A suicide bomber today blew up an explosives-laden car outside the Indian Embassy in Kabul killing 17 people and injuring over 80, including three ITBP personnel. Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack. Al Jazeera channel quoting Taliban website identified the suicide bomber as Khalid. This is the second attack on the mission, after it was targeted in July last year. The wall of the highly-fortified embassy was damaged and a watch tower destroyed in the powerful blast that occurred near the outer perimeter in the morning. Afghanistan's Interior Ministry spokesman Zemaral Bashry said, most of the wounded are civilians.<br/><br/>Indian Ambassador Jayant Prasad said in Kabul that the Indian Embassy was the target but the suicide bomber failed to breach the security perimeter. Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in New Delhi, the intensity of the blast was more or less the same as the July 2008 attack, which killed 60 people, including a senior IFS officer V V Rao and Brigadier-rank Defence Attache R D Mehta. She also asserted that India will take necessary measures to safeguard security of Indian personnel and interests in Afghanistan. Our Kabul correspondent reports, the last attack, blamed on Taliban militants linked to Pakistan's intelligence service ISI, led to fortification of the Embassy that helped prevent a major catastrophe today.<br/><br/>The United States strongly condemned the suicide bomb attack. Terming the attack as deeply troubling, US Ambassador to India, Timothy Roemer extended all support to New Delhi. He said, on behalf of President Obama, he wants to extend American support to India and its people. Afghan President Hamid Karzai also condemned the blast, saying it is a heinous act of terror planned to kill innocent civilians. Karzai extended his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims. A Presidential House spokesman said Karzai had ordered the security agencies to probe the incident. Pakistan also condemned the attack and alleged that elements in Afghanistan are intent of sabotaging peace efforts by coalition forces and damaging relations between New Delhi and Islamabad. Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit told this to reporters in Islamabad. <br/><br/>The Minister of State for External affairs Dr. Shashi Tharoor has condemned the attack on Indian Embassy in Kabul today. Speaking to AIR Dubai correspondent he expressed grief to the loss innocent lives and assured that we will not be intimated by this incident and all necessary measures will be taken for the protection.<br/><br/>In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Afghanistan today said the suicide bomb attack on the Indian Embassy here was planned and implemented from outside the borders of Afghanistan and the matter is being investigated. Foreign Ministry spokesman Fakiri told this to PTI over phone.