- News>
- India
US chides India for decision on sending troops
Washington, July 15: India`s decision not to send troops to join a stabilization force in Iraq drew a gentle rebuke from the United States yesterday as US officials said they had hoped for a different outcome.
Washington, July 15: India`s decision not to send troops to join a stabilization force in Iraq drew a gentle rebuke from the United States yesterday as US officials said they had hoped for a different outcome.
The State Department said the decision would not affect relations between Washington and New Delhi but made it clear that it did not agree with India`s position that a specific UN mandate was required for the force. Officials said privately that they were not happy with the Indian decision, which some believe may affect other countries as they consider whether to send troops to participate in the stabilization force.
"It is a decision that each country needs to make on its own depending on its interests and its concerns about the situation in Iraq," State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher said. "Certainly there (are) ample grounds in Resolution 1483 which encourages countries to participate in stabilization," he told reporters, referring to a document approved by UN Security Council after the war.
"We would have hoped that India would have made a different choice, that they would be there," Boucher added.
He declined to comment on whether that remark should be interpreted as "disappointment" or "regret" -- normal words for anger in diplomatic parlance -- but a senior department official said it fell short of both terms.
"It`s a little less than disappointment, a little less than regret," the official said, adding quickly that Washington was being very careful with its language so as not to exacerbate any damage from India`s refusal.
"I can`t say we`re particularly pleased with the decision," a second official said. "We think it was a mistake." Richard Boucher, repeating comments contained in a statement issued earlier yesterday by the US embassy in New Delhi, insisted that the move would not harm broader ties between the countries.
"India remains an important strategic partner for the United States and the continuation of the transformation of Indo-US relations is something that is important to us and that we would expect to see," he said.
Bureau Report
The State Department said the decision would not affect relations between Washington and New Delhi but made it clear that it did not agree with India`s position that a specific UN mandate was required for the force. Officials said privately that they were not happy with the Indian decision, which some believe may affect other countries as they consider whether to send troops to participate in the stabilization force.
"It is a decision that each country needs to make on its own depending on its interests and its concerns about the situation in Iraq," State Department spokesperson Richard Boucher said. "Certainly there (are) ample grounds in Resolution 1483 which encourages countries to participate in stabilization," he told reporters, referring to a document approved by UN Security Council after the war.
"We would have hoped that India would have made a different choice, that they would be there," Boucher added.
He declined to comment on whether that remark should be interpreted as "disappointment" or "regret" -- normal words for anger in diplomatic parlance -- but a senior department official said it fell short of both terms.
"It`s a little less than disappointment, a little less than regret," the official said, adding quickly that Washington was being very careful with its language so as not to exacerbate any damage from India`s refusal.
"I can`t say we`re particularly pleased with the decision," a second official said. "We think it was a mistake." Richard Boucher, repeating comments contained in a statement issued earlier yesterday by the US embassy in New Delhi, insisted that the move would not harm broader ties between the countries.
"India remains an important strategic partner for the United States and the continuation of the transformation of Indo-US relations is something that is important to us and that we would expect to see," he said.
Bureau Report