In Afghanistan, nine people were killed and 21 others wounded in a suicide car bomb attack near the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad city today. Other reports put the death toll at 12 and injured 24. several children were among the dead.

Afghan Interior ministry in a brief statement issued in Kabul said, the suicide bomber detonated his explosives-laden vehicle close to the Indian Consulate in Jalalabad, the capital city of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan this morning. Reports quoting provincial officials said the attack took place near a mosque in a busy street of the city which also houses Indian Consulate. All the officials of the Consulate are safe, however some window panes of the building have been shattered with the impact of powerful blast. The casualties include several children who were going to attend a madrasa inside the mosque.

Condemning the attack Afghan Interior Ministry has called such heinous acts of violence against the values of Islam as well as the values of peaceful Afghans. The interior ministry has expressed its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and prayed quick recovery of those injured.