Mazar-e-sharif. 04, January, 2016.  And as if  Pathankot was not enough, the Indian consulate in Afghanistan has been  under attack since yesterday as gunmen attempted to enter the compound following twin explosions, a spokesman for the local governor said.

Afghan security forces have been  battling a group of gunmen near the consulate in the northern city . With an unknown number of gunmen holed up in the house across the street from the consulate, special forces units prepared an operation to clear the attackers, police spokesman Shir Jan Durani said.

This is  not the first time that terrorists in Afghanistan have attacked India’s diplomatic interests in that country. Since 2008, it is the sixth time when India’s facilities have come under attack. Afghanistan’s intelligence service, the National Directorate of Security, has prevented a suicide-bomb assault on India’s consulate in the eastern city of Jalalabad, along the border with Pakistan,recently. The strike was to have taken place as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the Afghan capital for the first time on December 25.

 Meanwhile the President of Afghanistan,  Ashraf Ghani made a telephone call to the Narendra Modi. He strongly condemned the cross border terrorist attack in Pathankot and extended condolences at the loss of lives in the attack. President Ghani also briefed the Prime Minister about the terrorist attack in Mazar-e-Sharif and expressed support at the loss of lives and property in the earthquake in India.

Prime Minister thanked President Ghani for his message of support at the cross border terrorist attacks and the earthquake. He also expressed deep appreciation for the exemplary bravery and courage shown by the Afghan National Security Forces in thwarting the terrorist attack in Mazar-e-Sharif and ensuring security and safety of the Indian Consulate and personnel. Prime Minister conveyed that India would always stand with the people of Afghanistan.