To lessen threat, Indians to spread out in Kabul

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To lessen threat, Indians to spread out in Kabul​

Shishir Gupta

On the eve of National security Advisor Shivshankar Menon’s visit to Kabul, New Delhi has firmed up a security plan aimed at reducing the radar signature of Indians without lowering their profile or commitment to the development of Afghanistan in the aftermath of last Friday’s terror attack.

Government sources told The Indian Express that Indians, concentrated in 24 locations in Kabul including the embassy compound and chancery, would now be put up in smaller numbers all over Kabul so that the target size or signature is reduced.

Besides, all Indian government employees in transit would be housed in specially constructed dormitories — work for which has already begun — within the Indian chancery in Kabul to prevent them from being targeted by terrorists. Two of the seven Indians who died in February 26 attack were in transit from Herat and Kandahar and were planning to board the flight to New Delhi the next day.


Despite US Afghanistan-Pakistan envoy Richard Holbrooke’s assertions to the contrary, New Delhi is convinced that the Kabul terror attack was sponsored by ISI with Indians being specific targets.


According to the Indian victims staying at the Arya Hotel, the attackers spoke Urdu and one of terrorists was heard saying “Bhago... police. (Run, police)” when armed Afghan police surrounded the hotel after hearing the gunfire.



Senior officials said the entire Arya Hotel would have been reduced to rubble if the IED in the car was a shaped charge. The car bomb went all over the place creating a large crater and blasting out the façade of Park Residence Hotel and a mall some distance away. In fact, after the attack on Indians, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai was apparently agitated that terror attacks were taking place within 800 metres of his office while 15,000 ISAF troops were out to neutralise 300 Taliban in the Marjah offensive.


However, given the size of the Indian contingent in Afghanistan, New Delhi knows it cannot provide foolproof protection against terrorists. While additional paramiltary troopers are being sent for security duties, these guards can at best act as deterrents to the terrorists.

To lessen threat, Indians to spread out in Kabul