February 2010 Kabul attack
Encyclopedia
The February 2010 Kabul attack on February 26, 2010 was a combined suicide bombing and shooting attack. A car bomb levelled the Arya Guesthouse, also known as the
Hamid Guesthouse,
popular with Indian doctors.
Two armed attackers then entered the nearby Park Residence, housing other foreigners. One detonated a suicide bomb, and the other was shot dead.
The Safi Landmark Hotel
nearby was badly damaged by the blasts.
At least 18 people were killed and 36 more were injured.
According to initial intelligence reports, the attack was directed against Indian presence in Afghanistan and was carried out by Pakistan-based militants.
In February 2010, India and Pakistan started peace talks for the first time since 2008 Mumbai attacks
. The Taliban has strongly opposed Indian presence in Afghanistan, especially because India has extensively helped U.S. and Northern Alliance
forces in the past. Pakistan, an arch-rival of India, is also against the increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan and Pakistani intelligence agencies continue to maintain deep ties with the Taliban. India has contributed more than $ 1 billion for reconstruction in Afghanistan and has close ties with president Hamid Karzai
who was educated in India. Most of Indian aid goes into building roads, electrical power plants and providing health care. American intelligence believe that a previous attack
on Indian embassy in Kabul was supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence
.
neighborhood of Kabul. The first assault included a suicide car bomb
attack next to Hamid Guest house frequented by Indian nationals in Kabul. It left a crater 12 feet across and 8 feet deep. Soon after the car bomb exploded, armed militants stormed Park Residence which is popular with Europeans which resulted in a firefight that lasted for more than 90 minutes.
n nationals. Three Afghan police officers, a French filmmaker Severin Blanchet and an Italian diplomat Pietro Antonio Colazza were also among those dead.
The Times of India reported that among the dead were Indian Army
and Indo-Tibetan Border Police
personnel stationed in Afghanistan. The dead also included Indian physicians treating poor Afghan children at the Indira Gandhi childrens hospital
. Major Jyotin Singh was one of the doctors from the Indian army's Medical Corps who lost his life in preventing the attack. Major Jyotin Singh was unarmed but physically prevented the suicide bomber from entering the Arya guesthouse saving many lives.
The next week, however, Afghan intelligence officials said the Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba
was involved in the attacks,
saying in a TV interview they were "very close" to proving that "this attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba network, who are dependent on the Pakistan military."
U.S. intelligence officials and Pakistani analysts have said that Lashkar-e-Taiba militants have been training with associates of the Haqqani network
in North Waziristan
. Indian officials suspect that the Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taiba worked in concert.
A report in the New York Times suggested that Pakistan
and its agencies could be responsible for the attack. A U.S. intelligence report says Pakistan "has continued to provide support to its militant proxies, such as Haqqani Taliban, Gul Bahadur group, and Commander Nazir group." Analyst Jeremy Page
feared that the attacks could hamper the on-going peace talks between India and Pakistan.
— Afghan President, Hamid Karzai
, labeled the assault as a "terrorist attack against Indian citizens." He also said that the "attacks on Indian citizens will not affect relations between India and Afghanistan."
— The spokesman of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
said that the United Kingdom condemned the attacks "in the strongest possible terms."
— Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon
stated "Canada condemns in the strongest terms the attack that occurred in Kabul’s Shar-e-Naw district today that has reportedly killed 17 people, including two Afghan policemen, and injured several others."
—Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack. It released a statement "Turkey was resolved to act in solidarity with the Afghan government and would continue to support Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism and extremism."
—Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi
released a statement "learned with sadness the news of the death of the diplomatic adviser Pietro Antonio Colazzo in today's attack in Kabul. A faithful servant of the state, who died doing his job in a country tormented by horrific terrorist acts."
— French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner
was quoted as saying "I salute the memory of our compatriot Severin Blanchet. He was a privileged partner in French cultural action in Afghanistan. We will pursue with determination the work that he had started with such generosity and solidarity."
— U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer
in a statement said "I offer sincere condolences to the Government of India and the families, friends, and loved ones of those injured and killed in yesterday's tragic attack in Kabul,"
Hamid Guesthouse,
popular with Indian doctors.
Two armed attackers then entered the nearby Park Residence, housing other foreigners. One detonated a suicide bomb, and the other was shot dead.
The Safi Landmark Hotel
Safi Landmark Hotel
Safi Landmark Hotel is a hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan.It is a four star hotel, and located approximately 15 minutes by road from Kabul International Airport....
nearby was badly damaged by the blasts.
At least 18 people were killed and 36 more were injured.
According to initial intelligence reports, the attack was directed against Indian presence in Afghanistan and was carried out by Pakistan-based militants.
Background
In early 2010, U.S. and British forces launched a major military campaign in Marjah during which the Taliban suffered a series of setbacks.In February 2010, India and Pakistan started peace talks for the first time since 2008 Mumbai attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
. The Taliban has strongly opposed Indian presence in Afghanistan, especially because India has extensively helped U.S. and Northern Alliance
Northern Alliance
The Afghan Northern Alliance is a military-political umbrella organization created by the Islamic State of Afghanistan in 1996.Northern Alliance may also refer to:*Northern Alliance , a Canadian white supremacist group...
forces in the past. Pakistan, an arch-rival of India, is also against the increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan and Pakistani intelligence agencies continue to maintain deep ties with the Taliban. India has contributed more than $ 1 billion for reconstruction in Afghanistan and has close ties with president Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
who was educated in India. Most of Indian aid goes into building roads, electrical power plants and providing health care. American intelligence believe that a previous attack
2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul
The 2008 Indian embassy bombing in Kabul was a suicide bomb terror attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan on 7 July 2008 at 8:30 AM local time. The bombing killed 58 people and wounded 141. The suicide car bombing took place near the gates of the embassy during morning hours when...
on Indian embassy in Kabul was supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence
Inter-Services Intelligence
The Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence , is Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, responsible for providing critical national security intelligence assessment to the Government of Pakistan...
