NEW DELHI, June 16 (UPI) -- India's coalition government headed by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is facing a major diplomatic dilemma -- whether or not to send troops to Iraq. The prospect of billions of dollars in reconstruction contracts has vied with growing public and political opposition to the proposed move.
Having opposed the U.S.-British war on Saddam Hussein's Iraq as unjust, it has increasingly become difficult for New Delhi to make a diplomatic U-turn and deploy troops in Iraq, now the scene of increased violence against U.S. and British occupation forces. A parliamentary resolution had condemned the war, and it will not be easy for the government to order troops to Baghdad as part of the international coalition's attempts to restore stability in the region.
While Indian political parties are divided on the issue, U.S. Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill has said, "It would be in India's interest to send troops."
Despite assurances from Blackwill that Indian troops will not be deployed in combat operations, New Delhi has yet to commit troops.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had at least publicly opposed the U.S.-led war, is facing stiff opposition from domestic political circles over the issue of troops. Most opposition parties are against the move to send Indian troops to Baghdad under U.S. command. Washington has been prodding New Delhi to deploy its troops on the streets of Baghdad as part of international efforts to restore law and order.
A Pentagon team led by Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman arrived in the Indian capital Monday. The major concerns the team will address are what role Indian will play, who pays for the deployment, and under whose command would they serve. Indian troops have never served under U.S. command.
Earlier reports indicated that Indian troops would likely to be positioned in regions where U.S. soldiers were suffering casualties at the hands of hostile Iraqis.
The Indian government is expected to hold a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security after the Pentagon team clarifies the role of Indian troops. The government asked India's Embassy in Baghdad to send feedback on the reception Indian troops might receive from the local population in Iraq.
India says it is not under any pressure from Washington on troop deployment, and that it is free to take its sovereign decision on the issue.
"The government of India, I believe, on the basis of what I had conveyed to the leaders of the American government, is free to take a decision after hearing from the Pentagon team," said Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani during his recent trip to Washington.
Advani said though the Bush administration was keen on India's participation in the process of stabilization in Iraq, he did not see pressure of any kind.
India's multi-party National Democratic Alliance government said Sunday all political parties would be consulted before a national consensus was reached on the issue. Vajpayee Sunday held a meeting with India's main opposition leader, Sonia Gandhi. Her Congress Party had earlier written to Vajpayee that Indian troops should not be sent to Iraq unless under U.N. command or with an authority that had U.N. mandate.
India has had traditionally strong ties with the Arab world and even during Iraq's isolation following its 1990 invasion of Kuwait in 1990, New Delhi maintained close ties with Saddam's government. Iraq is perhaps the only Muslim country that has sided with India on its dispute with Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.
India plans to consult Iraq's neighbors -- Jordan, Syria, Iran and Turkey -- on the proposed deployment. The consultations may be a way to build support for troop deployment within India.
"We will hold consultations with countries in the region ... also interested political parties, including partners of the ruling alliance, and will ultimately take a view which is in national interest," Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha has said.
The opposition Congress said it will finalize its stand only when it gets more information.
"We will wait for the Pentagon officials to brief the government, and then wait for the government to take a view and only then finalize our stand on the issue," said Natwar Singh, one of the party's leaders.
Vajpayee also plans to hold meetings with other party leaders before a final decision.
The private NDTV reported that New Delhi was also considering whether it would be more prudent to send teams of engineers, doctors and teachers, instead of soldiers, to help with Iraq's reconstruction.
Sources say India has been asked to deploy nearly 14,000 troops across Iraq, but analysts said the decision would not be easy.
"It is a tough decision for India to deploy troops as part of a hostile occupation of a country with which India has had friendly relations even during sanctions era," said Hardev Singh Sachar, a political analyst from Punjab University. Others say the country does not have much to gain in sending troops.
"The obvious U.S. interest in expanding the coalition of the willing is to broaden global support for its actions in Iraq, soften its image as an occupying force and, by sending home some sections of its forces, reduce American casualties at the hands of hostile Iraqi nationalists," analyst Taufiq Shuban said in an article in The Indian Express newspaper.
But business leaders say troops may be the first step in a greater Indian role in Iraq's reconstruction. They hope to get a share of contracts in Iraq's rebuilding. Several chambers of Indian industries are keen to explore business and investment opportunities in Iraq and skilled workers hope to find new jobs there. An Indian role in Iraq could win it commercial contracts worth billions of dollars.
"Although there is a parliament resolution against the war but that is over now and now in the interest of international peace, all parties must stand united behind any decision that the government takes," Satya Pal Jain, a former BJP lawmaker said.
Others in the BJP are of the opinion this is the right moment to win Washington's gratitude and use U.S. pressure to force neighboring Pakistan to end support to Islamic rebels in Kashmir.
Despite the potential gains, however, public opinion so far been against Indian troop deployment.
Hundreds have posted messages on the Internet opposing the sending of Indian troops to Iraq.
"India should not deploy troops to Iraq," said a message posted by Prem Kumar on the sify.com Web site. "It is the mess created by U.S. and U.K. and they should pay for it."
Another reader, Chandna, who identified herself by one name only, said: "Indian troops should only go to Iraq if they can take their own decisions, and really help the Iraqis. To go there to play second fiddle to Americans would be a blow to our self respect."
