Al Qaeda not present in India: Govt

New Delhi, Nov 28 (UNI) India has no direct presence of Al Qaeda but some of the Pak based ISI sponsored terrorist outfits reportedly active in the country are known to have links with it, Parliament was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha that available inputs donot confirm the presence of Al Qaeda in the country.

In another reply, he said that a total of 26 foreign nationals have been arrested on charges of espionage between January 2005 and November 2006. Of these, 24 are Pakistani, one Nepalese and one Bangladeshi.

Necessary action has been taken against these persons under the relevant provisions of the Officials Secret Act, 1923 and other relevant laws.

Meanwhile, during the current year a total of 21 ISI-backed espionage modules have been neutralised in the country resulting in the arrest of agents including some defence personnel, he said in another reply.

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