India to send more security forces for its Afghan offices

With latest intelligence reports from Afghanistan pointing to continued security threat to Indian installations there...

With latest intelligence reports from Afghanistan pointing to continued security threat to Indian installations there, the Government has decided to significantly increase the deployment of security forces in Afghanistan.

About 100 jawans of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police are planned to be posted at the Indian embassy in Kabul, which was attacked by terrorists last month, killing four Indian nationals, including two high-ranking officials of the embassy.

Security at Indian consulates in four other Afghan cities are also being upgraded, Home Ministry sources said. The consulates at Jalalabad and Kandhar are currently guarded by ten ITBP jawans. In Mazar-e-Sharif and Heart, the Indian consulates are completely dependent on the Afghan police for their security.

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As of now, the Centre is considering sending one additional platoon of ITBP, comprising 30 jawans each, to Jalalabad and Kandahar. The security requirement for Mazar-e-sharif and Heart are also being assessed.

A high-level team led by ITBP Additional Director General Ranjeet Sinha, comprising some officials from the Home Ministry, has been asked to visit Afghanistan and make an assessment of the additional requirement of security personnel in that country, sources said.

As of now, about 400 jawans of ITBP are providing security to key Indian installations, including the embassy in Kabul and the project team of Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is constructing a road near the Afghanistan-Iran border.

Indians have been a frequent target for terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan. Apart from the four casualties in last month’s bombing at the embassy in Kabul, three employees of BRO and two ITBP jawans have also been killed in similar attacks. Many more have been injured.

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Home Ministry sources said the ITBP forces in Afghanistan were also being provided with advanced weaponry, including hand grenades, to effectively fight against the terror groups. A quick reaction team is also being set up to deal with emergencies and provide resistance till reinforcements arrive.