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This is an archive article published on June 13, 2003

Send troops under UN command only: Cong tells Centre

The Congress today put the ball in the Government’s court on the issue of sending Indian troops to Iraq seeking a clarification on whet...

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The Congress today put the ball in the Government’s court on the issue of sending Indian troops to Iraq seeking a clarification on whether it would be ‘‘with the mandate of the United Nations’’.

In view of Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani’s US visit, the Congress can take a final stand on the issue only after the meeting between Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and party chief Sonia Gandhi on Sunday and the visit of the Pentagon officials on Monday.

The party is also working on the interpretation of the UN Security Council resolution 1483 passed on May 22, endorsing a coalition-led administration in Iraq and appointing a UN special representative to Iraq. The Congress is examining the technicality which Sonia had referred to in her June 5 letter to Vajpayee. There, she had opposed any proposal for sending troops ‘‘under any arrangement other than a UN command or as part of a multi-national peace-keeping force that has the UN mandate.’’

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Speaking earlier, J.N. Dixit stressed that the party is not averse to cooperation. ‘‘But this should be done keeping in view the Indian interests and the interests of the people of Iraq,’’ he said. At a press briefing earlier in the week, senior leader Natwar Singh had said: ‘‘We want clarification on a few things. Where will our troops be serving? Under whose command will they be serving? And who will they be reporting to?’’

The Pentagon team will provide clarifications sought by New Delhi on Washington’s request to contribute troops to Iraq. ‘‘It will be a one-day affair and the Ministry of External Affairs will be playing the lead,’’ an MEA spokesperson said.

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