Monday, July 07, 2008

Terrorism Strikes Indian Embassy in Afghanistan, killing over 40

In Central Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, and a city of over 1 million people, a car bomb exploded through the front of the Indian Embassy. The blast is being reported as killing at least 41, and wounding over a hundred. Among the dead were innocent civilians and shopkeepers, women and children.

The massive explosion detonated by a suicide bomber was swiftly concemned by President Hamid Karzai, as well as the United States. President Karzae stated that the bombing was carried out by militants trying to rupture the friendship between Afghanistan and India.

The embassy is near a number of government buildings and is located in central Kabul.

Some Afghan officials have indicated that the attack may have been carried out with help from Pakistan's intelligence service, being quoted as saying, "terrorists have carried out this attack in coordination and consultation with some of the active intelligence circles in the region."

The American response by Gordon Johndroe, a White House national security spokesman, was that, "Extremists continue to show their disregard for all human life and their willingness to kill fellow Muslims as well as others. The United States stands with the people of Afghanistan and India as we face this common enemy."

Afghanistan has seen a sharp rise in violence from Taliban militants in recent months. Nonetheless, a Taliban spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, denied that the militants were behind the bombing citing the lack of claim as being evidence to that. No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing.

This suicide bombing is the deadliest attack in Kabul since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. The explosion is also the deadliest in Afghanistan since a suicide bomber killed more than 100 people at a dog fighting competition in Kandahar province in February. This is the sixth suicide bombing in the capital city of Afghanistan this year.

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