Terror strike targeting Indian mission in Afghanistan kills 9, wounds over 23

At least nine people were killed and a lot more were wounded when insurgents armed with bombs and guns attacked the Indian consulate in Afghanistan's eastern capital of Jalalabad today.

The attack, which comes on the eve of the withdrawal of the NATO-led foreign forces, has raised the spectre of renewed fighting and power struggle in the violence-torn region.

Twenty-three people were wounded in the attack when guards stopped three attackers in a car at the check post as they approached the Indian consulate in Jalalbabad city, the office of the governor of Nangarhar province, Gul Agha Sherzai, said in a statement.

No Indian officials were killed. However, the blast badly damaged a mosque and dozens of homes and small shops nearby. India condemned the attack and, without naming any country or group, blamed outside forces.

"This attack has once again highlighted that the main threat to Afghanistan's security and stability stems from terrorism and the terror machine that continues to operate from beyond its borders," the ministry of external affairs said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Interpol today issued a global security alert asking members to increase vigilance against attacks after a series of prison breaks in Pakistan, Iraq and Libya amidst investigations whether the jailbreaks are coordinated.

The Lyon, France-based Interpol gave the alert based on the suspected involvement of al Qaeda in some of the incidents.

The Taliban, which spearheads armed opposition to Karzai's US-backed government, denied responsibility the attack on the Indian mission, which is close to Pakistan's border.

The attack, however, has revived doubts that Pakistan was attempting to compromise India-Afghanistan relations by pinning down Indian missions in Afghanistan.