3 militants killed in gunbattle outside Indian mission in Afghanistan

KABUL/NEW DELHI: At least three terrorists were killed in a fierce overnight gunbattle with security forces who engaged militants attempting to storm the Indian diplomatic mission in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Official sources said special combat units of the Afghan National Police have recovered three bodies from outside the Indian consulate.

Security forces have launched a daunting onslaught to nail down at least two to three other mercenaries who are holed up in a five-storey building about 100 metres across the road from the facility.

They said military choppers of the Afghanistan security forces have dropped commandos atop the building holding the militants and the battle is "inching towards final assault."