India argues over Iraq troops

By Jyotsna Singh BBC correspondent in Delhi

India's decision not to send troops to Iraq follows an intense debate over the issue.

India wants the UN to play a prominent role in Iraq

The Indian Government was keen on having a presence in the region.

But efforts to establish a political consensus on the issue have failed.

Opinion in India has been sharply divided on whether the country stands to gain anything in sending troops to Iraq.

India should also be ready to shoulder regional and global responsibilities in the maintenance of order and stability Anaslyst Subhash Kapila

The government was unable to get the consensus they had hoped for with opposition parties voicing their anger at moves to send the Indian troops to work under US command.

They said such an action would constitute a violation of a parliamentary resolution that condemned the US-led war on Iraq.

Opposition

The move to send troops was also opposed by parties within the government.

Political agreement on the issue was particularly significant as crucial elections to four state assemblies are due later this year. There were fears the move to send troops could anger the Muslim community.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had indicated earlier that he would wait for a national consensus before committing his forces.

Massive media attention took the debate into the living rooms of India and opinion was divided.

There were many who advocated a pragmatic approach on the issue. India's opposition to the war they said, did not mean it should continue to avoid involvement in the post-war Iraq.

"India has aspirations to be a regional and a key global player. This aspiration is not only of the government but also of a vast majority of the Indian people," Subhash Kapila of the South Asia Analysis group wrote in a recent article.

The present situation in Iraq has its origins in action that was clearly in breach of international legal conventions Amitav Ghosh Hindu Newspaper

"It that is so, then India should also be ready to shoulder regional and global responsibilities in the maintenance of order and stability."

He argued that if India sent troops to the regions its role as an international player would be emphasised.

Legitimatising

But several analysts challenged the argument that India must play a role in Iraq saying it would amount to legitimising the US occupation of Iraq.

"The present situation in Iraq has its origins in action that was clearly in breach of international legal conventions," wrote, Amitav Ghosh in The Hindu newspaper.

"To send troops to Iraq now would be a step towards the retrospective normalisation of the situation. India has much more to lose than to gain from this."

He also questioned the theory that India could become a global player by standing with the big and powerful.

"Our history has suffered in vain if it has failed to teach us this is not how the world works."