Govt denies presence of Al-Qaeda in the country

New Delhi, Aug 2: The government today denied that international terror outfit Al-Qaeda had started spreading its tentacles in India, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, saying available outputs did not confirm its direct presence.

''Available inputs do not confirm direct presence of Al-Qaeda in the country,'' Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

However, during the period from January 1 2005 to July 20 this year, a total of 31 ISI-backed espionage modules were neutralised in various parts of the country, resulting in arrest of 56 spy agents, including 21 Pakistan residents, he said.

The minister said the government had been pursuing a well-coordinated and multi-pronged approach to tackle the activities of the ISI by strengthening the border management to check illegal cross-border activities and gearing up the intelligence machinery.

Mr Jaiswal also said close interaction and coordination between different agencies of the Centra and the State governments for neutralising plans of militants, ISI agents and anti-national elements, modernisation and upgradation of police and security forces with advanced and sophisticated weapons and communication system and taking action against those involved in espionage under the Officials Secrets Act were other steps taken in this direction.

UNI

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