Indian consulate in Herat targeted, attack thwarted

Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi spoke to Indian ambassador in Afghanistan Amar Sinha and assured all help. Modi also spoke to Afghan President Hamid Karzai and thanked him for the efforts of Afghan forces in thwarting the attack. In a tweet, Modi said Karzai assured him that he would do everything to protect India’s missions in Afghanistan. Modi said India salutes the efforts of its security personnel and Afghan security forces for their valiant efforts to fight the terrorists. 

MEA spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said that four attackers were killed as per the latest update. The spokesperson said, Indian and Afghan officials are in touch and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh is mon

itoring the situation. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. 

India has invested in some major infrastructure projects in Afghanistan like Salma hydroelectric dam in Herat province and the Afghan parliament building in Kabul. India’s development assistance programme for Afghanistan currently stands at two billion dollars, making it the leading donor nation among all regional countries.

The attack has been widely condemned. Condemning the attack, President Pranab Mukherjee said such terror attacks will not deter India from assisting Afghanistan in its reconstruction and development efforts. He expressed gratitude to the Afghan security forces for quick response to the situation to ensure safety of the staff. Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari said, such acts of violence will not weaken India’s resolve to assist Afghanistan in building a strong, stable and democratic country. Outgoing prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh also condemned the attack and said India will continue to support Afghanistan in its brave fight against terrorism.

BJP President Rajnath Singh also condemned the attack on the consulate and lauded the role of brave ITBP jawans and officers for putting up a brave defence. 

Pakistan too condemned the attack on the consulate. Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam in a statement at Islamabad said Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. 

In August last year, a failed bombing against the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad city near the border with Pakistan killed nine people, including six children. No Indian officials were hurt. The Indian Embassy in Kabul was attacked twice in 2008 and 2009 that left 75 people dead.