Afghanistan Times
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AT-MAZAR-ISHARIF: Indian Ambassador to Kabul, Amar Sinha, on Tuesday said that bilateral relations between Afghanistan and India would not be harmed by attacking Indian diplomatic mission in Mazar-e-Sharif.
At least nine people including five policemen were injured in an attack on the Indian consulate in Balkh province. Unfortunately, a policeman was killed in the attack.
“Kabul and Delhi are facing the same enemy,” said the Indian ambassador during his visit to Mazar-e-Sharif.
A group of gunmen stormed a building close to the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif on Sunday night, and started firing towards the consulate building. The fighting was ended by killing all the three attackers.
Sinha assured his country’s willingness to provide medical treatment to those wounded in the attack if their treatment was difficult in Afghanistan. According to him, a man taking snapshots of the consulate building was detained.
Moreover, he said that two people were detained in Jalalabad while they were taking photographs of the consulate. He added that none of diplomatic mission’s staff were hurt in the attack but the compound was slightly damaged.
A low-intensity explosion on Tuesday was reported in Jalalabad near the consulates of India, Pakistan and Iran. Fortunately, no casualty was reported.
Sinha commended and thanked the Afghan security forces and the acting provincial governor Atta Mohammad Noor for their tit-for-tat response to the assailants. The consulate will resume its activities on Wednesday (today), he said.
President Muhammad Ashraf Ghani called Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday and briefed him on the attack in Mazar-e-Sharif.
President Ghani extended condolences at the loss of lives caused in an attack on the Indian air force base in Pathankot. He strongly condemned the terrorist attack.
Hinting to the attack in Mazar-e-Sharif, Narendra Modi said that people and the government of India would always stand with Afghanistan.
He commended the Afghan security forces for their exemplary bravery and courage in thwarting the terrorist attack in the province. He also thanked the security forces for their efforts to ensure security and safety for the Indian consulate and personnel.
