On September 21, Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, replying to a question in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) said Pakistan attempted to designate four Indian nationals, who had previously worked in Afghanistan, as terrorists under UN Security Council resolution 1267. "However, the 1267 Sanctions Committee, based on its internal procedures, has not approved the request," he said. Muraleedharan said Pakistan has been targeting Indian professionals working in Afghanistan in a variety of ways. "Several Indians working in Afghanistan on various development projects have been attacked and kidnapped over the past 12 years. With the assistance of the government of Afghanistan, India has been able to secure the release of many Indians from captivity," he said.