Indians in Afghanistan safe, says Ambassador in Kabul

All Indians are safe in Afghanistan after heavily-armed Taliban suicide bombers unleashed a wave of coordinated attacks in Kabul and three other cities and the situation is being closely watched by the Indian government.

"Indian Ambassador in Afghanistan Gautam Mukhopadhyay has briefed External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who is presently on a visit to UAE, about the ground situation following the terror strikes,” official sources said. All Indians are safe and the government was closely watching the situation after explosions and firing rocked different areas in Kabul including at the diplomatic enclave.

The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said it was in constant touch with the Embassy in Kabul.

“There have been reports of attacks in Kabul and other provinces of Afghanistan. Some of these attacks have taken place close to the diplomatic enclave in Kabul where many Embassies are located. We are in constant touch with our Embassy in Kabul. All Indian citizens are reported to be safe,” it said.

ITBP Director-General Ranjit Sinha said there was no threat to the Indian embassy as it was located three to four km away from the scene of the attack this afternoon by the Taliban gunmen.

The militants attacked five-star Kabul Star Hotel in Wazir Akhbar Khan area of the capital and some tried to enter the Afghan parliament but were engaged by security forces and driven back, according to officials. The hotel is located close to the U.S. Embassy, ISAF’s headquarters, Turkish Embassy, Presidential palace, Iranian Embassy and different other diplomatic offices.

Taliban claimed responsibility for the attacks. Any casualties are still unknown but Kabul police chief Mohammad Ayoubi Salangi was quoted as having said one attacker had been killed near the Parliament.

- Asian Tribune -

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