Barely days before a new government takes charge in Delhi and India’s prime minister-designate Narendra Modi meets Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Delhi, the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Herat was attacked May 23 by four militants.
Mr Modi strongly condemned the attack and spoke to India’s ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha to get the first-hand report on the evolving situation. “I condemn the attack on our consulate in Herat, Afghanistan. Closely monitoring the situation. I have spoken to the Ambassador as well,” Mr Modi tweeted. “He bolstered the morale of the staff. The morale of our officers is very high,” said Syed Akbaruddin, spokesperson of India’s foreign office. “Our brave ITBP personnel and Afghan soldiers were successful in rebutting the attack. All Indian personnel are safe,” said Mr Akbaruddin.
The attack is expected to be the handiwork of the Taliban, which is suspected of receiving funding and logistical support from across the border.
Islamabad has condemned the attack. “Pakistan condemns the reported gunmen attack on the Consulate General of India in Herat today and reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. No cause justifies targeting of diplomatic missions. It is a matter of relief that no one from the Consulate staff was hurt,” said Pakistan’s foreign office in a statement.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai is among leaders of SAARC countries who will attend the oath-taking ceremony of India’s incoming prime minister in Delhi May 26.
The attack on the Indian consulate and the safety of around 4,000 Indians in Afghanistan will top the discussions between Mr Modi and President Karzai in Delhi May 27.
India is closely watching the evolving situation in a crucial transition year when foreign combat troops will leave Afghanistan and hand over the security of that country to the Afghan National Security Force. India has huge stakes in peace and stability of Afghanistan in the transformational decade and beyond.
India has pledged over $2 billion for the reconstruction of Afghanistan and thousands of Indians have risked their lives in building the Afghan parliament, roads, dams, erecting power transmission lines, digging tubewells and running sanitation projects. India has projected Afghanistan as “a narrative of opportunity,” and the hub of a new silk route spawning prosperity and integration in the region.
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