KABUL - A day after eight civilians, including children, were killed in a suicide attack on the Indian consulate in eastern Nangarhar province, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday Kabul wanted to further expand relations with New Delhi.

Another 22 civilians were wounded in the attack after which Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid phoned his Afghan counterpart Zalmai Rassoul and expressed his condolences with the victims’ families.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Musazai told reporters Rassoul, calling India Afghanistan’s most trusted friend, insisted on further improving the relationship between the two countries.

“The minister told his Indian counterpart Afghanistan considers India its closest ally and a strategic partner. We will expand and improve our cooperation and relations with India in the months and years ahead,” Musazai quoted Rassoul as saying.

The spokesman said an investigation into the attack on the Indian mission was ongoing. So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Musazai said such attacks were planned outside Afghanistan. “We’re sure the barbaric attack involves a foreign hand which breads terrorism and supplies terrorists with logistic and financial support,” he remarked, without naming any country.

Political experts believe Islamabad is worried about India and Afghanistan becoming closer and has been using various tactics to sabotage their relations.

Musazai said Afghanistan had always maintained a balance in its relations with foreign countries. He added Afghanistan as a sovereign state maintained ties with foreign countries, including India, keeping in view its own interests. (Pajhwok)