Eight civilians and an Afghan security personnel were killed in an attack on the Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, on Wednesday. Explosions and gunfire were reported outside the consulate, after which the Afghan National Police gunned down four of the six militants involved in the attack, PTI reported. Two others had blown themselves up. The civilians were killed in the gunbattle that lasted nearly two hours. No militant groups have claimed the attack yet, which took place around noon.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the attack and said all its citizens are safe in the mission, adding that one local Afghan staff sustained minor injuries. Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the consulate was damaged in the incident, and that they were being briefed on the developments by the Afghan Army.

In January, the Indian consulate in Mazar-e-Sharif was attacked by terrorists. Gunfire was exchanged for more than a day before the terrorists were killed. Pakitan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed was linked to the attack, which coincided with the terror strike on the Indian air base at Pathankot.