chief
Prime VIP
Govt tightens security for Kathmandu, Kabul missions
India has decided to fortify its embassies in Kathmandu and Kabul by making elaborate security arrangements. In Kathmandu more commandos have been deployed in the wake of fresh terror threat from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to the mission in the Himalayan nation.
Intelligence inputs indicated that LeT may try to target the Kathmandu embassy and diplomats posted there, top government officials said. The inputs also suggested that threats have come to the Indian assets in the Himalayan country from Nepal Maoists and some other anti-India forces.
Meanwhile, the government has also asked Indians living in Afghanistan to take adequate precautions about their security and warned there was a possibility of diplomats being abducted by the Taliban, highly placed sources indicated on Friday.
"We might revamp security measures in our consulates," said a senior government official.
"There are intelligence reports that diplomats could be soft targets. After National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon's visit to Kabul last week to assess security arrangements, we are examining all options and working out a better security regimen," said a senior official, who could not be identified.
"We have reviewed the security after the Intelligence inputs and have decided to fortify the Embassy in Kathmandu which include deployment of more commandos and putting in place more security measures," the official said.
Currently, the Kathmandu mission is guarded by commandos of Central Industrial Security Force.
Currently, there are over 160 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel providing security to the Indian embassy in Kabul and the four consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif.
The Afghanistan government has also been in constant touch with Indian authorities to bolster security arrangements.
Six Indians, including two army officers, were among 16 killed as Taliban suicide bombers carried out coordinated attacks on two Kabul hotels in February.
The suicide squad struck mainly at the Park Residence hotel rented out by the Indian embassy for its staffers and those linked to India's developmental work in Afghanistan.
A car bomb levelled the Arya Guesthouse used mainly by Indian doctors.
The government is also contemplating to review security in the Indian Embassy in Colombo.
"Though there is no specific threat to Colombo mission which is well guarded, we will review security there too," the official said.
The Sri Lankan mission is guarded by BSF personnel.
India has decided to fortify its embassies in Kathmandu and Kabul by making elaborate security arrangements. In Kathmandu more commandos have been deployed in the wake of fresh terror threat from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to the mission in the Himalayan nation.
Intelligence inputs indicated that LeT may try to target the Kathmandu embassy and diplomats posted there, top government officials said. The inputs also suggested that threats have come to the Indian assets in the Himalayan country from Nepal Maoists and some other anti-India forces.
Meanwhile, the government has also asked Indians living in Afghanistan to take adequate precautions about their security and warned there was a possibility of diplomats being abducted by the Taliban, highly placed sources indicated on Friday.
"We might revamp security measures in our consulates," said a senior government official.
"There are intelligence reports that diplomats could be soft targets. After National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon's visit to Kabul last week to assess security arrangements, we are examining all options and working out a better security regimen," said a senior official, who could not be identified.
"We have reviewed the security after the Intelligence inputs and have decided to fortify the Embassy in Kathmandu which include deployment of more commandos and putting in place more security measures," the official said.
Currently, the Kathmandu mission is guarded by commandos of Central Industrial Security Force.
Currently, there are over 160 Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel providing security to the Indian embassy in Kabul and the four consulates in Jalalabad, Kandahar, Herat and Mazar-e-Sharif.
The Afghanistan government has also been in constant touch with Indian authorities to bolster security arrangements.
Six Indians, including two army officers, were among 16 killed as Taliban suicide bombers carried out coordinated attacks on two Kabul hotels in February.
The suicide squad struck mainly at the Park Residence hotel rented out by the Indian embassy for its staffers and those linked to India's developmental work in Afghanistan.
A car bomb levelled the Arya Guesthouse used mainly by Indian doctors.
The government is also contemplating to review security in the Indian Embassy in Colombo.
"Though there is no specific threat to Colombo mission which is well guarded, we will review security there too," the official said.
The Sri Lankan mission is guarded by BSF personnel.
