Modi visits Indian consulate in Afghanistan's Herat city

After inaugurating the Salma Dam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the Indian consulate in Herat in western Afghanistan where he interacted with the consular staff.

"Meeting the men who make our friendship work. PM visits Indian consulate in Herat, interacts with personnel," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted.

The consulate was attacked in May 2014 by four heavily-armed terrorists. No one in the consulate staff was injured and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel and Afghan security forces killed all four attackers.

In January this year, a car with explosives was found near the Indian consulate in Herat and a man was detained. The vehicle was searched and seized after it was found abandoned near the consulate with a punctured wheel, hinting that was not meant for the consulate.

Earlier in the day, Modi, along with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, inaugurated the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier known as Salma Dam, that was rebuilt with India's aid.

The Prime Minister arrived in Herat on Saturday on the first-leg of his five-nation tour that will also take him to Qatar, Switzerland, the US and Mexico.

He will leave for Doha, Qatar, later on Saturday.

--IANS

ab/rn/vm