Embassy attack due to increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan: US report

Lalit K Jha
Friday, October 10, 2008, (Washington)

The terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, by pro-Pakistan elements, has been mainly due to the increasing Indian influence on Afghanistan, a Congressional report has said.

The massive suicidal car bomb attack on July 7 this year had resulted in the death of more than 40 people including a senior Indian Diplomat and injuring more than 100. This was the first ever attack on an Indian embassy abroad.

The attack and the possible reasons for it finds mention in the latest Congressional report on the security situation in Afghanistan. The report has been prepared by the Congressional Research Service - a research wing of the US Congress - for internal use of the US lawmakers.

"The growing Indian financial and political influence might have been a cause of the July 7, 2008 attack on India's embassy, presumably by pro-Pakistan elements that want to limit India's influence," CRS said in its 75-page report.

India is majorly involved in reconstruction and development work in Afghanistan in the post-Taliban era. So far it has funded projects worth about $750 million and another $300 million with the Asian Development Bank to bring electricity from Central Asia.

It has helped in the renovation of the well-known Habibia High School in Kabul and is building the Afghan Parliament. Besides, a large number of India-financed reconstruction projects are under way throughout Afghanistan, including a road to the Iranian border in remote Nimruz province.

Pakistan considers this as an increasing strategic depth of India, its arch-rival, in Afghanistan. It has openly accused India of using its nine consulates in Afghanistan to spread Indian influence.

The Congressional report said the attack has triggered more debate in India about whether it should deploy more security forces in Afghanistan to protect its construction workers, diplomats, and installations.

India, the report said, apparently decided in August 2008 to improve security for its officials and workers in Afghanistan, but not to send actual troops there, either as protection forces or as part of the NATO-led coalition.

Congressional report says India and Pakistan are working against each other in Afghanistan. India, which has been a victim of cross border terrorism, sees Taliban and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan as a threat to because of Al-Qaida's association with radical Islamic organizations in Pakistan dedicated to ending Indian control of parts of Jammu and Kashmir.