasising India`s commitment to peace-keeping. Resolution 1511 clearly indicates that the multinational force would be taking "necessary measures" for the "purpose of ensuring conditions" for the restoration of a sovereign Iraqi state. The international reactions referred to by Sarna are significant considering the UNSCR was passed unanimously. Russia has said, "The resolution did not discuss the problems of weapons of mass destruction and other matters which would have to be dealt with, which is to say that the resulting resolution did not solve all problems." Germany has categorically said it "could not envisage any military commitment," even as France posted its criticism that, "with so much at stake, a more clear-cut text should have been produced." Pakistan incidentally has said it cannot send its troops because it cannot detect a clear difference of identity between the proposed multinational force and the current coalition forces. Therefore, while there appears to be an international consensus on the need for Iraq`s governance to return to the Iraqi people at the earliest, the international community is yet to put its stamp of approval on the method in which the US-led coalition intends to go about it. India has "taken positive note of the reaffirmation in the resolution of the rights of the Iraqi people to determine their political future," and the mandate to the Iraqi Governing Council to draw up a time-table and programme by December 15, 2003 for the drafting of a new Constitution and holding of democratic elections. "However, the resolution lacks specificity on the timing of the transfer of sovereignty," the MEA spokesperson regretted. He however communicated India`s willingness to assist the Iraqi people in their country`s reconstruction efforts, confirming that India would be participating in the International Donors Conference in Madrid later this month. /211 End
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
