'Govt to offer legal aid to Indians on death row in UAE'

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna today said India is to provide legal assistance to Indians on death row in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

"We will give them counsellor assistance and we will also try to find out in what other ways we can help them out to file an appeal in a higher court," Krishna told reporters here.

A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced 17 Indians to death over the killing of a Pakistani, following a dispute involving illegal trade in alcohol on Monday.

Krishna further refuted local media reports that New Delhi is planning to change its Afghan policy and is planning to hold talks with Taliban in the wake of possible American pullout from Kabul next year.

"We will be speaking to the legitimate Afghanistan government led by President Karzai," said Krishna.

"My understanding with the situation is that we are there for a specific purpose and that purpose is to help Afghanistan to rebuild itself," he added.

Krishna also informed that India had not yet taken a decision on its participation in nuclear disarmament conference in Tehran next month.

Iran is organising a two-day conference on Nuclear Disarmament and is inviting ministers, officials and nuclear experts from over 60 countries for participation.