Blast near Indian Consulate in Jalalabad

Jalalabad: A suspected suicide attack near the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan killed four policemen today morning. However, all Indians inside the building were reported to be safe. The attack took place 200 meters from the Indian consulate.

The militants attacked the area where many foreign consulates reside, including those of India and Pakistan. This is the third attack in 10 days targeting Indian missions in Afghanistan.

A senior Afghan police officer claimed the involvement of Pakistan army behind the January 3 attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif. Sayed Kamal Sadat, police chief of Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, said the attackers, "officers from across the border were well-trained military men who fought Afghan security forces in the 25-hour siege."

"We saw with our own eyes and I can say 99 percent that those attackers were from Pakistani military and used special tactics while conducting their operation," Mr Sadat was quoted as saying.

Sources say the Indian consulate is not a clear target.

The incident in Mazar-e-Sharif witnessed an intense gun battle between security forces and assailants who attempted to storm the targeted building on January 3.

The night of January 4 saw the standoff ending after all of the attackers were killed. They tried to enter the building opposite the Indian Consulate. One police officer was killed along with nine people including three civilians who were wounded.

The Pathankot attack on January 2 in which six terrorists barged in the Indian air base who were said to be of Pakistani origin. The gun battle which lasted over 80 hours resulted in seven security personnel being martyred. (picture courtesy:http://www.voanews.com/)

(Inputs from agencies)