New Delhi: Eleven people have been killed after gunmen stormed a gurdwara in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul Wednesday. Upto 200 people are still trapped inside the gurdwara, as rescue operations by security forces are underway.
SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks activities by armed groups, said the IS had claimed responsibility for the attack, reported AFP.
The country’s Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said the siege began at 7.45 am and the Afghan security forces responded promptly by immediately cordoned off the area.
Arian added that the Afghan security forces had cleared one floor of the complex, and were moving slowly in order to avoid civilian casualties.
“At least 11 people have been killed and 11 others wounded in attack at Dharamshala, a Sikh worship area in PD1 of Kabul,” Tolo News quoted a security source as saying.
Suicide bombers entered a #Sikh Gurdwara/Place of worship in 1st PD of #Kabul. 100s of Sikh/Hindu #Afghans live there.
Ongoing attack since 7:45.
ISI-sponsored #Taliban-style attack/offensive. Later they will not take responsibility and Daesh will claim it.#TalibanKillingAfghans
— Ejaz Malikzada – اعجاز ملکزاده (@EjazMalikzada) March 25, 2020
According to Narinder Singh Khalsa, a member of parliament representing the country’s Sikh minority, three suicide bombers entered the gurdwara’s dharamshala, the sanctuary area within the complex, and began attacking the worshippers present.
“The gunmen started their attack at a time when the dharamsala was full of worshippers,” said Khalsa
The Sikh lawmaker said he had received a call from a worshipper inside the gurdwara telling him about the attack and four casualties.
India strongly condemned the “heinous terror” attack, calling it “cowardly”, especially in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We convey our sincerest condolences to the immediate family members of the deceased and wish speedy recovery to the injured. India stands ready to extend all possible assistance to the affected families of the Hindu and Sikh community of Afghanistan,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
Also read: Ghani Vs Abdullah: US meddling in Afghanistan election has given us two presidents
Amarinder asks Ghani for help
As the news broke, several people took to Twitter to share images of the violence. Sikhs in India also reacted to the attack, including Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh who requested Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to look into the matter urgently.
Horrific news coming from Kabul where a barbaric terror attack happened in the Gurudwara Guru Har Rai. It’s extremely tragic and unfortunate. Request President @AshrafGhani Ji to find out the perpetrators and look after our people.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 25, 2020
Sikhs are a small minority in Afghanistan with just over 300 families and have faced discrimination in the region for years. In 2018, a suicide bombing killed more than 12 Sikhs in Jalalabad.
The Kabul attack comes just a day after US announced it would cut its aid to the Afghan government by $1 billion, after leaders from both countries failed to reach an agreement and form a team to negotiate with the Taliban after last month’s peace deal.
Also read: In Afghanistan, a new ‘great game’ with ISIS, ISK and Pakistan is on with a vengeance
Shows why CAA is important. Fast track their applications if they wish to seek refuge in India.
This is a new low for Islamic terrorists. I had never heard of them attacking Sikh shrines.
The terrorist group is sponsored by RA&W and Mossad. Why doesn’t this terrorist group attack Indian Embassy in Kabul, or kill Hindus in India, for burning Muslims alive in Delhi? No, they cannot. Because they cannot go against their masters. The terrorist group is working under full support of government of Ashraf Ghani (a stooge for Hindu India).
Dont worry they do kill Hindus, Jews but none are left in Afghanistan and Pakistan. So you stated killing Sikhs. You guys are worse than Corona virus
No, they do not attack Hindus. How can they attack their financiers? If there is none left then why has your Hindu fanatic PM adopted anti-Muslim citizenship bill saying it will help bring back Hindus from neighbours? Sikhs are only killed by Hindus along with Dalits, Muslims, like you did in February. Hindus are biggest virus at least Corona Virus will be defeated. But not Hindu virus.
seeing people like you among Muslims no wonder world is afraid of Muslims, as they see Muslims as people beyond logic or reason.
World is afraid of Muslims? Who told you that, Modi, Zee News, Times of India? Why do you Hindu rats include the name of ‘world’ to justify your Hindu hatred for Muslims worldwide? And you Hindu haramiey have audacity to talk about this when you murdered 60 Muslims in capital Delhi of world’s biggest democracy where you Hindus have democratically elected a Hindu mass murderer who believes that Ganesha head was transplanted through plastic surgery?
Muslims are illogical and ill-reasoning as they do not believe in cowpathy science. Why is your name ‘Harry’ and not Hari? Did your Hindu mother conduct Love-Crusade with Harrry, or are you too ashamed of your two mile Hindu name?