Indian sends aircraft to Kabul to bring back bodies

NEW DELHI - A special aircraft was sent to Kabul Saturday to bring back the bodies of nine Indians, including two major-rank army officers, who were killed in terror attacks in the Afghan capital.

Taliban bombers attacked guesthouses in the heart of Kabul Friday, triggering a series of explosions, and a gun battle that killed at least 17 people, including nine Indians, a French citizen and an Italian.

The Afghan interior ministry has said six Indians have been killed. The Indian external affairs ministry said Friday that up to nine Indians were killed in the terror attack and the body count is still on.

The aircraft carrying a team of medical officers and medicines took off from here. Air force officials here said a team of army officers and officials from the Ministry of External Affairs has also gone to Kabul to review the security situation.

The Indians killed in the terror attack include two army officers, government officials, an Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable and a tabla player who was part of a cultural delegation to Afghanistan.

Among the deceased identified were Major Laishram Jyotin Singh of the Army Medical Corps, Major Deepak Yadav of the Army Education Corps, engineer Bhola Ram, tabla player Nawab Khan, staffer of the Kandahar Consulate Nitish Chibber and Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable Roshan Lal.

Nawab Khan, the tabla player, was part of a three-member cultural troupe which was sent by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations to Afghanistan that gave performances in various cities there.

The assault occurred around the City Centre shopping complex and the Safi Landmark hotel, about 300 metres from the interior ministry.

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