Indian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif was targeted: Government

The Indian consulate in Afghanistan's northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif was "indeed" the target of terrorists on January 3, the government confirmed on Thursday.

"The Indian consulate was indeed the target of a terrorist attack," external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in response to a question.

Armed terrorists were engaged in a gun battle with Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel deployed there, till the Afghan security forces reached, the spokesperson said quoting a report from the consulate.

Late on Sunday, a group of militants stormed the consulate, triggering a gun battle which ended after three of the attackers were killed and nine people, including four civilians, injured.