A Taliban suicide bomber has attacked the Indian embassy in Kabul, killing at least 17 people in a second attack on the building in little over a year. The embassy was the target without any doubts. Kabul has been has been attacked regularly in recent months, and the Indian embassy was bombed in July 2008, where dozens of people died.
India's Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the suicide bomber "came up to the outside wall of the embassy with a car loaded with explosives".An eyewitness, Habib Jan, told the BBC the victims were civilians."A [Toyota] Corolla car was parked in front of the Indian embassy. It was rush hour, about 10 minutes after I arrived at the office when we heard an explosion."There were lots of workers cleaning the street - most of them have been killed."
India has a strong relationship with Afghanistan, building and managing infrastructure projects in what analysts say is a concerted effort to minimise Pakistani influence in the country.Analysts say the strength of India's relationship with Kabul has made it a key target for the country's Taliban militants, who have historic links with Pakistan.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in an online statement that Thursday's attacker was an Afghan man who blew up his vehicle outside the embassy.The Afghan Interior Ministry said 17 people had died and 63 had been wounded in the latest attack. Fifteen of the dead were Afghan civilians and one was an Afghan police officer.
This is thought to be the fourth bomb attack in Kabul since August.Until the summer, the Afghan capital was regarded as relatively secure, but that is changing, our correspondent says. Militants seem to be able to attack at will in what should be one of the most secure areas of the country, our correspondent adds. Edrees Kakar, an office worker and freelance journalist, who heard the latest explosion, told the BBC: "These bomb attacks are happening so frequently that people no longer feel safe.
by: Vesna Tanasic
Source: BBC News
No comments:
Post a Comment