HYDERABAD: Relatives of Kasula Suryanarayana who was beheaded by the Taliban on Sunday came down heavily on Pakistan for its alleged `crusade' against Indian employees working in Afghanistan.

Reacting to reports on a Kabul-based television channel wherein a Taliban commander claimed that Pakistan intelligence had a hand in the killing of the city engineer, they said their worst fears about alleged Pakistan involvement in the killing came true with the revelation made by the Taliban leader.

Premeditated killing

They maintained that the killing was premeditated and executed by Taliban at the behest of Pakistan. "It was evident from the fact that the Taliban killed Suryanarayana before hostage crisis experts reached Kabul for negotiations," they said. The Taliban went ahead with the killing despite setting a deadline up to 7 p.m. on April 30.

"It remains to be seen as to how the Government will react to it," Suryanarayana's brother-in-law M. Krishna said.

Condemning the alleged role of Pakistan's ISI in the killing, Mr. Krishna recalled that Suryanarayana had told his wife Manjula on phone two days before he was kidnapped that he had a miraculous escape in a blast triggered by the Taliban on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"My sister Manjula insisted that Suryanarayana must come back immediately after he narrated the incident. But he persuaded her saying that it was part and parcel of working conditions in Afghanistan and promised her that he would soon complete the work and return to the city," Mr. Krishna, a jeweller, said.

According to Mr. Krishna, Roshan company, an Afghan mobile service provider, gave sub-contract to Bahrain-based Al Moayed telecom company in which Suryanarayana used to work.

"We came to know that the company was enquiring into the security lapses," he said.

Manjula recuperating

Meanwhile, Ms. Manjula who was admitted to Asian Institute of Gastroenterology after she attempted suicide at her house in East Anandbagh on May 1 was recuperating.

"She will be kept under observation in the ICU for one more week," Mr. Krishna added.

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