July 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rajab 4, 1429

NEW DELHI, July 7: India responded with anger and horror to Monday’s suicide attack on its embassy in Kabul and said such acts of terrorism would not deter it from its commitments in Afghanistan.

The most devastating attack so far against an Indian target in Afghanistan came as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh prepared to meet President George W. Bush on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in Japan. Some Indian officials, most notably a former high commissioner to Pakistan, accused Islamabad of involvement.

The official response though was more restrained. “I am horrified to know of the death of our personnel in the dastardly terrorist attack on our embassy in Kabul,” the prime minister said in a statement en route to the summit.

“The loss of these precious Indian and Afghan lives in the service of their country must be condemned in the strongest terms possible. Those responsible, directly or indirectly, for this terrorist attack and for making this possible are no better than the worst criminals.”

Indians are helping their Afghan brothers to rebuild their lives and country.

“That endeavour must continue with renewed commitment,” the prime minister said.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee paid tributes to senior Indian personnel who died in the attack.

“It is with very great regret and a heavy heart that I have to announce that in the terrorist attack on our Mission in Kabul this morning, we have lost five of our personnel,” he said. They included Defence Attache Brig. R.D. Mehta, Political Counsellor V.V. Rao, Counsellor and ITBP paramilitary troopers Ajai Pathaniya and Roop Singh. One of the Afghan staff members Mr Niamatullah was also killed in the attack.

Earlier, India’s foreign ministry spokesman condemned the “cowardly attack” and said: “Such acts of terror will not deter us from fulfilling our commitments to the government and people of Afghanistan.”