Report: Indian minister calls New Delhi attack ‘isolated incident’
Kamal Nath contradicts Israeli claims that bombing was part of concerted terror spree
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleRaphael Ahren is a former diplomatic correspondent at The Times of Israel.
Monday’s New Delhi bombing was an “isolated incident,” a senior Indian official said Wednesday, contradicting Israeli leaders who consider the attack part of a wave of terror by Iran against Israelis.
“We believe this to be an isolated incident,” India’s Urban Development Minister, Kamal Nath, told The Hindu, the country’s third-most read English newspaper. “India itself has been a victim of terrorism and this is being fully investigated by the government of India.” Nath added that Indian authorities are committed to bringing those responsible for the attack to justice.
The wife of a defense attaché at the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi was injured Monday when a man attached an explosive device to her car. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blamed Iran for the attack, calling the country the world’s “greatest exporter of terror.”
Jerusalem also suspects Iran was behind incidents in Tbilisi and Bangkok this week that are believed to have been botched terror plots. Iran denies any involvement in these incidents.
Nath was in Jerusalem this week, where he met with Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz and Trade, Industry and Labor Minister Shalom Simhon. He discussed the construction of a proposed rail link between the Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, which is said to offer a new trade route connecting Asia and Europe.
India and Israel celebrate 20 years of diplomatic relations this year. In January, President Shimon Peres referred to India as “the greatest democracy on earth.”
The Times of Israel Community.