US condemns attack near Indian Embassy in Kabul

Washington: The US has condemned Thursday's bombing near the Indian Embassy in Kabul that killed at least 17 people and injured 76, saying there's no justification for this kind of senseless violence.

"The United States condemns the bombing on Thursday near the Indian Embassy and Ministry of Interior in Kabul that has killed several people and wounded many more," the State Department said in a statement.

"There's no justification for this kind of senseless violence," it said, adding, "Our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of those who lost their lives in the attack."

Meanwhile, a US-based strategic think-tank said on Thursday the second attack against the Indian Embassy in just over a year is likely to bring renewed pressure on Pakistan to take decisive action against terrorists using its soil to launch offensive against neighbours.

"As was the case in the (July 7) 2008 attack, the October 8 bomb attack will likely be linked to terrorists based in Pakistan and there will also be likely connections made to elements within Islamabad's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) directorate," Stratfor, the Global intelligence agency company said in an analysis.

It said that the attack gives "credence" to the US position and "weakens" the case of the Pakistani military regarding the Kerry-Lugar Bill providing Pakistan $7.5 billion in non-military aid over the next five years conditioned on Islamabad's fight against terrorists.

"But more importantly, the bombing has the potential of creating problems between India and Pakistan," it said.

The attack came hours after the Pakistani military's central command issued a statement criticising the Kerry-Lugar Bill, which says that Pakistan is a launch pad for terrorists groups conducting attacks in Afghanistan and India.

From the attack, Stratfor said it also appears that the Taliban have decided to increase the number of attacks in Kabul in an attempt to convince foreign governments to leave Afghanistan.

There has been a marked increase in the number of major attacks in Kabul since the beginning of August, and the number of major attacks since that time - five - equals the number of major attacks in Kabul for the entire second half of 2008, it noted.

From all appearances, the Taliban have decided to step up attacks in Kabul as part of its campaign to convince Foreign Governments to leave the country, Stratfor said.