New Delhi, June 13: Days ahead of a Pentagon team`s arrival here to clear India’s apprehensions over troop deployment in Iraq, the US today said that a no from New Delhi on its request for troops would "not damage" ties. The US also made it clear that the Indian troops would be deployed for non-combat purposes in Iraq.
"There is no pressure from the US on this score (of sending Indian troops). Even the Deputy Prime Minister did not feel any pressure nor did we exert any," US ambassador here Robert Blackwill told a group of reporters.
Replying to questions on the American request for deployment of Indian troops as a stabilising factor in war-ravaged Iraq, Blackwill, who was in Washington during Advani`s visit, said, "We want Indian troops there as they are highly professional and very experienced." The US envoy said, "They (the troops) will not be used for combat. A decision to send them will be positive and will enhance Indo-US relationship".
At the same time, he said, "A decision not to do so will not damage the relationship which is very robust.... Not to send them is their (Indian government`s) choice."
Blackwill said India had vital interests in Iraq including energy supplies besides cultural connections and good relationship with the Iraqi people. Meanwhile, the US has emphasised that it also did not want to associate with "any particular kind of formulation" like Pakistan being the epicentre of terrorism as stated by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in Los Angeles but asserted that global war against the menace would not be won till terrorism against India ended. Bureau Report