Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of a suicide attack in Kabul on June 11, 2013. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD: A blast occurred outside the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad, killing 9 people and wounding 22, on Saturday.
"I have heard the explosion that was followed by small arms firing," Enyat Saafi, a local journalist told The Express Tribune via phone from Jalalabad, the capital of Ningarhar province.
Afghan TV channels reported that the attack injured several people and ambulances were seen moving to the area to transfer the injured to hospitals.
"It seemed to be a powerful explosion as the sound was heard in areas away from the consulate," the journalist said. He said the police are also not allowing the journalist to move to the area.
Witnesses said the attack occurred near 200 meters away from the Indian consulate.
A diplomat at the Indian Embassy in Kabul said that no Indian national was hurt in the attack.
Nangarhar police chief Mohammad Sharif Amin told Reuters a bomber detonated a car packed with explosives outside the consulate and an adjacent mosque. The consulate was the intended target, he said, but most casualties were from the mosque.
A doctor at Jalalabad hospital told the media that nearly 15 injured were brought to the hospital. Some were in critical condition. Women and children were among the blast victims.
He said the blast was occurred on the main road leading to the Indian consulate and near a hotel.
Taliban denied any involvement in the attack.
"We are not involved in the today's Jalalabad blast," the Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid told The Express Tribune in a text message when he was approached for his reaction.
No other group claimed responsibility.
COMMENTS (38)
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@Gratgy: Few people understand only one language and they want others to speak that language and they want others to come to their level.
how about the pakistan?millions of people died from last 12 years in bomb blast.even in mosques too during praying time.pakistan never blamed on india or afghanistan.why india got embassies in each border where pakistan touch with afghanistan?
how about the pakistan?millions of people died from last 12 years in bomb blast.even in mosques too during praying time.pakistan never blamed on india or afghanistan.why india got embassies in each border where pakistan touch with afghanistan?just for terrorism in pakistan.in todays blasts indians r safe bt the mosque and our muslims brothers r died.just think about it.
After US and NATO now India is on Taliban's hit list and basically US wants to engage India in Afghanistan against Taliban after its and NATO's troops' withdrawal till the end of 2014 from Afghanistan......
@Bilal I can answer people in a language which they understand.
Or perhaps its the only kind language you can speak properly
Suicide bombers detonated an explosives-packed car, killing nine civilians, including seven children, in a nearby mosque. so much for the "Good Taliban"
@Abdur Rehman: do you know how much the UN pays for each refugee hosted by pakistan.
@Rafi Ka Deewana:
"Really sad that so many people, especially kids, have died."
A car full of explosives is detonated near a Mosque, but 200 meters away from the Indian Consulate. No Indian died, or got hurt, but only the Muslims. As you say, Taliban denied responsibility, then only some RSS/VHP fanatic could be behind this attack, at-least the mastermind.
Missing the point here. The culprits are the ones that are against Afghanistan, India and Pakistan (in fact all civilization). Also Indian agencies found out about the impending attack and made sure all precautions were taken to safeguard the staff. That is the way Pakistani agencies and security forces should be doing. Not like DIK-jail and the airport where prior information was available, and nothing was done to thwart , much less apprehend the terrorists.
I had replied to Black Jack and I would love to reply to Mohinder Sandhu but ET didn't post my earlier reply so I can't answer you in an appropriate manner.Well You Indians are good at one thing that your newsapapers don't have ET like moderators and that is why I like HT bcz I can answer people in a language which they understand.
@ModiFied: No need to waste time on it. Like the world, India should also wait and watch as Taliban and Pakistanis intrigued with each other.
it seems like pakistanis cannot wait until indians started to blame,,,,they r blaming themselves before the indians started,,here the issue is between afghanistan and india and indian embassy,,,!!!
@Bilal: Its not surprised. a blind can guess who is the behind this attack.afghanis love indian so no question about afghanistan so what left?
@Abdur Rehman: becoz pakistan behind this attack.
most reader seemed to have missed this: "The consulate was the intended target, he said, but most casualties were from the mosque..." So whoever executed this blast, the most damage was done to the sacred mosque and innocent worshipers of the Allah(SWT), and Posters from the both sides are involved in verbal pis..sing contest. How nice!
@mohinder sandhu: If indians are so friendly with afghanistan then they should, at least, take half of 3.5 million Afghanis living in Pakistan for the past 33 years.
@mohinder sandhu: Called '' india" right ?
@Jag Nathan: Sure, then the attacks happened on Afghan soil, a war torn country since 1979, why blame Pakistan ?
@Rabbani: "Now Indian good-for-nothing agencies will come out with blaming Pakistan for the attacks. Seriously, they don’t have anything better to say, do they?"
What is better than blaming Pakistan? The whole world (including in cricket) seems to be enjoying it.
@Cosmo: When did the world came in equation.say india plz. We Pakis think the same about india further disintegration as well.so ur not alone in your prayers.
@Feroz Nipkhail: India and afganistan are independent countries.It is between these two countries,to decide how many consulates we need,It cannot be dictated by pakistan.
@Bilal: Absolutely bilal there is only one, world recognized terrorist country
@Feroz Nipkhail:
14 or 140- what is it to you?
India and Pakistan have four consulates each in Afghanistan, in the same four cities.
Afghans, at least the peaceful kind, like the Indians, and vice-versa. The good news is, even the Taleban have denied the involvement. Really curious to know who will it be.
Really sad that so many people, especially kids, have died.
pakistanis hidden war comes to end soon.
@Feroz Nipkhail: Feroz Sahib, I will buy you best cup of tea and sweets, equivalent to your wait, if you could name 14 CITIES of Afghanistan which have Indian consulates. Juphiaan Paa Ji.
@Feroz Nipkhail: i dont see why does the world need a single state called "pakistan". I really dont see a point.
There is 1 Indian embassy and 2- 3 consulates in Afghanistan.
Now Indian good-for-nothing agencies will come out with blaming Pakistan for the attacks. Seriously, they don't have anything better to say, do they?
@Feroz Nipkhail: Any particular reasons why we should not have 14 consulates? The consulates are based on Afgan soil and the Afghans don't seem to mind. As far as I can see, the only people crying wolf are the Pakistanis.
@ B: As per the intercepts the attackers were hired by Pakistan. I am sure India too will hire them for operations against Pakistan and attack at a place and time of her choosing. It won't take too long before bangs are heard.
@Feroz Nipkhail: Why do they need 14 consulates here?I don’t see the point. Why don't you confirm for yourself instead of believing everything that you are told? India doesn't have 14 consulates in any country in the world.
Well, India was anticipating this attack:
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pakistan-plans-to-kill-indian-envoy-to-kabul-amar-sinha/1/297760.html
Why do they need 14 consulates here?I don't see the point.
Pakistan!get ready to be blamed.
At least the consulate officials and people around them are safe. There should be iron fences around our consulates. Not blaming anybody for the blasts till anyone claims or evidences come out. Rab rakha
The blame game begins.