India sending special plane to fly back bodies from Afghanistan

India is sending a special aircraft to Afghanistan to bring back the bodies of its nationals including army officials, who died in suicide attacks in Kabul today.

A team of army officers and officials from the ministry of external affairs will also visit Kabul to review the security situation there in the backdrop of the attacks.

At least nine Indians were among 17 people killed as Taliban suicide bombers carried out a string of attacks in the heart of Kabul, targeting Indian interests in Afghanistan.

A Boeing 737-200 aircraft from the Palam-based communication squadron will take off from here tomorrow morning to bring back all the dead bodies and those injured, IAF officials said here.

The Indians, who died in the incident, include two army officers, government officials, an ITBP constable and a tabla player who was part of a cultural delegation to Afghanistan.

Five other army officers were also injured in the attack.

The bombers struck at a number of guest houses, particularly at Park Residence, rented out by the Indian embassy for its staffers and those linked to India's developmental work in Afghanistan.