The United States is "not actually snooping" said the Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Tuesday, reports The Hindu.
Defending the US surveillance programme, Khurshid said:
“Some of the information they (the US) got out of their scrutiny, they were able to use it to prevent serious terrorist attacks in several countries,”
Meanwhile, India has reportedly refused to grant asylum to the whistleblower Edward Snowden.
A spokesperson for the foreign ministry, Syed Akbaruddin, said:
"Our embassy in Moscow did receive a communication dated 30 June from Mr Edward Snowden. That communication did contain a request for asylum,"
"Following careful examination, we have concluded that we see no reason to accede to Snowden's request."