Richard Holbrooke regrets comments on Kabul attack

Two days after his statement on Kabul attack which did not go well with authorities here, US special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke today regretted any  misunderstanding caused by his comments that Indians were not the target of the terror strike.

"I regret any misunderstanding caused by my comments on the recent terrorist attack in Kabul, which claimed the lives of six Indians and at least ten citizens of other nations. 

"I did not say Indians were not the target, but that initially it looked like the target was not an official Indian facility. Early reports on events like this are often unreliable, and I try not to jump to conclusions," he said in a statement, circulated by the US embassy here.

Reacting to the comments by the special envoy, official sources had said these were surprising considering the fact that the Afghan government has clearly stated that attack was against Indians and carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), whose sworn agenda is to target Indian interests.

Seven Indians, including three Major-rank army officers, associated with developmental projects were killed and nine
others, including four army officers, were injured in the
attack in Kabul last week that was reminiscent of 26/11.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai has termed it as an attack on Indians.