Indian medical mission in Kabul on pause

KABUL/NEW DELHI - India will continue its reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, but has put its medical mission, the target of the Feb 26 terror strike in Kabul, on temporary hold in view of the increasing threat perception, informed sources said Saturday.

The operations of the Indian medical mission have been put on pause as one of the 11-member team was killed and many others were injured in the terror attack.

The sources, however, pointed out that the suspension was temporary and the mission will resume its activities soon.

The sources also said no downsizing of the embassy staff has been planned either amid media reports that two of the staffers were planning to return to India.

The medical mission, comprising six doctors and five paramedics, was operating from the India-aided Indira Gandhi Child Care Hospital in Kabul.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday told parliament that the Kabul attack will not bend the will of Indian people to help Afghanistan and vowed to assist that country in shaping its destiny without “outside interference”.

National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon, who is in Kabul, is reviewing the security of the around 4,000 Indians working in that country.

Menon Friday met Afghan President Hamid Karzai and discussed issues relating to the security of Indians.

Menon also met his Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta and enquired about the progress in the probe into the Kabul attack in which seven Indians, including three major-rank officers of the Army, were killed.

New Delhi is contemplating a slew of steps to secure Indians in Afghanistan, including setting up protected venues where the Indians working on various reconstruction projects will be based. Deploying dedicated security personnel at places where Indians work is also being considered.