Two Indian security men killed in Afghanistan

NEW DELHI: Two Indian security men were killed in a suicide attack on a convoy of the Border Roads Organisation in Afghanistan on Thursday, the foreign office here said. Afghan security personnel have also died in the attack.

The convoy was carrying construction workers to the site where the BRO is building the Zaranj-Delaram road, a crucial link for Afghanistan to the rest of world through Iran.

This has earlier also been a target. The Taliban in 2006 had killed an Indian employee of the BRO. After the first Taliban attack New Delhi had deployed the elite Indo-Tibetan Border Police on security duty. The Indian security men are assisted by local Afghan personnel.

Foreign office spokesman Navtej Sarna said the Indian envoy in Kabul was coordinating efforts to airlift the
injured for better medical treatment.

The government had also contacted the families of the deceased and wounded. Compensation and insurance for the victims would be disbursed immediately. Sarna said.

A team of experts would fly to Afghanistan on Friday to review security arrangements in the area. They would consult Afghan authorities and draw up a plan to provide additional security in project sites and camps where Indian workers were deployed.

The latest Taliban attack would not deter India from working for the reconstruction of Afghanistan, Sarna said. The Taliban has been against the building of the Zaranj-Deleram highway, which Hamid Karzai’s government regards as a lifeline.

When completed India can send its goods through the Iranian port of Chabhar down to all areas of Afghanistan. At present, Islamabad does not allow Indian goods to go through its territory to Afghanistan.