NEW DELHI, July 28: The Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff arrived in New Delhi on Monday for talks with Indian leaders about the possible deployment of Indian troops to Iraq.

Gen Richard B. Meyers, who flew in from Baghdad, is scheduled to meet Indian navy chief Admiral Madhvendra Singh.

He will also meet Indian army chief Gen N.C. Vij, Indian air force chief S. Krishnaswamy, and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra before leaving for Pakistan on Tuesday afternoon.

On July 18, following a crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting, India turned down a US request to deploy 17,000 soldiers in Iraq.

India’s External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told parliament last week the government would only consider joining the stabilisation force in Iraq “under an explicit United Nations mandate”.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell discussed with Mr Sinha the possibility of a new UN resolution during a 25-minute telephone conversation last week.

—dpa