Riyadh's PSU tops Saudi universities in research quality    Historic Jeddah hosts 'Ramadan Season 2025' with diverse cultural events    Project launched to evaluate degraded sites in Saudi regions    Bevatel leads the WhatsApp Business API and Meta Solutions for GCC businesses    Aramco reports $106.2 billion net income for 2024    Trump's tariffs risk economic turbulence and voter backlash    Two dead after car plows into crowd in Germany    Pope Francis 'alert' after respiratory failure    Trump pauses US military aid to Ukraine following disastrous Oval Office meeting    In-person school classes will remain suspended in some parts of Makkah region on Tuesday    Al-Ahli CEO Ron Gourlay to step down in April    HONOR unveils New Corporate Strategy to Transition to an AI Device Ecosystem Company Illuminating a three-step roadmap underpinned by openness and collaboration    MEPCO lays the Foundation for PM5: A Groundbreaking Leap in Paper Production, doubling Supply Capacity and introducing Superior-Quality Paper to the Region    Secure 2030 by Seclore strengthens Data Sovereignty, Cybersecurity and Regulations in Saudi Arabia    UK death rate 'reaches record low'    Anora sweeps Oscars with best picture, best director and best actress for Mikey Madison    Bassogog stuns Al-Ittihad with last-minute equalizer as Al-Okhdood snatches a dramatic draw    Cristiano Ronaldo left out of Al-Nassr squad for AFC Champions League clash against Esteghlal in Iran    Toney's hat-trick stuns Al Hilal as Al Ahli claims thrilling victory in Saudi Clasico    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    SFDA warns against Maragatty chicken broth for containing banned colorants    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Blasts, gunfire as militants attack Indian consulate in Afghan city
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 03 - 03 - 2016

Explosions and gunfire echoed on Wednesday as militants attacked the Indian consulate in Jalalabad in the latest assault to rattle the eastern Afghan city.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the ongoing assault and no fatalities were immediately reported.
"Our consulate has been targeted but everyone is safe," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi.
Witnesses said they saw several injured people after a suicide bomber blew himself up at the entrance to the consulate, followed by other explosions and gunfire.
The area, also home to other diplomatic missions, has repeatedly come under attack in recent months.
In January Daesh claimed responsibility for a deadly gun and bomb siege of the nearby Pakistani consulate in Jalalabad, the first major attack by the group in an Afghan city.
Wednesday's attack came as US army general John Nicholson formally took command of NATO-led international forces in Afghanistan, replacing General John Campbell.
"There is still much work to be done. We now find ourselves at an inflection point in our campaign," Campbell told reporters in Kabul. "(Afghan security forces) have come far but they still need our help. (Their) desire to improve and their resilience warrants our continued support in the critical years ahead."
Direct peace talks are expected to start this week in Islamabad between the Western-backed Afghan government and the Taliban, which has been waging a deadly insurgency for more than 14 years.
Delegates from Afghanistan, China, the US and Pakistan recently met in Kabul for a fourth round of talks aimed at paving the way for the nascent peace process.
But the Taliban have stepped up nationwide attacks in an apparent attempt to gain leverage before the planned negotiations.
Nangarhar, of which Jalalabad is the capital, also faces an emerging threat from loyalists of Daesh, which controls territory across Syria and Iraq and is making gradual inroads in Afghanistan — challenging the Taliban on their own turf.
The militants have managed to attract disaffected Taliban fighters increasingly lured by the group's signature brutality.
Wednesday's assault was reminiscent of a 25-hour gun and bomb siege near the Indian consulate in the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif in January.
India has been a key supporter of Kabul's post-Taliban government, and analysts have often pointed to the threat of a "proxy war" in Afghanistan between India and Pakistan.
Pakistan — the historic backer of the Taliban — has long been accused of assisting the insurgents, especially with attacks on Indian targets in Afghanistan.
The violence tearing the country apart is having a devastating impact on Afghan civilians.
A recent UN report highlighted more than 11,000 civilian casualties in 2015 including 3,545 deaths, a new record since 2009 when the agency began tabulating the statistics.


Clic here to read the story from its source.