Heavy Fighting on in Mazar-i-Sharif, Indian Mission Staff Safe

Heavy fighting on after militants attempted to storm the Indian mission in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Members of Afghan Quick Reaction Force (QRF) talk among themselves during an operation near the Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan on Monday. (Photo: Reuters)

Heavy fighting is on on Monday, hours after militants attempted to storm the Indian diplomatic mission in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, as special forces carried out clearing operations with India’s Ambassador saying all were safe in the consulate.

Indian and Afghan security forces were jointly engaged in a gun-battle with at least two unidentified attackers who attempted to strike the Indian consulate. In all, 4-5 attackers were believed to have launched the attack, sources said.

The sources also said a contingent of Afghanistan security forces and India’s Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) were retaliating and combating intermittent gunfire, emanating from a building near the consulate since last night. It is believed that at least 2-3 attackers are still active.