India hints at Pakistani link to Kabul attack

October 10, 2009 05:30 pm | Updated November 17, 2021 06:48 am IST - New Delhi

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, left, is flanked by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Jayant Prasad, as she visits the Indian Embassy after suicide car bomb attack in Kabul on Friday. Photo: AP/PTI

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, left, is flanked by Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Jayant Prasad, as she visits the Indian Embassy after suicide car bomb attack in Kabul on Friday. Photo: AP/PTI

Hinting at Pakistani link to the Kabul Embassy attack, India today said Afghanistan faces threat from terrorists and their “patrons residing across the border” and that the blast was handiwork of those who want to undermine Indo-Afghan friendship.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, who returned after a two-day visit to Kabul in the wake of Thursday’s attack, made it clear that India will not be deterred by such acts as she reiterated the unwavering commitment to pursuing bilateral development partnership and assisting the people of Afghanistan in realising a democratic, peaceful and prosperous country.

“The attack was clearly the handiwork of those who are desperate to undermine Indo-Afghan friendship and do not believe in a strong, democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan,” she said.

“The international community and indeed the people of Afghanistan face a clear danger from the perpetrators of such wanton acts of terrorism and their patrons residing across the border,” Ms. Rao said, apparently hinting at Pakistan.

Afghanistan has already hinted at Pakistani linkage to the attack, with its Foreign Ministry saying that the blast was “planned and implemented from outside the borders of Afghanistan”.

Expressing her “deep concern and revulsion over the barbaric and cowardly attack”, Rao said it was “so clearly aimed against the people of India and the people of Afghanistan and their abiding friendship.”

The Foreign Secretary emphasised that the scourge of terrorism must be resolutely opposed, resisted and overcome through “undiluted commitment” and effort by the international community.

During her visit, Ms. Rao met President Hamid Karzai, Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta and National Security Adviser Zalmai Rassoul.

“They were unanimous in their view that the attack was carried out by elements from outside Afghanistan seeking to damage the excellent relations that exist between India and Afghanistan,” a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The Afghan leaders assured her that the Government of Afghanistan would do all in its power to expeditiously investigate the dastardly attack and bring to justice the perpetrators and those behind this attack.

The Foreign Secretary extended her heartfelt condolences to the families of those Afghan nationals who lost their lives in this cowardly attack, particularly to the families of the two Afghan security personnel who died during the attack and whose presence of mind and alertness prevented what could have been a far greater tragedy.

0 / 0
Sign in to unlock member-only benefits!
  • Access 10 free stories every month
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of The Hindu and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.