Govt does not rule out ISI role in Suryanarayana's killing

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The government today did not rule out the role of Pakistan's ISI in the killing of Indian telecom engineer K Suryanarayana in Afghanistan but stopped short of directly holding it responsible.

''Though Pakistan has denied it, there are certain indications that the ISI is equally active. I am told that the ISI had its hand...that is what we trying to convey to Pakistan that terrorists cannot be anybody's friends...I don't know whether they can be their own friends,'' Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Rajya Sabha.

Replying to a supplementary on ISI activities and the reported involvement of ISI in the killing of Indian telecom engineer K Suryanarayana by Taliban in Afghanistan, the Defence Minister said the ISI was ''equally active''.

He said Suryanarayana's killing was a clear indication that Taliban do not want India's participation in Afghanistan's development.

''Therefore, they (Taliban) are trying to create a situation where we react in panic,'' he added.

UNI RB YA BD2002