Indian firm attacked in Afghanistan, no casualties

Taliban insurgents attacked an Indian road construction company in Afghanistan's Khost province today and torched some vehicles, but the raiders were beaten back, Afghan officials said.

Taliban insurgents attacked an Indian road construction company in Afghanistan's Khost province on Saturday and torched some vehicles, but the raiders were beaten back, Afghan officials said.

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The Afghan interior ministry said that insurgents -- who it did not identify -- attacked the company in Domanda district shortly after Friday midnight. It said the attack failed.

"The security forces in the area acted quickly after which the insurgents fled," an Afghan statement said.

It said there were no casualties but some vehicles were partly damaged.

"The ministry of interior condemns this un-Islamic and inhumane attack by the enemies of Afghanistan and has ordered police to investigate," it said.

In Pakistan, a Peshawar-based news agency AIP claimed that the Taliban burnt down 18 vehicles of the company.

Indian nationals and installations have come under repeated attacks in Afghanistan, where New Delhi has pumped in millions of dollars on infrastructure and other construction activities.

In February, nine Indians werre killed when well-armed militants stormed a Kabul guest house and went on a killing spree. The Indian embassy in Kabul has been attacked by suicide bombers twice, in October 2009 and in July 2008.

Pakistan has repeatedly condemned the high-profile Indian engagement in Afghanistan, saying New Delhi's role threatens its security interests.