India on Saturday night flew back the bodies of six nationals killed in a militant attack in Kabul and rushed eight injured Indians to a hospital in New Delhi.
Nine Indians died on Friday in one of the deadliest Taliban suicide attacks on foreigners in the Afghan capital. It claimed a total of 16 lives and left 20 people critically injured.
India sent a military plane to bring back those killed and injured in the assault. It was not clear why only six bodies were returned, rather than nine, or whether the other three were being brought back separately. New Delhi was also reviewing safety arrangements for its nationals in Afghanistan.
Indian President Pratibha Patil attended a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday and paid tribute to the victims of the blast.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conveyed India’s outrage over the attacks to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who telephoned him early on Saturday to offer his condolences, a statement from the Indian leader’s office said.
Karzai pledged a “full investigation.” India has been heavily involved in reconstruction and aid efforts in Afghanistan, giving more than US$1 billion in help since the fall of the Taliban regime in November 2001.
The Indians who died in the dawn attack included two army officers, government officials and a musician who was part of a cultural delegation.
Another five Indian army officers were injured, along with a government official and two private security guards.
The bombers targeted two guesthouses frequented by foreigners. One, known locally as the “Indian guesthouse,” was occupied by Indian medical staff working at a hospital funded by New Delhi.
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