On February 26, 2010, in the heart of Kabul, a coordinated attack took place which involved a car bomb leveled at the Arya Guesthouse (popular with Indian medical staff) and armed gunmen entering nearby guesthouses housing foreign nationals. At least 18 people were killed and 36 wounded, according to reports. The attack was aimed at foreign presence in Afghanistan, particularly Indian nationals, and intelligence agencies suspected involvement of the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar‑e‑Taiba in collaboration with the Haqqani network.
The incident underscored both the persistent security vulnerabilities in Kabul and the transnational nature of the insurgency, with cross-border militant networks implicated. It also strained Afghanistan–India diplomatic relations and raised questions about the effectiveness of protection for foreign nationals.
