'4 Indians among 40 killed in Afghan blast'

India's military attache, a diplomat and two paramilitary guards were killed in the car bomb attack at the Indian embassy in Kabul, officials said. Images

India's military attache, a diplomat and two paramilitary guards were killed in Monday's car bomb attack at the Indian embassy in the Afghan capital Kabul, officials said. The suicide attack in the Afghan capital killed more than 40 people.

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"Indian defence attache, Brigadier R Mehta, has been killed in the blast. The defence ministry will be sending a transport aircraft to bring back the bodies of those killed and the injured," defence ministry spokesman Sitanshu Kar told AFP.

Speaking in Kabul, Indian Ambassador Jayan Prasad said political and information counsellor V Venkateswara Rao was also dead.

A senior embassy official said two Indian security guards were also killed.

Rao's body was found hours later because it had been flung onto the roof of a building, the official said. Three Indian nationals were hurt, he said.

Seven Afghans providing security for the embassy were killed and 17 injured, he added.