KABUL, June 18: A Sikh and a soldier were confirmed dead in a terrorist attack
on a gurdwara in Kabul by ISIS Khorasan on Saturday morning. Reports said several
people were killed and some were taken hostage on the second floor of the Karte
Parwan gurdwara building.
The dead Sikh has been identified as Shavinder Singh. There were 30 Sikhs and
Hindus inside the Dashmesh Pita Sahib Ji gurdwara for the morning prayers at the time
of the attack. The attack followed an explosion at the gate.
The terrorists who stormed the gurdwara were also killed,
official sources said, but the details were not disclosed. Afghan Interior Ministry
spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor told newsmen that seven others were also injured
the crossfire between the army and the terrorists.
Days earlier the ISIS Khorasan had threatened a 2020 style attack on the gurdwara,
it is reported.
Indian Foreign Ministry said, "The cowardly attack on Gurudwara Karte Parwan
should be condemned in the strongest terms by all. We have been closely monitoring
developments since the news of the attack was received. Our first and foremost
concern is for the welfare of the community."
According to Gurnam Singh, president of the gurdwara, the incident occurred
at 6 am at the time of 'parkash' of the Guru Granth Sahib, the first prayer.
There were multiple blasts followed by gunfire in the multistoreyed building.
Since Taliban takeover, many Sikhs and Hindus had left Afghanistan and some
had taken shelter in this gurdwara.
On March 25, 2020, 25 Sikhs were killed when a suicide bomber attacked Har
Rai Sahib gurdwara in Kabul in in a six-hour siege.
