Insurgents attack Indian consulate in eastern Afghanistan: officials

[dipsydoodle]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - A suicide bomber attacked the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan capital of Jalalabad on Saturday, Indian officials and local police said, killing six people and wounding 22.

Gunfire resounded through the area for at least an hour following the 10 a.m. blast near the consulate entrance.

All the casualties were civilians, except for one wounded Afghan soldier, said Baz Mohammad, a senior health official in Nangarhar province.

"Explosion in front of India's Consulate in Jalalabad. All Indians officials safe," Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said on Twitter.

The attack followed a world-wide travel alert issued by the United States on Friday, saying that Al Qaeda could be planning attacks in August, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. The United States has ordered the closure of 21 embassies and consulates on Sunday, including its Kabul mission.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/03/us-afghan-attack-idUSBRE97203E20130803

[JI7]

1. i wonder if there is any connection between these attacks and the info

which resulted in state dept closing on sunday.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Doubt it.

The Indian consulate has been attacked a few times before.

The Taliban are denying involvement :

However, a Taliban spokesman denied responsibility for Saturday's attack.

"Our fighters have not carried out any attack in Jalalabad," Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP news agency.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23558930

The UK's focus is on Yemen where the consulate will be closed both Sunday and Monday.

British nationals have been warned to leave the Middle Eastern state of Yemen immediately amid fears of escalating violence in the country.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) issued new advice warning against all travel to the country and said that any Britons who stay in Yemen are unlikely to be able to be evacuated if unrest gets worse. The British Embassy in capital Sana'a will be closed on Sunday and Monday as a "precautionary measure".

Britons should leave Yemen: FCO http://icsolihull.icnetwork.co.uk/news/national/tm_headline=britons-should-leave-yemen-fco%26method=full%26objectid=33686261%26siteid=91411-name_page.html

[Igel]

3. India's a favorite target.

Formerly territory conquered and ruled by Muslims, therefore always Muslim territory.

Not people of the book. Therefore never subject, properly, to a peace treaty.

There are still incidents against Muslims on Indian territory. An attack against one is an attack against all--the usual communalist loon-acy.

In attacking India you defend Pakistan.

And the most important piece: India desires to possess Afghanistan, by subjugation if not annexation, to both encircle Pakistan and explot its resources and people, so it must be fought.

A Mighty Handful of silly reasons to spread innard salad over a defenseless building. Some like to feed the pigeons; others, vultures.