Based on the small-gap approximation of Kane, the indirect exchange interaction between magnetic ions in narrow gap semiconductors is studied. Owing to the existence of the spin-orbit interaction, the resulting indirect exchange coupling is no longer an isotropic Heisenberg-like interaction. The anti-ferromagnetic isotropic coupling still dominates but its strength is reduced by about 20%. The nonisotropic part arising from the split-off band and that from the light-hole and heavy hole bands are almost cancelled.