Ops to flush out militants on: ITBP on Indian consulate attack

New Delhi : The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) on Monday said the operation to flush out militants holed near the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif is still underway.

“It is learnt that the final assault has been launched by the Afghan Special Forces and the operation is underway right now. As far as the incident is concerned, at 21:15 last night three blasts occurred in front of the Indian consulate, Mazar-i-Sharif, and the militants started firing. Now, the ITBP troops returned heavy fire to prevent militants entering into the area,” said Vivek Pandey PRO, ITBP.

“The militants fired five-six RPG shells which passed consulate. Two to three rounds hit nearby houses. Suspected two militants injured or dead by ITBP fire since our troops saw them being dragged away,” he added.

Pandey further said the consulate staff and ITBP troops are safe.

The commandos of the ITBP force, which guards the consulate building, were the first to engage with the terrorists for almost an hour and were able to thwart the attack.

As per reports, the terrorists were still engaged in heavy gun battle with the Special Forces of the Afghanistan Police.

Last night, explosions and gunfire rang out as militants attempted to storm the Indian diplomatic mission in Mazar-i-Sharif city.

Unknown number of militants attacked from a building close to the consulate which quickly prompted Afghan forces to cordon off the area.

The attack came close on the heels of the terrorists attack at the Pathankot air base, where Indian security forces were still trying to eliminate terrorists, who killed at least seven military personnel and wounded 20 others. (ANI)