Thursday, December 1 2005 14:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Making it clear that India would not succumb to terrorism and continue to help Afghanistan, Government today (Dec 1,2005) said it proposed to beef up security for Indian personnel working in that country following the abduction and killing of Border Roads Organization (BRO) driver Maniappam Raman Kutty.

"We are concerned. A large number of people are working not only working Afghanistan but the whole of West Asia. From security point of view, these areas are of concern," Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha replying to a clarification on a suo motu statement on the killing of the BRO driver at the hands of Taliban last month.

But at the same time, he said, there could be no foolproof security as Indian government had to depend on the local Government as well.

Regarding the Highway construction project connecting southern Afghanistan with Iran, Mukherjee said it would continue.

"We will not succumb to this type of terrorism and we will continue to help Afghanistan, " he said.

He said 38 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel were providing security for the project and efforts are being made to increase the security strength and its details were being worked out by the Director General of BRO with Afghan authorities.

It was the desire of Taliban to stall the project but India was committed to complete it, the Minister said.