New Delhi: Though US is "disappointed" over India's decision not to send troops to Iraq, it will not affect Indo-US relations "in the slightest" and there is "no residual aftermath", outgoing American Ambassador to India Robert D Blackwill said on July 17.

"We were disappointed" over New Delhi's stand that it can consider sending troops to the war-ravaged country only if there is an explicit UN mandate, he said, adding "We had hoped that India would take a different decision.

"But the transformation of US-India relations that I am describing will not be affected in the slightest by this particular outcome of India’s governmental democratic process."

Blackwill's remarks came during the course of his speech on the 'Future of US-India relations' at a function organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and later during a question-answer session.

He said the Indian government had also spoken about considering sending troops under different circumstances. So it depended on what happened in New York at the UN, as also within the governmental democratic practices.

The US Envoy dismissed reports of US pressure on India to despatch troops. "We didn't pressure government of India. We had serious and sustained discussions on the basis of equality," he said.

PTI