BANGALORE, Oct 28: External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday expressed the country’s shock over the terror attack on a United Nations guest house in Kabul in which 12 people, including six UN staff, were killed. “We are shocked by the dastardly attack on the UN guest house in Kabul. We convey our deep sympathy to the UN for the loss of life and hope more security measures will be taken to prevent such attacks,” Krishna told reporters here.
The attack took place in the Shirpoor diplomatic enclave when unidentified gunmen barged into the guest house at dawn and opened indiscriminate fire, killing the UN staff instantly. Three guards of the compound were also killed in a gunfight that erupted between the attackers and the security forces. The guest house accommodates the international staff of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). The Taliban is bitterly opposed to the UN. The attack comes ahead of the November 7 presidential runoff election.
Expressing concern over the grave situation in Afghanistan, Krishna said the Indian embassy in Kabul was attacked by suicide bombers twice - early this month (October 8) and last year (July 7), claiming many lives. “We had brought it to the notice of the Afghan government, which conducted an inquiry that revealed the attacks were carried by outsiders,” Krishna recalled.
Asked if the Afghan policy of the US was over relying on Pakistan, the minister said he could not dictate or wish the US and Pakistan has a particular foreign policy direction. “We can only hope the situation will improve. We command the efforts of the Afghan Government and its people for conducting elections. As doubts were raised about the outcome, a runoff election is due (November 7). We can only speak for India and not for the US or Pakistan,” Krishna noted. (IANS)
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