President Karzai, Ambassador Jawad Condemn Terrorist Attack in Kabul
Hamid Karzai, the president of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Embassy of India in Kabul that left over 40 innocent civilians dead, including four Indian nationals.
Early on the morning of July 7, a suicide bomber rammed his car full of explosives into the gates of the Indian embassy in Kabul, killing more than 40 innocent civilians and injuring many more, including women and children.
In his reaction to the incident, the President said, "This abominable act of terrorism is the work of the enemies of Afghanistan's friendship with India and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. The enemies of peace and prosperity of the people of Afghanistan attempted to hamper further expansion of relationship between Afghanistan and countries of the world, especially India, that work for the sake of peace and prosperity in Afghanistan."
"India has made a significant contribution to development and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan," he stated. "Resorting to these types of hellish acts will not damage the friendly relationship between Afghanistan and India."
The President was deeply saddened by the loss of Indian Embassy's Defence Attaché, its Counsellor and two other Indians and more than 40 innocent Afghan civilians.
The President expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of India, and prayed for the full and speedy recovery of the injured. On Monday night he called Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to express regrets over the attack. Prime Minister Singh in turn restated India's resolve to work together with Afghanistan to fight terrorism.
The President instructed the relevant authorities to provide financial assistance to the victims of today's terrorist attack and to take action immediately to treat the injured.
In Washington, Ambassador Said T. Jawad expressed his condolences to the Indian people in a letter to India's ambassador to the U.S., His Excellency Ronen Sen. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family members of the victims. This abominable act of terrorism is certainly the work of enemies of Afghanistan’s historic friendship with India," he wrote.
"The people of Afghanistan are grateful for India’s significant contribution to development and reconstruction in our country. We are committed to seeing that terrorism is defeated so that our region and the world is a safer and secure place. Once again, we express our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and to the people of India, and pray for the full and speedy recovery of those injured."
To see Ambassador Jawad's full letter, click here.
