Manmohan condemns attack on Indian consulate

Outgoing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday condemned the attack on the Indian consulate in Afghanistan, but said it won't undermine the close ties between New Delhi and Kabul.

"I condemn in the strongest terms the attack on the consulate general of India... We are greatly relieved that all staff and security personnel at the consulate are safe," Manmohan Singh said.

"These attacks will neither succeed in undermining the close relations between India and Afghanistan nor deter India from fulfilling its commitment to help the Afghan people in building a peaceful, stable, united, democratic and prosperous Afghanistan."

"India will continue to support Afghanistan in its brave fight against terrorism," he added.

Manmohan Singh commended the bravery of the Afghan security forces in repulsing the attack on the Indian consulate when he talked to Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who called him and briefed him on the incident.

The Afghan president said he reciprocated Manmohan Singh's belief in the strength of the India-Afghanistan relationship. Together, the two countries would defeat terrorism, he said.