New Delhi: Reaffirming India's commitment to peaceful resolution of the Iraq crisis, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on March 7 told the Rajya Sabha that New Delhi was against any war and said there was no reason for Indians in the Gulf region to panic.

"We remain entirely committed to peaceful resolution of this particular issue (Iraq). India has always said on every platform that we want peaceful resolution, which means we are against war or military conflict," he said, winding up a discussion on a private member's resolution on US threat of war against Iraq.

Making it clear that India was against any unilateral operation against Baghdad, Sinha said any action taken should be mandated by the United Nations Security Council.

He said once Iraq complied with the UN resolutions, sanctions imposed on it should be lifted.

On the effect of the crisis on Indian economy, Sinha said though war had not actually broken out, slowdown of global economy had affected Indian economy.

Asserting that there was no reason for the 3.5 million Indians residing in the Gulf region to panic, the Minister said he had reviewed the situation with Indian Ambassadors in the area.

"We do not think a situation will arise to undertake a massive airlift of the people," he said, adding all preparations needed to meet the situation had, however, been made.

PTI