An overnight Taliban attack on a guest house in Kabul -- in which 14 people, including four Indians, were killed -- was ostensibly targetted at India's Ambassador to Afghanistan Amar Sinha, Afghan media reports said on Thursday.
A single gunman attacked Park Palace guesthouse in Kabul's Kolola Pushta late Wednesday night where a musical concert was scheduled to be held.
"Four Indians, including a lady, were killed in the attack," an Indian embassy source told IANS over telephone.
An American, a British citizen and an Italian were also killed in the attack while the nationalities of two others who died could not be confirmed, according to a statement issued by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
The counter-attack by Afghan security forces lasted seven hours and ended Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Ghani's special envoy for good governance Ahmad Zia Massoud told reporters that the militants attacked the guesthouse thinking that Indian envoy Sinha was present at the premises, Khaama Press news agency reported.
More From This Section
Massoud visited the attack scene in Kabul late on Wednesday night and spoke to reporters there.
"Massoud said the attack on Park Palace guesthouse is likely a political attack but he did not elaborate further," the Khaama Press report said.
"A security official earlier said a musical event was due to be organised, which was due to be attended by Turkish and Indian guests as well as Afghan nationals."
However, an Indian embassy source told IANS that the envoy was not present in the guest house when the attack took place.
The Taliban on Thursday claimed responsibility for the attack.
Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesperson, told Afghan media that a Taliban militant, Mohammad Idress, carried out the attack, killing and injuring several foreigners.
The Taliban said the attack was part of their spring offensive targeting government officials and their foreign backers, according to Xinhua news agency.
The group claimed that the casualties were much more than the official figures.
Following the deadly attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday told Afghan President Ghani that both their nations were "one" in fighting terror.
"Spoke to President @ashrafghani & offered condolences on loss of lives due to the Kabul attack. We are one when it comes to fighting terror," the prime minister, who is visiting Xi'an in China, tweeted.
"President @ashrafghani expressed sadness on the unfortunate demise of Indian citizens in the attack in Kabul," Modi said.
The terror attack also featured in talks between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Xi'an.
On Wednesday night, just ahead of his takeoff for Xi'an, Modi tweeted that he was concerned about the situation in Kabul after hearing the news.
"In the aircraft I got news about the attack in Kabul. Am concerned about the situation & I pray for everyone's safety," Modi tweeted.
Ghani, in his statement from his office, said he had also spoken to the leaders of the nations whose citizens were so brutally slain in the Taliban assault.
Ghani lashed out at the Taliban, saying the "terrorists and enemies of Afghanistan cannot harm our country's relationships with other countries with these activities".
The Indian embassy in Kabul, while strongly condemning the attack, it was grateful for the condolence messages from the Afghan leadership and also appreciated the Afghan security forces for their "valiant effort" to evacuate the civilians caught in the siege and for killing the gunmen in the attack.
The embassy said it stood in solidarity and sympathy with the bereaved families and the injured, and conveyed its "heart-felt condolences" to the people who lost their lives.
"The Afghan leaders appreciate the contributions of Indians who are working here for the socio-economic development of Afghanistan. The four brave Indians who lost their lives in the Park Palace attack will be remembered for their selfless contribution to friendship between our nations," it said.
"The Mission also appreciates the Afghan security forces for their valiant effort to evacuate the civilians from the hotel and for neutralizing the terrorist in yesterday's attack," the statement said.
"Kabul Attack: do terrorists really believe they can subdue spirit of a nation? Have a hope coming," Ambassador Sinha tweeted on Thursday.
Afghanistan's Ambassador to India Shaida Mohammad Abdali also tweeted: "# Strongly deplore the cowardly terrorist attack in Kabul, # will do nothing but further strengthen our resolve to face this common threat!"