Several blasts tore through a gurdwara in Kabul on Saturday, killing two people, including a Sikh, and injuring seven others, while Afghan security personnel thwarted a bigger tragedy by stopping an explosive-laden vehicle from reaching the place of worship. Seven others were injured and hospitalised.
In the latest targeted assault on a place of worship of the Sikh community in Afghanistan, Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul’s Bagh-e Bala neighbourhood was attacked on Saturday morning, resulting in a shootout between the terrorists and Taliban fighters that lasted several hours, said Abdul Nafi Takor, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry.
The country has continuously witnessed attacks by the rival Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State ever since the Taliban assumed power in August 2022.
According to government sources, over 100 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus have been granted eVisa by India on a priority basis post the attack on a gurdwara in Kabul.
Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book for the Sikh community, was safely removed from Gurdwara Karte Parwan. According to sources, Afghan Sikhs entered the Gurdwara premises which was on fire to save the book.
Meanwhile, Pakistan strongly condemned the attacknoting that such “acts of terrorism targeting religious places are utterly repugnant.”
“Pakistan is seriously concerned at the recent spate of terrorist attacks on places of worship in Afghanistan,” the Foreign Office said, adding that terrorists on Friday targeted the Imam Sahib Mosque in Kunduz, killing and injuring many worshippers.
India’s Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, said that India’s first and foremost concern is for the welfare of the community.
“The cowardly attack on Gurudwara Karte Parwan should be condemned in the strongest terms by all. We’ve been closely monitoring developments since the news of the attack was received. Our first & foremost concern is for the welfare of the community,” said the Minister of External Affairs.