India on Thursday said it will strengthen security for Indian nationals working on various projects in Afghanistan and shortly send a team of senior officials to the war-ravaged country to undertake a comprehensive assessment and make further recommendations in this regard.
An External Affairs Ministry spokesman said the need for such a review was felt after the November 19 abduction and subsequent killing of Border Roads Organisation worker M R Kutty by the Taliban.
"Following the abduction and killing of M R Kutty, a review of the security guidelines for Indians working in Afghanistan is being undertaken in consultation with local authorities. In the course of this review, security arrangements are being strengthened and necessary precautions taken. We are also in touch with the Afghan authorities in this regard," the spokesman said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the nation last month after M R Kutty's killing that the government would ensure the security of Indian nationals working on various projects in Afghanistan.
About 1,000 Indians are working on several projects in the troubled country.
A 40-member contingent of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police is already deployed in protecting the camps of those working on the Zaranj-Delaram road where M R Kutty was working. The government had said the number of the ITBP contingent could be increased.
As per the current arrangement, the ITBP personnel cannot move outside with weapons. Officials said the ITBT contingent was confined to guarding the camps where the engineers and workers live.
