Kabul attack will not deter India: Manmohan Singh

New Delhi, Aug 4: Announcing a fresh 450 million US dollars assistance for Afghanistan, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Monday, Aug 4 said that the Indian Embassy bombing in Kabul will not deter New Delhi from continuing its support for the reconstruction of the war-torn country.

Manmohan Singh described the embassy bombing as an attack on Indo-Afghan friendship. In the wake of serious threat posed by terrorism to the security and stability of Afghanistan, India and the South Asian region, Dr Singh said he and Afghan President Hamid Karzai agreed to fight the menace "unitedly and with firm determination."

While addressing mediapersons after his talks with the visiting Afghan President, Dr. Singh said the two leaders have decided that they would not allow terrorism to stand in the way of boosting the friendly relations between their countries.

"The attack on our embassy in Kabul on July 7 has tragically shown that terrorism has no barriers and is not bound by restraints. It was an attack on the friendship between India and Afghanistan," the Prime Minister said, and pointed out that Karzai's visit was taking place at a "critical juncture" in the region.

On his part, Karzai said Afghanistan and India face similar challenge of terrorism and cold-blooded murderous activities and condemned the embassy attack in Kabul as well as the serial bombings in Bangalore and Ahmedabad.

"The two countries as also the world at large have no option but to be united in the fight against terrorism as it is our moral responsibility as human beings to protect the people," Karzai further added.

Earlier in the morning, the Afghan President was accorded a ceremonial welcome by his Indian counterpart President Pratibha Patil in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Karzai, who arrived here last night on a two-day state visit to India, is accompanied by a delegation, which includes National Security Advisor, Dr Zalmai Rasoul.

Afghanistan, India and the US have accused Pakistan's ISI of being involved in the July bombing that killed at least 58 people, including two Indian diplomats. Islamabad has agreed to conduct a probe in the matter.

India is involved in training Afghanistan's police and diplomats, building roads and hospitals, and supporting trade and services as Afghanistan tries to rebuild its war-ravaged economy, despite continuing Taliban attacks.

Afghanistan has already received 750 million US dollars assistance from India towards the development of its infrastructure.

Pakistan is against any increase in Indian influence in Afghanistan.

The Afghan intelligence agency has accused Pakistani ISI of training thousands of militants to attack Indian road projects in Afghanistan. A number of Indian road workers have been killed in Afghanistan.

ANI