India would not send troops to Iraq, foreign minister says

Visiting Indian Foreign Minister K.Natwar Singh reiterated on Wednesday the position of the Indian government that it would not send troops to Iraq to aid the multinational forces after the power transfer to

Iraq's interim government on June 30. India's "position on the issue is based on the national consensus which was reflected in the unanimous resolution just last year in both houses of the Indian Parliament," Singh told reporters after holding talks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Speaking of the recent UN Security Council resolution on the turnover in Iraq, Singh said it was "a first step in restoring sovereignty to the Iraqi people and leading to stability and peaceand reconstruction."

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw also told reporters on Wednesday that during his talks with Singh, he didn't ask India tocontribute troops to Iraq because Britain knows and respects the position of the Indian government.

On the issue of peace talks between India and Pakistan, Singh said that India would pursue the negotiations with Pakistan, stressing that "the atmosphere in both countries is conducive to carrying the dialogue further."

Singh's comments came before his upcoming meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri scheduled for next week.

Source: Xinhua