New Delhi: After MPs cutting across party lines accused the US of war-mongering,
India on February 19 made it clear in Parliament that any further action on Iraq
should be based on the "broadest possible international consensus" and a war should
be avoided.
The government stand outlined in the Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Jaswant Singh
deputising for External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha came with a rider that the
UN Security Council (UNSC) cannot be expected to wait indefinitely for the
implementation of its resolution 1441 asking Iraq to disarm.
He said India has maintained that "wars and conflicts are always the last option,
never the first".
It has also held that UN weapons inspectors must have a "full and completely
unfettered opportunity to complete their onerous task".
The minister made it clear that the "UNSC cannot be expected to wait indefinitely to
secure what resolution 1441 had itself said; immediate, active and unconditional co-
operation" from Iraq.
Government also came under attack from Opposition Benches for "not spelling out" its
stand on military action in Iraq and was accused of "subjugating itself" to American
plan.
They wanted the government to take a meaningful initiative to ensure peace in West
Asia at a time when Washington was acting as a "big bully".
PTI
