Monday, November 28 2005 15:35 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: India had sought Pakistan's help in rescuing BRO employee Maniappan Raman Kutty, who was abducted and killed by the Taliban, but was told by Islamabad that it has ceased to have any contacts with the Afghan militia, the Lok Sabha was informed today (Nov 28, 2005).

Pakistani authorities expressed their inability to assist on the ground that they no longer had any contacts with the Taliban, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said after making a suo motu statement on the Kutty incident.

He denied that Government has pointed any accusing finger at Pakistan for Kutty's killing in western Afghanistan after four days in captivity.

The clarification came from Mukherjee, who is also the Defense Minister, when Leader of the Opposition L K Advani drew Government's attention to reports quoting National Security Adviser M K Narayanan that Pakistan was involved in the dastardly act.

Advani said it was a serious matter and wanted Government to take Parliament into confidence.

Mukherjee said he had spoken to Narayanan who told him that he was 'misquoted' in news reports. Narayanan conveyed to him that he had not stated that Pakistan was responsible for the incident.

The NSA said he had spoken about Pakistan's hand in the past when that country had ties with the Taliban, Mukherjee said.