Three terrorists killed in gunbattle near Indian Consulate in Afghan city Mazar-e-Sharif
Three other militants are believed to still be hiding in the building adjacent to the consulate.
Three terrorists have been killed during retaliatory operations carried out by the Afghan police outside the Indian Consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif on Monday, PTI reported. While the bodies have been recovered, ANI reported that three other terrorists are believed to still be holed up in a building near the consulate.
The police are conducting operations to clear the gunmen hiding in the building, hours after it was attacked on Sunday, AP reported. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed about the attack by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha tweeted that special forces were conducting clearing operations in the city and that everyone in the consulate was safe.
Clearing ops in Mazar on by special forces. Heavy fighting going on. GOV Atta personally monitoring. All safe in consulate.
— Amar Sinha (@SenseandC_sense) January 4, 2016
On Sunday night, the militants first shot at the wall of the consulate, after which two terrorists were killed amid heavy exchange of fire. The terrorists were trying to make their way inside the consulate by using a car as a shield, but they later holed up in a nearby building, according to reports. A spokesman for the provincial governor of Balkh province, Munir Ahmad Farhad, said, “The suspected house where the armed men have taken over is near the residential area, so we are careful to avoid civilian casualties.”
After the shooting began late on Sunday night, Indo-Tibetan Border Police secured the consulate and asked all employees to remain indoors, The Times of India reported. ITBP were soon joined by Afghan special forces. External affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said no casualties were reported.
According to experts, the attack at the consulate could be an attempt to derail peace talks and any progress in bilateral relations between India and Pakistan by using Afghanistan as a proxy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited both Kabul and Lahore at the end of December. He had inaugurated the new $90-million Afghan Parliament building during his trip to Kabul, which was built by India.
In a separate incident, the Afghan Interior Ministry reported that a suicide bombing took place near Kabul International Airport. No group has claimed responsibility for either attack so far.