India-Afghanistan growing ties raise concerns in Pakistan

In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, an Afghan staffer at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, which has been non-operational since 2020, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt.

- SAURABH SHARMA

The incident occurred when unidentified gunmen opened fire on the vehicle carrying the staffer, which led to the death of his driver and left another person injured.

A source in Kabul, on the condition of anonymity, revealed to The Sunday Guardian that Wadood Khan, the primary target of the attack, survived the assault. Khan, who had worked at as a translator at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad before its closure in 2020, has faced numerous personal challenges, including family and financial disputes, rivalries, and even kidnapping a decade ago, the source added.

After the departure of Indian diplomats from the Jalalabad consulate in 2020, a few local staffers continued to work there, people familiar with the matter said.