Kabul attack: Narrow escape for SpiceJet passengers

NEW DELHI: Nearly 180 passengers and crew on board a Delhi-bound SpiceJet plane from Kabul had a narrow escape on Wednesday when the Taliban launched a rocket attack on the Hamid Karzai International Airport in the Afghan capital. At the time of the rocket attack, SpiceJet’s SG 22 Kabul-Delhi flight was preparing for a takeoff at the airport.

“The boarding for SpiceJet flight SG 22 operating Kabul-Delhi was almost complete when the incident took place. Passengers and crew were safely deboarded and taken to the terminal building. There was no damage to the aircraft,” a SpiceJet spokesperson said.

The terror attack also delayed Afghan CEO Abdullah Abdullah’s trip to the Indian capital for a mega Indo-Afghan trade and Investment show. US defence secretary James Mattis was in Kabul when Taliban carried out the terror strike. He arrived in Afghanistan capital on an unannounced visit from Delhi. The Taliban has said on Twitter that Mattis was the target of the attack.

Mattis is in Kabul to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani along with NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to discuss NATO’s “train and assist” mission designed to strengthen Afghanistan’s military so that it can defend the country on its own. According to ISIS AMAQ news agency, IS “infiltrators” used SPG-9 rockets and mortars to target Kabul airport. Five people were injured in the attack.

Mattis is the first member of US President Donald Trump’s Cabinet to visit Afghanistan since Washington announced to stay course in that country. It was not a coincidence that the attack happened when the US and India are engaged in efforts to stabilise Afghanistan through mega trade meet.