New Delhi, Sep 20 (IANS) India Tuesday strongly denounced the assassination of former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani and blamed "forces of terror and hatred" for his death.


"Tragically, the forces of terror and hatred have silenced yet another powerful voice of reason and peace in Afghanistan. We unreservedly condemn this act of great brutality," External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said.

Krishna said he was shocked over the killing of Rabbani, who was chairman of the High Peace Council tasked with drawing in members of the Taliban ready to renounce violence and work within the new constitution.

Krishna issued the statement from New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly session.

"I fondly recall my meetings with him in Kabul and again in New Delhi last July when he had shared his vision of a harmonious and prosperous Afghanistan," he said.

Offering his deepest condolences to and solidarity with Rabbani's family and the Afghan people, Krishna reiterated India's "steadfast support" to Afghanistan in its quest for peace and efforts to strengthen democracy.