New Delhi, July 29: US Military Chief General Richard B Myers today said India`s decision not to send troops to Iraq did not "bother us" and made it clear that he did not discuss the issue with Indian officials. The General who left for Islamabad after hectic rounds of discussion with top military brass and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra, told reporters "India`s refusal to send troops does not bother us. The US is good friend of India. I am grateful for India`s cooperation in continuing the war on international terrorism.".

Asked whether he discussed the issue of renewing US request for Indian troops deployment in Iraq, he said, "We had discussions about the situation in Iraq as part of our conversation. But we really did not discuss troop deployment because India has already made a decision on that". Shooting down media speculation that his visit was to persuade Indian government to deploy troops in Iraq, Myers said he was quite surprised about these "conjectures". The trip was planned three months ago and " nothing to do with India sending troops to Iraq and everything to do with boosting robust Indo-US military ties.

He also rejected another media report that US wanted India to send troops for deployment in Afghanistan.

Myers said it was for individual nations to take decision to commit troops for stablisation force in Iraq, though US wanted forces in both Iraq and Afghanistan to be expanded. Bureau Report