Nine Indians among 17 killed in Kabul suicide attacks

Kabul/New Delhi, Feb 26 (PTI) At least nine Indians,
including government officials, were among 17 people killed as
Taliban suicide bombers carried out a string of attacks in the
heart of Kabul in yet another incident targeting Indian
interests in Afghanistan.
The Indians, who died in the incident included government
officials, an Indo-Tibetian Border Police constable and a
tabla player who was part of a cultural delegation to
Afghanistan.
Embassy staffers from consulates in Herat and Kandahar
and a member of a medical mission were also among those who
died and 12 people were also injured, embassy sources said
without giving their identity or breakup.
The bombers struck at a number of guest houses,
particularly at Park Residence, rented out by the Indian
embassy for its staffers and those linked to India's
developmental work in Afghanistan.
According to ITBP officials, force constable Roshan
Lal is among the Indians killed in the blast. Lal, around 35
years of age, was a resident of Himachal Pradesh and deployed
as the security personnel at the Indian Embassy.
Tabla player Nawab, part of the three-member cultural
troupe which was sent by Indian Council for Cultural Relations
to Afghanistan, was also among the killed.
Describing it as a "heinous terrorist attack," External
Affairs Minister S M Krishna said as per the preliminary
information provided by Afghan Government officials, "up to
nine Indians... have lost their lives".
"A few Indians have been injured, most of whom are
reported to be out of danger. Arrangements are being made for
their adequate and expeditious treatment, if necessary, by
evacuating them to India," Krishna said in a statement.
Sources said 12 Indians were also injured in the attack
which also killed an Italian diplomat, a French tourist and a
number of policemen.
This is the fourth attack targeted at Indians in Kabul
since July 2008 when 60 people, including four Indian embassy
officials, were killed in a massive car bomb attack on the
embassy building.
Strongly condemning the attack, Afghan President Hamid
Karzai said it would not be allowed to hurt Afghan-Indian
relations. "Attacks on Indian citizens will not affect
relations between India and Afghanistan," he said.
Krishna termed the attacks as "barbaric" and a matter of
"deep concern" and said they were clearly aimed against the
people of India and Afghanistan.
"These are the handiwork of those who are desperate to
undermine the friendship between India and Afghanistan, and do
not wish to see a strong, democratic and pluralistic
Afghanistan," he said.
Kasaif, an employee of the Indian embassy staying at the
guest-house said the attack came in the early morning. "We
locked our rooms and stayed inside as the premises was rocked
by gunfire," he said.
A wounded Indian doctor, who was an eye-witness, said the
"suicide attack was targeted at Indians". PTI PYK
KAB