Four Indians killed in Kabul attack

May 14, 2015

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Afghan policemen gather around a building which was occupied by Taliban militants at the site of an attack in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on May 13, 2015. Some seven people were killed while seven others were wounded in a shooting in Lashkar Gah, the capital city of southern Afghanistan's province of Helmand — Afghan policemen gather around a building which was occupied by Taliban militants at the site of an attack in Helmand province in southern Afghanistan on May 13, 2015. Some seven people were killed while seven others were wounded in a shooting in Lashkar Gah, the capital city of southern Afghanistan’s province of Helmand

Four Indians were among 14 people killed in a suspected Taliban attack on a guesthouse in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul overnight on, an Indian embassy source said .

“Four Indians, including a lady, were killed in the attack,” the source said over telephone.

“Nine other foreigners were also killed in the attack,” the source added.

Asked about the attackers, he said that they were “three to four” and suspected to be Taliban gunmen. All were killed in the seven-hour encounter that ended on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, a top Afghan official has been quoted by an Afghan news agency as saying that the militants attacked the upscale Park Palace guesthouse in Kabul’s Kolola Pushta late Wednesday night thinking that Indian Ambassador Amar Sinha was inside.

Khaama Press quoted President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for good governance Ahmad Zia Massoud as telling reporters that the militants attacked the guesthouse thinking the Indian envoy was present in the premises.

Massoud visited the attack scene in Kabul late on Wednesday night and spoke to reporters there.

“Massoud said the attack on Park Palace guesthouse is likely a political attack but he did not elaborate further,” the Khaama Press report said.

“A security official earlier said a musical event was due to be organised, which was due to be attended by the Turkish and Indian guests as well Afghan nationals.”