India rejects Iraq peacekeeping role

INDIA yesterday rejected a US request for peacekeeping troops in Iraq, saying it would consider sending soldiers only under a United Nations mandate.

“Were there to be an explicit UN mandate for the purpose, the government could consider deploying our troops in Iraq,” External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said after a meeting of the Cabinet and security officials.

The US request came during a visit by Indian Deputy Premier Lal Krishna Advani to Washington last month.