Afghan violence: India voices profound concern, hopes for normalcy

Abu Dhabi/New Delhi, April 16 (IANS) India Monday conveyed its 'profound concern' to Afghan President Hamid Karzai over the wave of terror attacks in his country and hoped that Afghanistan will sort out its issues without resorting to mindless violence.

'India believes that Afghanistan will have to sort out its issues amongst themselves in a civilised manner without resorting to mindless violence and it is India's open desire that normalcy will be restored in Kabul and Afghanistan,' External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who was in Abu Dhabi on a three-day visit, said in a message which was also uploaded on Youtube.

'I condemn the outbreak of violence in Afghanistan.... and I would like to convey India's profound concerns to President Karzai and people of Afghanistan,' he said.

Informed sources said in New Delhi that after Sunday's coordinated attacks in Kabul and other cities in Afghanistan, Krishna was briefed by India's Ambassador to Afghanistan Gautam Mukhopadhyay on the ground situation following the terror strikes.

The external affairs ministry has said that the around 4,000 Indians, who are engaged in a host of socio-economic reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, are safe.