New Delhi: Another possible war by the US in West Asia could spark off a new wave of "uncontrollable anti-Americanism" in the Arab and Muslim world, give a boost to terrorism and seriously affect petroleum supplies to India, according to the latest Indian Defence Yearbook.

One more attack by the US would be treated as a confrontation between Washington and the Muslim world and could give a fillip to "jihadi" terrorism, the yearbook, released by Defence Minister George Fernandes at DefExpo-2004, said.

Such a US-led war would have an adverse impact on the supply of crude oil worldwide and India in particular, said the yearbook, edited by Lt Gen R K Jasbir Singh who once headed Army's 15 Corps based in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to a "five-pronged" strategy adopted by the Government to meet any crisis in oil supply, the yearbook also pointed out that India had planned to cushion any adverse impact of fluctuations in crude supply by creating a strategic reserve of 15 million tonnes that could last 45 days.

"In the eventuality of a war, contingent arrangements, involving purchase of crude oil and petroleum products from countries not in the war zone, would be made on the basis of commercial judgement," the yearbook, published by Natraj Publishers of Dehradun, said. It recalled that foreign-owned oil companies in India had refused to supply fuel to Indian Navy in the 1971 war against Pakistan, which had prompted then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to nationalise the oil companies. The yearbook, which is an annual digest of information and analysis of major Defence and security issues and events, has a detailed chapter on the Iraq war and subsequent developments there. It also covers Defence expenditure, Defence technology developments, current conflicts and market intelligence. The yearbook discusses the progress made in Defence research and development, weapon system introduction, force levels and related subjects, besides giving information on paramilitary forces and the Coast Guard. The yearbook gives a detailed coverage of India's strategic relations with Russia, the United States, Israel, France, South Africa and Britain and carries data on the force structures of the Chinese and Pakistani Armed forces and their Defence development projects.