Special Forces to launch operation as firefight continues around Indian Consulate in Afghan northern city

Afghan Special Forces will launch operation against militants attacking Indian Consulate in Afghanistan northern Mazar-e-Sharif city, the capital of Balkh province 305 km north of Kabul, on Monday, as the firefight continued over the past 20 hours.

"Since the militants have occupied a residential house in the area from where they are targeting the Consulate, we have been doing our best to protect the civilians," Balkh provincial governor Atta Mohammad Noor told reporters here.

Governor Noor, who is personally supervising the operations, added that personnel of Commando Unit would soon launch cleanup operations to end the drama.

Meantime, Xinhua reporter at the site saw two helicopters flying over the area.

"A group of armed militants occupied a residential house next to the Indian Consulate at 08:45 p.m. Sunday and begun targeting the consulate building with assault rifles and hand grenades," a police officer Shafi Sadat told reporters.

Without commenting on possible casualties, the official added that security forces had tightened siege and are trying to capture or kill the assailants.

Meanwhile, a security official on the condition of anonymity told Xinhua that four security personnel and three civilians have sustained injuries during the firefight, which is still going on.

The official also added that no Indian national has suffered in the incident and all of them have been evacuated to safer place.

The number of attackers, according to the official, could be between 8 to 12, all armed with assault rifles and suicide vests.

Meanwhile, director of health department in Mazar-e-Sharif city, Khawja Noor Mohammad Faiz in talks with Xinhua confirmed that eight injured people including three civilians have been taken to hospitals for medical treatment.

No group or individuals have claimed of responsibility. Enditem