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Gurudwara attack upsets

minorities in Afghanistan

Suicide attacks in Kabul are nothing new. There have been attacks on minorities in Afghanistan
in the past due to which a large number of Sikhs and Hindus have decided to leave the country and
have sought refuge in India, reports sunny sharma

n a suicide attack on a Gurdwara Gurdwaras in these two cities. When the was signed between the US and Taliban
in Kabul, Afghanistan on March 25, attack took place, more than 150 devo- regarding Afghanistan, which was some-
many Sikh devotees lost their lives tees were present at the gurdwara. thing IS did not wanted. After the agree-
whereas many others were injured, This is not the first time that minori- ment, IS threatened Afghanistan and
I some of whom are said to be in ties have been attacked in Afghanistan. started to carry out attacks in various
critical condition. Islamic State (IS) has In 2018, there was a suicide attack on parts of the country.
claimed responsibility for the attack. This a convoy of Hindus and Sikhs going to President Ghani condemned the
attack came at a time when the world is meet President Ashraf Ghani. 19 Sikhs attack on the Gurdwara in Kabul, saying:
suffering from the havoc of Coronavirus, and Hindus were killed in that attack. The “The attack on the religious sites shows
and such a dastardly attack is a shame to attack took place in a market located a the extreme weakness of the enemy,
humanity. few hundred meters from the premises religious sites should not be vulnerable
The attack was carried out by the ter- of the Governor of Jalalabad Province. to attacks and violence.”
rorists at the gurdwara in the capital city Due to these attacks, there has been Condemning this attack, Ministry
of Kabul at sevven-thirty in the morn- a large sense of insecurity among the of External Affairs of India in a state-
ing when a large number of Sikh devo- minorities there. ment conveyed sincerest condolences
tees were there for prayer. There was a Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Muja- to the immediate family members of the
sudden explosion in which at least 27 hid said that his organization has noth- deceased and wish speedy recovery to
devotees died. Soon after the incident, ing to do with the attack. After which IS the injured.
security forces laid siege to the Gurdwara issued a statement and claimed respon- “India stands ready to extend all pos-
and retaliated. sibility for it. The Afghan government sible assistance to the affected families
There are about 325 Sikh families liv- has confirmed it and called it a cowardly of the Hindu and Sikh community of Af-
ing in Afghanistan. Their number is more attack. ghanistan,” the statement said.
in Kabul and Jalalabad. There are also Some time ago, a peace agreement The MEA in the statement further

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