By IANS,
New Delhi : The bodies of two Indian engineers killed in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan are expected to be flown in to New Delhi Monday.
Two Indian engineers were killed and five others injured when two suicide bombers attacked their convoy in Nimroz province of southwestern Afghanistan Saturday morning. According to media reports, a Taliban spokesperson claimed responsibility for the attack.
The suicide bombers jumped in front of the convoy carrying the Indians, who are engaged in building a road in the area. A third accomplice, injured in the incident, was arrested by Afghan security personnel.
The bodies of the two engineers, M.P. Singh and C. Govindaswamy, were airlifted to Zaranj and then taken to Kabul. Officials in the ministry of external affairs (MEA) in New Delhi said the bodies of the two engineers would be brought to Delhi once the formalities are completed.
The injured, who were also brought to Kabul, could also be flown home for better medical treatment, the officials said.
The Indian workers targeted Saturday were working on a strategic road linking Afghanistan’s garland highway to the Iranian border and then onto Iranian seaports.
The MEA strongly condemned the suicide bomb attack “aimed against India’s aid and humanitarian programme in Afghanistan” but reiterated New Delhi’s “determination to continue to work with the Afghan people and government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction” of the war ravaged country.
Nearly 4,000 Indians are engaged in the construction of various infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. India has pledged $850 million for the reconstruction of the country, making New Delhi the fifth largest donor there.