Defence Minister George Fernandes on Friday said the Indian Air Force is ready for speedy evacuation of Indians living or working in the Gulf region where US-led forces have invaded Iraq.

Addressing the media in Bangalore after witnessing the first official test flight of the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT36), Fernandes said the IAF transport fleet would join Air-India and Indian Airlines in case the war dragged on and the need for mass evacuation of Indians arose.

"Air India and Indian Airlines have already started bringing Indians from Kuwait and other countries in the region. Even foreign airlines have pressed additional flights into service," Fernandes said.

Fernandes told rediff.com that the IAF is ready to join evacuation operations whenever the government desires.

According to sources in the external affairs ministry, about three million Indians live in the Gulf region, mostly in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Calling for an immediate end to hostilities in Iraq, Fernandes said, "The unilateral action of the US and UK against Iraq amounts to undermining the authority of the United Nations on member countries."

"The US-led war is unjust. It would only give a fresh  impetus to terrorism," Fernandes fumed.