Taliban could abduct Indians in Kabul, Delhi says
By IANSFriday, March 12, 2010
NEW DELHI - India has asked its nationals living in Afghanistan to take precautions, warning the Taliban could abduct Indian diplomats, highly placed sources indicated Friday.
“There are intelligence reports that diplomats could be soft targets. After (National Security Adviser Shivshankar) Menon’s visit to Kabul last week, we are examining all options and working out a better security regimen,” said a senior official who could not be identified.
Menon visited Afghanistan to assess security arrangements for over 4,000 Indians working in the country on various projects. “We might revamp security in our consulates,” said the official.
Currently, there are over 160 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel providing security to the Indian embassy in Kabul and the four consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif.
The Afghanistan government has also been in constant touch with Indian authorities to bolster security arrangements.
Six Indians, including two army officers, were among 16 people killed as Taliban suicide bombers carried out coordinated attacks in Kabul in February.
The suicide squad struck mainly at the Park Residence hotel rented out by the Indian embassy for its staffers and those linked to India’s developmental work in Afghanistan.
A car bomb levelled the Arya Guesthouse used mainly by Indian doctors.
