New Delhi: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was non-committal on the issue of sending Indian troops to Iraq, observing that the role of the United Nations itself has been "called into question by some recent developments".

"Was it open?" countered Vajpayee when asked if India was still keeping its option open on despatching its forces to the war-ravaged country, shortly before he emplaned for Turkey en route to the UN on a 13- day visit.

Replying to questions on the Iraq issue, he told reporters at the airport, "The UN is going to meet. If they (the world body) take a decision, we will also take a decision."

The Prime Minister's remarks come in the backdrop of the Defence Ministry making it clear that it cannot spare troops for deployment in Iraq at this juncture, as there was no let up in Pakistan-sponsored cross- border terrorism and they were needed to effectively counter it.

Vajpayee, who is heading a high-level delegation said, "The UN session is going to be very important. To what extent the international community can maintain world peace and carry everybody along will be discussed."

In a departure statement, he said, "There are a number of issues of international concern facing the world and particularly the role and structure of the UN has itself been called into question by some recent developments."

PTI