In the wake of the recent targeting of the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan, a suspicious vehicle was on Friday found near the Indian consulate in another Afghan city, Herat, but Indian government sources said there were no explosives in the SUV vehicle that was found 200 metres from the Indian consulate premises on the highway but that some detonating material was found. According to news agency reports, one person was detained in this regard, prompting speculation as to whether it was intended for attacking yet another Indian diplomatic mission in Afghani-stan. According to these reports, the Indian consulate in Herat tweeted that “reports about discovery of VBIED outside the Consulate are misleading. No explosives found.” According to the information available, a vehicle was found parked unattended in a makeshift taxi stand next to the consulate and was checked by police officials.
“The police had seized a suspect vehicle near consulate perimeter ... It was not ready to be used as (vehicle-borne improvised explosive device) VBIED but only had preparatory explosive materials. All main suspects were able to escape.... Only one suspect from nearby area has been detained by the police for interrogation,” the Afghan police has reportedly informed the Indian officials, according to some reports.
Friday’s incident comes less than a week after an attack by a group of heavily armed insurgents who attempted to storm into the Indian consulate in the northern Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.
Just a few days after Mazar-e-Sharif incident, a small bomb exploded near the Indian consulate in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad on January 5, according to reports.
The Pakistani ISI, along with terror outfits, have been trying to target Indian missions in Afghanistan, as Pakistan is nervous about growing Indian presence in Afghanistan.
