Suicide car blast kills 28, injures 141 in Afghan

KABUL, July 7 (Xinhua) -- An Afghan health ministry spokesman said 28 people were killed and 141 others injured in the suicide blast attack near the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital of Kabul Monday morning.

Abdullah Fahim told Xinhua that out of the injured 90 were hospitalized and 10 were in critical conditions, adding the bomber himself might be among the 28 killed ones.

He said he had no idea if the casualties included staff of the Indian embassy.

A suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at some 8: 30 a.m. local time near the embassy where many people were queuing to receive visas, defense ministry spokesman Zahir Azimi said. During an earlier talk with Xinhua he said one guard of the embassy was among the killed.

The blast during the rush-hour near a main road damaged nearby compound walls and roadside shops, a Xinhua reporter on the spot said. Several ambulances were used to shift the injured and killed ones and Afghan police and foreign troops cordoned off the area.

The Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement while condemning the attack that the terrorist attack against the Indian embassy would not affect close relations between New Delhi and Kabul.

The interior ministry spokesman could not be reached for comment so far.

This is the deadliest single bomb attack that rocked the war-torn country within months, for which no individual of group has claimed responsibility yet.

Insurgency has gained pace over the months across Afghanistan where the outgoing month saw the fiercest clashes this year between anti-government elements and Afghan troops backed by international forces.

The Taliban, who went into insurgency since being ousted from power six and half years ago, have been expanding their influence from the traditional bases in the south and east to the west and north.

Around 8,000 people died in Afghan violence and over 140 suicide explosion attacks were recorded last year.

NEW DELHI, July 7 (Xinhua) -- An Indian delegation is leaving for Kabul, Afghanistan to assess the emergency situation in the country following a terror attack on the Indian embassy Monday in which four Indians are amongst the at least 44 killed.

Indian Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, who condemned the "dastardly attack" on the Indian mission in the Afghan capital, said the delegation will be flying out immediately. Full story

ISLAMABAD, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday condemned the bomb blast outside the Indian embassy in Kabul.

"Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as this menace negates the very essence of human values," said the foreign minister in a statement.