Militants Attack India's Consulate in Eastern Afghanistan

An Afghan policeman runs during the gunfire in front of the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. PHOTO: REUTERS

Reuters: Afghan forces kill Indian consulate suicide attackers

Afghan security forces on Wednesday killed four suicide bombers who targeted the Indian consulate in the eastern city of Jalalabad, following an attack in which at least two people were killed and 19 wounded, officials said.

The violence, coming just days after dozens of people were killed or wounded in suicide attacks in the capital, Kabul, and the eastern province of Kunar, raises further questions over efforts to revive a stalled peace process with the Taliban.

A bomb in a car driven by one of the attackers was detonated near the Indian consulate, shattering doors and windows and destroying at least eight cars as explosions and gunfire rocked the area, witnesses said.

Security forces in armoured vehicles were seen moving to the scene, while civilians fled.

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More News On Today's Militant Attack On India's Consulate in Eastern Afghanistan

At least five militants dead in attack on Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan -- UPI
Suicide Attack Targets India's Consulate In Eastern Afghanistan -- RFE
Militants mount deadly attack on Indian consulate in Afghanistan -- AFP
Afghanistan militants dead in Jalalabad attack -- BBC
Militants attack Indian consulate in Jalalabad -- Times of India
Indian Consulate in Eastern Afghanistan Hit by Suicide Bomber, Gunmen -- WSJ

BREAKING NEWS: Indian Consulate In Afghanistan Under Attack

Times of India: Indian consulate in Afghan city Mazar-i-Sharif attacked, militants try to enter compound: Official

MZAAR-I-SHARIF: Explosions and gunfire rang out late on Sunday as militants tried to storm the Indian diplomatic mission in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, officials said.

"We are being attacked. Fighting is going on," an Indian consulate official told AFP by telephone from inside the compound.

The official, who was hunkered down in a secure area within the complex, said all consulate officials were safe and accounted for.

More News On India's Consulate At Mazar-e-Sharif In Afghanistan Being Under Attack By Militants

Attack reported on Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif city -- Khaama Press
Indian consulate in Afghan city Mazar-i-Sharif attacked; twin explosions and shots heard -- News Nation
Reports: Indian Consulate In Afghan City Attacked -- RFE
Indian consulate under attack in Afghan city: official -- AFP
Blast near India mission in Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif -- BBC
Indian consulate in Afghan city Mazar-i-Sharif attacked-official -- Reuters
Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif attacked by gunmen -- DAWN
Blasts, gunfire target Indian consulate in northern Afghanistan -- RT

Is Afghanistan The Next Battleground For India-Pakistan?

 

Afghanistan: Stirring Indo-Pak Tensions? -- Al Jazeera  

We discuss India's growing influence in Afghanistan, and what it means for the volatile region.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is in India, seeking military aid at a time when tensions are running high on Afghanistan's disputed border with Pakistan.

Kabul's overtures to New Delhi are likely to rile Islamabad, where a new government led by two-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is set to take office soon, promising improved ties with India.

Pakistan has long resisted Indian involvement in Afghanistan, seeing it as a plan to encircle it, and any fresh wrangling between the rivals would add to Afghanistan's problems as the Western military withdrawal draws near.

Meanwhile, Karzai wants India to increase military aid to Afghanistan. The two countries have already been cooperating in a number of ways. India has been training small numbers of Afghan officers at its military academies for years.

And in 2011, New Delhi signed a strategic partnership with Kabul that will increase joint training once NATO troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.

Officials say a deal to buy Indian artillery and aircraft is up for discussion on this trip.

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My Comment: Growing Afghan - India ties should not surprise anyone. Afghan - Pakistan tensions have increased over the years .... from Pakistan's support of the Afghan Taliban to where the Afghan-Pak borders end and begin. The Afghans are looking for allies .... and India is a natural choice. Of course .... I doubt that Pakistan will permit Indian military forces to cross their country to enter Afghanistan.

India And Afghanistan Agree To A Strategic Pact

Afghanistan Signs 1st Strategic Pact: With India -- ABC News/AP

Afghanistan on Tuesday signed a strategic partnership with India — its first such agreement with any country — recognizing a regional ally largely sidelined during a decade of U.S.-led international efforts to root out terrorists on Afghan soil.

While the pact had been expected, its timing sparked speculation of a shift in regional alignments after Afghan President Hamid Karzai chastised neighboring Pakistan for failing to act against Taliban-led insurgents based within its borders.

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More News On Today's Afghanistan Signing Of A Strategic Pact With India

India, Afghanistan Sign Strategic Pact -- Wall Street Journal
Afghanistan, India Sign Strategic Partnership -- NPR
Afghan-India deal amid shifting S.Asia ties -- AFP
India, Afghanistan Sign Strategic Partnership Deals As Karzai Visits India -- RTT News
India, Afghanistan Sign Strategic Pact Amid Strain With Pakistan -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Karzai visits India amid growing tensions with Pakistan -- L.A. Times

My Comment: Expect Pakistan to try and do everything to sabotage this alliance.