India condemns Kabul bombings that killed 4 Indians

NEW DELHI - India Friday strongly condemned the terror attacks in Kabul in which four Indians were among the 15 people reported killed, and underlined that it would not allow forces of terrorism to succeed in that country.

We are shocked at the attack. We condemn unreservedly the terrorist attack, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters here.

We are in close touch with the Afghan authorities to get factual details. We fear that there are casualties among the dead and the injured, the spokesperson said.

The Indian government is sending a special plane to bring the bodies of the dead.

Underlining the special historical and civilisational ties with Afghanistan, India said such attacks would not deter it from deeper engagement with that country.

We will not allow forces of terrorism to succeed. We will do everything at our disposal to defeat the forces of extremism, Prakash said.

India has pledged $1.3 billion for reconstruction of the war-ravaged country. These projects range from building roads to constructing dams and power stations.

Four Indians were among the 15 people killed when Taliban bombers equipped with suicide vests and automatic rifles attacked a hotel and a guesthouse run by Indians in central Kabul Friday, Afghan officials said in Kabul.

A series of explosions occurred at the City Centre shopping complex and the Safi Landmark hotel, about 300 metres from the interior ministry, said Abdul Ghafar Sayedzadar, a senior police official.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said by phone from an undisclosed location that five Taliban bombers attacked two compounds used by foreigners.

It’s not clear whether the militants targeted Indians in particular.

General Ahmad Zia Yaftali, chief doctor for the Afghan Army, said 12 bodies were taken to army hospitals and three were taken to another hospital.

“Eight Indians and one Pakistani national were among the wounded,” he said.

Farid Rahid, a spokesperson for the ministry of public health, said more than 30 people were injured in the attack.