No change in Indian policy in Middle East: Manohar Parrikar

Washington, Dec 11: India on Thursday ruled out any change in its policy in the Middle East on assisting the international efforts to combat the Islamic State, saying it will only participate in UN approved programmes.

"No changes in policy. While we are sharing intelligence, we believe that whatever role India is to play under any UN approved programme, we'll do it," Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar told reporters in a joint news conference with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, when asked if India is considering increasing its role in countering the Islamic State.

"There is no change in India's policy," he said, referring to the Indian policy that it would participate only in UN approved peacekeeping missions.

However, he said that in view of the threat from ISIS there is intelligence sharing between the two countries. "But we don't mind to go one step forward in sharing the (intelligence) information," Parrikar said.

PTI