'Communication with Snowden did contain a request of asylum': MEA

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin on Tuesday said here that the communication with the former National Security Advisor (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden did contain a request of asylum.

"Communication did contain a request of asylum. We have concluded no reason to accept that request," Akbaruddin said.

Earlier, when the media asked External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to comment on Snowden, he said, "I'm here, who's he asked? I don't know, I don't think so. We are very careful with our rules about asylum. We are very careful. India doesn't encourage asylum. But you know, part of the international system in appropriate cases, India would consider asylum for meritorious aims. I can't think that of any reasons or circumstances of which India will give asylum. We are very careful with these things."

Snowden worked for the NSA before he fled to Hong Kong last month with laptops full of confidential information. He is believed to be currently holed up in Moscow airport's transit zone since his arrival from Hong Kong on June 23.

He is wanted in the U.S. on the charges of espionage and leaking classified documents. Documents leaked by him last month exposed a systematic and large-scale surveillance of phone and internet communications by the NSA around the world.