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India says 'no' to US Iraqi troop request
India cannot send soldiers to help the United States in Iraq because its forces are too busy fighting Islamic separatists in Kashmir, a senior Indian defence official said on Friday.
| And Pakland can't send them because they're busy training the guys the Indians are fighting... |
US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca raised the issue again in New Delhi this week after India turned down Washington's request in July, saying there was no clear United Nations mandate for an international force. "The ground situation in the northwest sector (Kashmir) is such that we cannot afford to send our military personnel at this point of time, but this is not a flat no," the official said. India has previously indicated it could consider sending troops if the UN sanctioned an international force. The US has request that India deploy a division, about 15,000 to 20,000 soldiers. It is the first time officials in New Delhi have linked India's ability to help in Iraq with violence in disputed Kashmir.
Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2003-09-13 |
