The Taliban on Thursday claimed responsibility for the attack on a guest house here that has left 14 people dead and six injured. Four Indians and an American were among those killed when Taliban gunmen stormed Park Palace Hotel, a guest house in the Afghan Capital late on Wednesday night thinking that the Indian Ambassador was inside the complex popular among foreign nationals.
President Ashraf Ghani’s special envoy for good governance Ahmad Zia Massoud visited the attack scene in Kabul on Thursday. “The militants attacked the guest house thinking the Indian Ambassador Amar Sinha was present in the compound,” Massoud was quoted as saying by Khaama Press. He added that the attack is likely a political one.
The four Indians killed have been identified as Mathew George, RK Bhatti, Satish Chandra and Martha Farrel, army sources said. Two of those killed were from Kerala, one from Chandigarh and one from Andhra Pradesh. Following the attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. “Spoke to President @ashrafghani & offered condolences on loss of lives due to the Kabul attack. We are one when it comes to fighting terror,” Modi, who is visiting China, tweeted.
“President @ashrafghani expressed sadness on the unfortunate demise of Indian citizens in the attack in Kabul,” the PM said. While an Indian Embassy source confirmed that four Indians, including a woman were killed in the attack, the source denied that the envoy was present at the hotel when the attack took place.
Asked about the attackers, he said that they were “three to four” and suspected to be Taliban gunmen. All were killed in the seven-hour encounter that ended on Thursday morning. “A security official earlier said a musical event was due to be organised, which was due to be attended by the Turkish and Indian guests as well Afghan nationals,” he said.
Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesperson, told Afghan media that a Taliban militant, Mohammad Idress, carried out the attack, killing and injuring several foreigners. The Taliban said the attack was part of their spring offensive targeting Government officials and their foreign backers, according to Xinhua. The group claimed the casualties were much more than the official figures.
Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kabul has strongly condemned the Taliban attack on the Park Palace Hotel. In a statement, the Embassy on Thursday said it was grateful for the condolence messages from the Afghan leadership and also appreciated the Afghan security forces for their “valiant effort” to evacuate the civilians caught in the siege and for killing the gunmen in the attack.
The Embassy said it stands in solidarity and sympathy with the bereaved families and the injured, and conveyed its “heart-felt condolences” to the people who lost their lives. It expressed gratitude for the condolence offered by President Ghani, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah and former president Hamid Karzai to the families of Indians killed in the attack.
“The Afghan leaders appreciate the contributions of Indians who are working here for the socio-economic development of Afghanistan. The four brave Indians who lost their lives in the Park Palace attack will be remembered for their selfless contribution to friendship between our nations,” it said. “The Mission also appreciates the Afghan security forces for their valiant effort to evacuate the civilians from the hotel and for neutralizing the terrorist in yesterday’s attack,” the statement said. Soon after the gunmen stormed the guest house, Afghan National Security Forces including special forces arrived and began striking back the attackers and also rescuing those under siege inside the guest house.