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| Indian consulate attack: 3 terrorists still holding fort and retaliating; mission staff safe | | | Agencies
New Delhi, Jan 4: Following a botched attempt to storm the Indian consulate in Afghanistan's northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on late Sunday, three militants reportedly are still holding their fort inside a house close to the diplomatic mission, with Afghan security forces cordoning off the area and mounting a final assault to end the siege.
All the personnel at the Indian consulate are safe and the building has been secured, the Afghan authorities have confirmed.
The Afghan forces have killed at least three militants so far. According to the latest reports, an Afghan police officer has been killed in the gunfight, while three terrorists have barricaded themselves inside a house and retaliating.
On Sunday night, some 5 or 6 militants had tried to attack the Indian consulate in the city. However, the prompt action by the Afghan forces have repelled the attack. The militants then took shelter in a house close to the consulate and from where they resumed their gunfight on Monday.
Images taken from the scene show the Afghan troops being heli-dropped at the encounter site in a bid to consolidate their positions.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the raid. Afghan authorities have said the militants are heavily armed.
On Monday afternoon, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to update him about on the latest development. PM Modi expressed deep appreciation for the bravery shown by the Afghan security forces in thwarting the terrorist attack and ensuring safety of the Indian Consulate and personnel.
President Ghani has also expressed grief at the loss of life at in the terror attack in Pathankot in which seven Indian security personnel were martyred. Describing the attack in Mazar-i-Sharif, spokesman for the governor of Balkh province Muneer Ahmad Farhad said: "They (Militants faced resistance from the guards and, instead, entered a house about 100 metres from the consulate and opened fire from there." Details about civilian casualties are not clear. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha said all the personnel in the consulate are safe. Afghan security forces are also carrying out door-to-door search in the area and have not ruled out the presence of more attackers. "We are cautiously conducting our clearance operation to avoid any civilian casualties," said Shir Jan Durrani, a police spokesperson. Sunday's attack comes as Indian security forces were trying to suppress an assault on an Air Force base in Pathankot in Punjab. |
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