US Not Seeks Indian Troops: American General

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, July 30, 2003

US Not Seeks Indian Troops: American General

Contrary to intense speculations, the United States is not seeking to persuade India to change its mind and send troops to Iraq, America's top general said Tuesday.

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Contrary to intense speculations, the United States is not seeking to persuade India to change its mind and send troops to Iraq, America's top general said Tuesday.

General Richard B. Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chief of Staff, told a news conference here before ending a two-day trip that his visit had nothing to do with Washington's SOS to friendly countries to dispatch troops to Iraq.

"We held discussions about the situation in Iraq but not about Indian troops," said Myers, one of President George W. Bush's principal military advisors.

He said he was on a "routine visit" that had been scheduled three months ago. "This has nothing to do with Indian troops for Iraq. This is a counterpart visit," he added.

Even before Myers arrived here from Iraq Monday, there was speculations that he would try to persuade the Indian leadership to reverse its earlier decision not to send troops to Iraq without an explicit UN mandate.

On Monday Gen. Myers met his Indian counterpart, Navy Chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh, who is also chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, as well as Air Chief Marshal S. Krishnas wamy, the Indian Air Force chief.

He is scheduled to meet Indian Army Chief General N.C. Vij and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra before leaving for Pakistan Tuesday.

Asked why Indian troop contribution to Iraq was considered important by the US, he said that the stability of Iraq and Afghanistan -- "where terrorists want to gather" -- was of international importance.

"This is not good for any of us, and India understands this," he added.

The general said that the US was "grateful" for India's cooperation in the fight against terrorism. "India is a good friend of America," he added.

Asked about the rejection of the US request for troops by a growing number of countries, including India, Myers said, "It doesn't bother us. Countries have to take their own decisions."

He said troops from 19 countries were already in Iraq and 15 more had said their troops were "on the way".

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