Consul rejects reports claiming India may deploy commandos to embassy in Iraq

It also mentioned that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had been tasked to provide the best combat personnel to secure the Embassy, its diplomatic staff and their families against any terror threats.

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Indian paramilitary commandos may soon be sent to Iraq to guard the embassy and its diplomats against the threat of the Islamic State (IS), a claim denied by the Indian Consulate in the Kurdistan Region.

The deployment of the Indian armed squad to its embassy in Iraq’s capital has been approved in principle by the ministries at home, Indian PTI news agency reported, citing a senior Indian official on Thursday.

It also mentioned that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had been tasked to provide the best combat personnel to secure the Embassy, its diplomatic staff and their families against any terror threats.

“Given the constant threat of the [IS] terror group in Iraq, it was being discussed for a long time that the Indian Embassy there should have a professional security cover,” the official reportedly said.

“The effort to send the paramilitary commandos is a move in that direction. However, the final approval for stationing the squad in Baghdad is yet to be given by the government.”

Baghdad has witnessed few suicide attacks over the past few months, namely since the physical defeat of IS in December 2017. The Indian embassy complex, located on al-Mansour Street, has never been a target of the jihadist group.

The source noted that the security personnel would also provide security cover to senior diplomats and staffers every time they move to and from the facility.

It also claims the proposed contingent would be about 45-50 personnel, adding that the guards would be trained in defusing improvised explosive devices (IEDs), conducting special operations, and hostage rescues.

CRPF is India's largest paramilitary and is primarily charged with internal security.

So far, there have been no official statements on the deployment from the Indian government or its Embassy in Baghdad.

Kurdistan 24 on Friday contacted the Indian Consulate General in Erbil regarding the reliability of the reports. The consulate rejected the reports and noted they were in contact with the Indian embassy in Baghdad which did not inform them of such plans.

Editing by Nadia Riva