Afghan President Hamid Karzai today called up Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the wake of attack on Indian consulate in Herat and asserted that such incidents will only help strengthen the collective resolve of both countries to fight terror.
Singh commended the bravery of the Afghan Security Forces, saying said no word of gratitude would be enough for the bravery and skill with which the attack was repulsed.
Condemning the incident, Singh assured Karzai said that such attacks will neither succeed in undermining the close relations nor deter India from fulfilling its commitment to help the Afghan people build a peaceful, stable, united and prosperous Afghanistan.
Briefing Singh on the attack, Karzai said he reciprocated the Prime Minister's belief in the strength of the Indo-Afghan relationship.
Karzai said "incidents such as these only had the consequence of strengthening the collective resolve of both countries" in fighting terrorism.
Earlier, in a statement, Singh said, "I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on the Consulate General of India in Herat this morning. We are greatly relieved that all staff and security personnel at the consulate are safe."
The outgoing Prime Minister said India will continue to support Afghanistan in its "brave fight" against terrorism.
"I also thank the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for their prompt and decisive response, and for their unstinting support over the years for the security of Indians in Afghanistan," he said.
Singh said such attacks will neither succeed in undermining the close relations between India and Afghanistan, nor deter India from fulfilling its commitment to help the Afghan people in building a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan.
