The army also wants the troops to be backed by at least four naval motorboats as well as Indian Air Force transport planes and helicopters to give more firepower options in case of combat.

It wants the Indian deployment to take charge of an entire sector, such as northern Iraq.

The Indian government has been mulling deployment of troops to Iraq following a request by Washington but has been unable to take a decision due to political opposition.

The government has said it will take a decision only after consulting major national political parties and Iraq's neighbouring countries.

The Indian army, the paper said, has also given an alternate proposal of deploying around 3,000 troops along with army engineers and medical personnel to operate as part of a multinational peacekeeping force.

However, the Hindustan Times said the Indian government has told the United States that it needs a "credible" Iraqi regime in place before sending troops to the country.

It said India's position was conveyed to US ambassador to India Robert D. Blackwill during a meeting with deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishan Advani Thursday.

WAR.WIRE