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New Delhi, India: The bombing of its embassy in Kabul highlights the dangers facing India as it seeks to enhance its say in Afghanistan, whether from a resurgent Taliban or a Pakistan worried about ceding strategic space to its arch rival.
Monday's suicide car bomb that killed 41 people, including an Indian defence attache and a diplomat, was blamed by Afghan authorities on a regional intelligence service, a likely reference to Pakistan.
Both Pakistan and the Taliban have denied a hand in the attack that analysts say not only challenges the effectiveness of international security operations in Afghanistan, but carries a more specific message for India.
"The gloves are off. The attack is telling India to get out or scale down its activities in Afghanistan," said Ashok Mehta, a retired army commander and defence expert.
"It underlines the dangers India will face in helping in the reconstruction process because every positive act by India undermines the efforts of the Taliban and their backers."
At least two Indian workers involved in reconstruction projects in Afghanistan have been taken hostage and killed since 2005.
Analysts also say that as India widens its reach in the region - building an air base in Tajikistan and helping build highways linking Afghanistan with Central Asia to access ports there - Pakistan is watching warily.
New Delhi has pledged $750 million (Dh2.7 billion) in Afghanistan's reconstruction. Islamabad, in sharp contrast, has not allowed overland transit for Indian goods bound for Afghanistan and further on to Central Asia, hampering trade.
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