.
Attack
Hamid Guest House and Park Residence the two guest houses targeted are located in the Shar-e-NawShar-e Naw Park
Shar-e Naw Park is a park in Kabul, Afghanistan....
neighborhood of Kabul. The first assault included a suicide car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
attack next to Hamid Guest house frequented by Indian nationals in Kabul. It left a crater 12 feet across and 8 feet deep. Soon after the car bomb exploded, armed militants stormed Park Residence which is popular with Europeans which resulted in a firefight that lasted for more than 90 minutes.
Casualties
Of the 18 people dead, nine were IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n nationals. Three Afghan police officers, a French filmmaker Severin Blanchet and an Italian diplomat Pietro Antonio Colazza were also among those dead.
Indians
- Major (Dr.) L. Jyotin Singh of Army Medical Corps
- Major Deepak Yadav of Army Education Corps
- Nitish Chhibber, Assistant at the Consulate General of India in Kandahar
- Indo-Tibetan Border Police constable Roshan Lal
- Engineer Bhola Ram
- Tabla player Nawab Khan
The Times of India reported that among the dead were Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
and Indo-Tibetan Border Police
Indo-Tibetan Border Police
The Indo-Tibetan Border Police is an Indian force conceived on October 24, 1962 for security along the India's border with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, border covering 2115 kilometres...
personnel stationed in Afghanistan. The dead also included Indian physicians treating poor Afghan children at the Indira Gandhi childrens hospital
Indira Gandhi Childrens Hospital
Indira Gandhi Children's hospital located in Kabul is the leading Children's hospital of Afghanistan. It has 150 beds and in 2004 started the first cerebral palsy center in Afghanistan...
. Major Jyotin Singh was one of the doctors from the Indian army's Medical Corps who lost his life in preventing the attack. Major Jyotin Singh was unarmed but physically prevented the suicide bomber from entering the Arya guesthouse saving many lives.
Responsibility
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack within hours. Their spokesman Mujahid said that the attack was not specifically targeted against India, but against Europeans and Americans.The next week, however, Afghan intelligence officials said the Pakistani group Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba
Lashkar-e-Taiba – also transliterated as Lashkar-i-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyaba, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba, Lashkar-i-Taiba, Lashkar Taiba or LeT – is one of the largest and most active militant Islamist terrorist organizations in South Asia, operating mainly from Pakistan.It was founded by Hafiz Muhammad...
was involved in the attacks,
saying in a TV interview they were "very close" to proving that "this attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba network, who are dependent on the Pakistan military."
U.S. intelligence officials and Pakistani analysts have said that Lashkar-e-Taiba militants have been training with associates of the Haqqani network
Haqqani network
The Haqqani Network is an insurgent group fighting against US-led NATO forces and the government of Afghanistan. Originating from Afghanistan during the mid-1970s, it was nurtured by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence during the 1980s Soviet war in...
in North Waziristan
North Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
. Indian officials suspect that the Taliban and the Lashkar-e-Taiba worked in concert.
A report in the New York Times suggested that Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and its agencies could be responsible for the attack. A U.S. intelligence report says Pakistan "has continued to provide support to its militant proxies, such as Haqqani Taliban, Gul Bahadur group, and Commander Nazir group." Analyst Jeremy Page
Jeremy Page
Jeremy Page was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman who played for Bedfordshire. He was born in Luton, Bedfordshire....
feared that the attacks could hamper the on-going peace talks between India and Pakistan.
Reaction
— The Foreign Minister of India, S.M. Krishna, called this attack as desperate attempt to "undermine the friendship between India and Afghanistan."— Afghan President, Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
, labeled the assault as a "terrorist attack against Indian citizens." He also said that the "attacks on Indian citizens will not affect relations between India and Afghanistan."
— The spokesman of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
said that the United Kingdom condemned the attacks "in the strongest possible terms."
-
United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
— The UN released a statement calling the attack on civilians in Kabul a "senseless disregard for human life."
— Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon
Lawrence Cannon
Lawrence Cannon, PC is a Canadian politician from Quebec and Prime Minister Stephen Harper's former Quebec lieutenant. On October 30, 2008 he was sworn in as Minister of Foreign Affairs...
stated "Canada condemns in the strongest terms the attack that occurred in Kabul’s Shar-e-Naw district today that has reportedly killed 17 people, including two Afghan policemen, and injured several others."
—Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack. It released a statement "Turkey was resolved to act in solidarity with the Afghan government and would continue to support Afghanistan in its fight against terrorism and extremism."
—Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi , also known as Il Cavaliere – from knighthood to the Order of Merit for Labour which he received in 1977 – is an Italian politician and businessman who served three terms as Prime Minister of Italy, from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006, and 2008 to 2011. Berlusconi is also the...
released a statement "learned with sadness the news of the death of the diplomatic adviser Pietro Antonio Colazzo in today's attack in Kabul. A faithful servant of the state, who died doing his job in a country tormented by horrific terrorist acts."
— French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
was quoted as saying "I salute the memory of our compatriot Severin Blanchet. He was a privileged partner in French cultural action in Afghanistan. We will pursue with determination the work that he had started with such generosity and solidarity."
— U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer
Timothy J. Roemer
Timothy John "Tim" Roemer is an American political figure, who previously served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of India...
in a statement said "I offer sincere condolences to the Government of India and the families, friends, and loved ones of those injured and killed in yesterday's tragic attack in Kabul,"