NEW DELHI: India can carry out an offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (IS) but only under the UN flag. Stating India’s stand, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said Indian forces can undertake operations, if the global body adopts a resolution.
“We have made it clear that if there is a UN resolution and if there is UN flag and a UN mission, then as per India’s policy to operate under UN flag, we will participate,” Parrikar told reporters at India Gate after laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti on the occasion of Vijay Diwas.
Asked specifically if India will act against ISIS under the UN flag, he replied, “that depends on whether the UN takes a resolution.” India had earlier this month, along with major world economies, participated in the first-ever global meeting held in Paris to discuss and evolve mechanisms to combat the terror financing network of the Islamic State. According to security agencies, around 20 Indians are currently fighting for IS in Iraq-Syria, including two youths from Kalyan, an Australia-based Kashmiri, one each from Telangana and Karnataka, one Oman-based Indian and another Singapore-based Indian. Last year, a youth from Kalyan returned home after spending about six months with IS. He was arrested on arrival in Mumbai. Among the six Indians who fought alongside the IS and got killed, three were Indian Mujahideen terrorists, including Sultan Ajmer Shah and Bada Sajid, who had joined its ranks after being in Pakistan, two from Maharashtra and one from Telangana.
CDS Posting Soon
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar indicated on Wednesday that the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) could soon be a reality. “Should be,” he told reporters when asked if the post could created soon. His comment came a day after Prime Minister said that “jointness at the top” was long overdue. The Chief of Defence Staffwould be in charge of the tri-services command at the Andaman and Nicobar islands.