Indian envoy at Afghan jirga attacked by rockets
By IANSWednesday, June 2, 2010
NEW DELHI - Indian ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad was amongst the hundreds at the peace assembly, or jirga, when rockets fired by the Taliban landed near the venue Wednesday.
“The ambassador and an embassy official attended the peace jirga along with the entire diplomatic community,” an Indian embassy official told IANS on telephone.
He said President Hamid Karzai remained “unperturbed” and continued to deliver the speech, even as the rockets landed near the Intercontinental hotel.
The ambassador, along with the rest of the guests, left the venue once the inaugural function ended.
The peace jirga is being attended by over 1,600 Afghan leaders, which include tribal chiefs, members of parliament and social activists.
It’s not the first time the Indian ambassador has been near a terrorist attack. On July 7, 2008 Prasad was in the embassy complex when suicide bombers struck, killing 58 people including two Indian diplomats.