Indians who died in Kabul were on goodwill mission: PM

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday strongly condemned the blasts in Kabul and stressed that the nine Indians, who died in this senseless act of violence and barbarism, were helping build a peaceful and democratic Afghanistan.

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms this senseless act of violence and barbarism which strikes at the core of everything a civilized society holds dear, Manmohan Singh said in a statement.

The prime minister conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased and offered to give them all possible support.

“The Indians who have lost their lives were on a mission of goodwill and friendship, helping to construct the peaceful, democratic Afghanistan that our Afghan friends desire, he said.

Around 4,000 Indians are presently staying in Afghanistan, carrying out a wide array of reconstruction activities ranging from building roads, dams and power stations to training of Afghan personnel.

At least 15 people were killed when Taliban bombers equipped with suicide vests and automatic rifles attacked a hotel and a guesthouse 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.

The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the attacks.