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

"...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 told a press conference.

"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, airforce chief S. Krishnaswamy, army chief General N.C. Vij and Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad.

"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.

Indian defence ministry spokesman P.K. Bandhopadhayay confirmed the issue, which had provoked heated debate in India, did not figure in Myers' talks.

"Myers did not broach the subject at all but he gave his assessment on Afghanistan, which indicated the US will be committed there for some time," the spokesman told AFP.

"The general also gave his assessement on Iraq and said the situation there was better than reports suggest," he said, adding that two sides also discussed a meeting of the India-US Defence Policy Group and two other military conferences set for next month.

Myers also met India's National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra but details of the talks were not immediately available.

Myers' visit is the first by a high-ranking US military official to India since July 14 when India rejected the US request.

Several nations, including India, France, Russia and Germany, have said they will not participate in the stabilisation mission unless it is 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 said 34 nations had so far agreed to participate with the US in 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, however, 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.

Meanwhile the outgoing US Ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill, Tuesday pledged Washington and New Delhi would jointly fight the scourge of terrorism.

"We will win the war on terrorism, and the US and India will win it together because we represent good, and terrorists are evil incarnate," he said on the eve of his departure.

WAR.WIRE