Man taking snap shows Indian consulate was target: Envoy

NEW DELHI: Afghan authorities have detained two people who were taking photos of the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, India’s envoy to Kabul Amar Sinha said, an indication that the diplomatic mission was the possible target of a terror strike on Tuesday.

An explosion took place 400 metres from the Indian consulate on Tuesday. The building, which was attacked in 2007 and 2013 as well, remained untouched by the explosion. Some reports, meanwhile, said the attack targeted a guest house near the mission.

Sinha was speaking to the media in Mazar-e-Sharif, where he visited the Indian consulate that was targetted by terrorists on Sunday, coinciding with the terror strike in Pathankot.

The envoy said the government is ready to take those injured in the attack in Mazar-e-Sharif to India if their treatment is difficult in Afghanistan. The attacks will not impact bilateral relations between the two countries, he said. Kabul and Delhi are faced with the same enemy, he added.

The consulate in Mazar will formally resume work on Wednesday. An intense 25-hour gun-battle between security forces and terrorists outside the consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif ended on Monday night, with the killing of all the attackers who attempted to storm the mission building. A group of terrorists attacked the consulate on Sunday night with an aim of storming the building, but their plan was thwarted by security forces.