New Delhi, March 12
Undeterred by the recent attacks on Indians in Kabul, the Union government has decided to set up a secure residential complex for its 4,000-odd employees there. Also, a contingent of 40 ITBP commandos would be leaving for Afghanistan tomorrow to beef up the security of their fellow nationals. Besides this, India has plans to send a high-level team for reviewing the overall security scenario.
Being built as part of India’s “re-worked” strategy, the “totally secure” residential complex would have perimeter fencing, CCTV cameras and high-tech sensors in place, sources said today. Though no deadline had been set for building the complex, sources said work would commence soon. Similar residential complexes have been built for employees in militancy-hit Jammu and Kashmir.
Presently, Indians working on various humanitarian projects live in guesthouses that are scattered across Kabul and other cities. Indians are working in reconstruction projects in health, power, roads and social sector across Afghanistan under a US $1.3 billion (Rs 60,000 crore) assistance programme.
Notably, the move for the residential complex comes after seven Indians, including three Major-rank officers, were killed in a string of attacks on February 26.
The ITBP commandos (leaving tomorrow) would be deployed at Indian missions in Kabul, Herat and Kandahar, among other places. A few others would be stationed at guesthouses frequented by Indians, sources said.
Besides, a high-level team of central security agencies, too, would be leaving for Afghanistan shortly to review the security situation.
