ISIS claims responsibility for massacre of 27 Sikhs in Kabul

Kabul: The Islamic State Khorasan (ISKP) has claimed responsibility for the terror attack on a Gurudwara in central Kabul in which at least 27 members of the Sikh community were killed on Wednesday.

Sources said while one suicide bomber detonated himself at the entrance, three IS terrorists stormed the shrine in the Shorbazar area Wednesday morning. Around 150 people were worshipping in the Gurudwara at the time of the attack.

However, the security forces rescued around 80 worshippers from the Gurudwara. The Sikhs constitute a minuscule minority in Afghanistan.

Afghan security forces killed all three terrorists in a day-long gun-battle after which NATO soldiers helped with the clearance operation. Though initial reports from Kabul suggested that the Ashraf Ghani government had blamed the Pakistan-backed Haqqani network for the terror attack, but the Taliban denied its role.

Violence in Afghanistan continues unabated even as the US and Taliban have signed a peace deal, which entails withdrawal of the US forces. India strongly condemned the terror attack and extended condolences to the immediate family members of the deceased and wished speedy recovery to the injured. In an official statement, the government said, “India stands ready to extend all possible assistance to the affected families of the Hindu and Sikh community of Afghanistan.” “Such cowardly attacks on the places of religious worship of the minority community, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic, is reflective of the diabolical mindset of the perpetrators and their backers. (IANS)

Also Read: US Secretary Mike Pompeo in Kabul on surprise visit

Also Watch: East Siang District Administration in Arunachal Pradesh cautious over corona virus