It said India desires to join the G8 because of its failed attempts to grab a full seat in an expanded Security Council of the United Nations, which has Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States as its current permanent members.

"India may be aiming for accommodation in an expanded G8 forum, in return for sending its troops for 'stabilising' the internal situation in parts of Iraq," the respected daily quoted unnamed sources as saying.

Around 15,000 to 17,000 Indian troops could be sent to Iraq if New Delhi agrees to the US request, according to experts here.

The report came a day after Defence Minister George Fernandes said India will not decide to commit troops to Iraq before discussions with officials from the war-ravaged nation as well as neighbouring Turkey and Iran.

India is also awaiting replies to questions it posed to the Pentagon last week about a US request that Indian troops join an international stabilisation force in Iraq.

India's main opposition Congress party opposes such a move because of its fears that repurcussions back home could prove to be politically-suicidal for most political groupings in and out of the national government.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee is due to have a second round of consultations with political parties at the weekend on the potentially explosive issue.

Indian Muslims, the country's single largest religious minority, as well as the rightwing Hindu Shiv Sena party, an ally of Vajpayee's federal coalition, oppose deployment to Iraq.

WAR.WIRE