Myers shot down intense media speculation that he was in the country to press India to send troops to strife-torn Iraq.

"I was quite surprised to read the newspaper headlines this morning which have put forward all kinds of reasons for my visit," Myers told a press conference.

"But unlike the conjectures, this trip was planned three months ago and has nothing to do with India sending troops to Iraq and everything to do with boosting robust Indo-US military exercises," he said.

"India's refusal to send troops does not bother us. The US is a good friend of India. I am grateful for India's cooperation in continuing the war on terrorism. India is vital for the economic prosperity of the South Asian region."

Myers, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, held talks with his Indian counterpart Admiral Madhvendera Singh and air force chief S. Krishnaswamy on Monday before attending a ceremonial banquet.

"I had very productive talks with my counterpart. We have had discussions about the situation in Iraq as part of our conversation. But we really didn't discuss troop deployment because India has already made a decision on that."

Myers said his talks with Indian officials had focused on a defence policy group meeting of the two countries in the United States on August 6 and 7.

Myers was later Tuesday to hold talks with Indian army chief General N.C. Vij and Brajesh Mishra, the national security adviser to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Myers' visit is the first by a high-ranking US military official to India since New Delhi on July 14 turned down a US request to send troops for a stabilisation force in Iraq.

Several nations, including India, France, Russia and Germany, have said they will not participate in the stabilisation mission unless it is specifically authorized by the UN Security Council in a new resolution.

Myers indicated that Washington was open to the idea of a new UN mandate for the forces.

"The issue does not really come within my purview, but some thought had been given to this... but nothing definite," he said.

He added that 34 nations had so far agreed to participate with the US in an international stabilisation force for Iraq.

"A stable Iraq and Afghanistan are important to the world community in the fight against international terrorism as well regional stability... Several countries have seen that," said Myers.

"Nineteen countries have already contributed ground troops while 15 others are helping with auxiliary forces."

"Apart from these 34 countries, there are others I have not counted who have already assisted with medical equipment, economic assistance and so on."

Myers tried to put a brave face on US casualties in Iraq but admitted that the area between Baghdad and ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's home region of Tikrit in northern Iraq was a problem.

"It is still bad, particularly in that area that I have described between Tikrit and Baghdad... I think it is fair to say that it is still a war zone," said Myers.

"It is still a very challenging environment. It is still a very hard environment. There is no food crisis, there is no medical crisis. But there are still parts of the infrastructure that are dilapidated."

WAR.WIRE