India to scale down operations of missions in Afghanistan

India is looking at various options including scaling down operations of its missions in Afghanistan in the wake of terror attacks on Indians there.

The Government is also planning to put all the Indians working in projects like power and road together to ensure their safety, reliable government sources said in New Delhi on Wednesday.

This follows an assessment made by National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon's visit to Kabul last week in the wake of terror attack on Feb 26 on guest houses frequented by Indians in which seven Indians were killed. Apart from the embassy in Kabul, Indian has consulates in Herat, Kandahar, Mazar-e-Sharif and Jalalabad.

An advisory may also be issued asking all Indians in Afghanistan to return home. The operations of the Indian medical mission have already been put on hold after the Feb 26 attack in which the hand of Pakistan based LeT operatives is suspected.

Taliban terrorists, with backing from Pakistan's ISI, had targeted the Indian embassy twice in the past. On July 7, 2008, 60 people, including four Indians--one IFS official and a brigadier-ranked official were killed in the attack, while on Oct 8 last year, four ITBP jawans were among those injured.

- Asian Tribune -