Kabul Sikh temple under attack; 11 dead

KABUL (Pajhwok): Nearly a dozen people have been killed in an ongoing firefight at a Sikh gurdwara in the heart of Kabul, officials said on Wednesday.

“Reinforcements are arriving at the site in the Shor Bazaar area of the capital,” said Tariq Arian, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior.

The attack began at around 7:45am, he said, giving no further details. Police launched an operation to bring the situation under control.

At least four people participant in a religious gathering inside the complex have been killed so far, according to a lawmaker from the minority community.

MP Narindra Singh Khalsa said he was near the Silkh worship place when a number of gunmen forced their way inside.

Up to 180 people are said to be trapped inside the worship-place in the area, which has been cordoned off by the security personnel.

One floor of the building has been cleared by the security forces. The Taliban, meanwhile, denied involvement in the attack.

A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Haqqani Network on Indian embassy in Kabul.

The source revealed the security forces had received intelligence information and they had strengthened the protection of the embassy.

He said after the attackers failed to target the embassy, they stormed the gurdwara and killed innocent people. They planned to target the embassy because of India’s strong support to the Afghan government, he claimed.

More than a dozen people were killed in Jalalabad in 2018, when a suicide bombing hit the Sikh community. That attack had been claimed by the Islamic State.

Eleven people had been killed and as many others injured, according to a local TV channel, which reported: "Three attackers are still fighting with security forces and one has been shot."

Meanwhile, India denounced the assault, saying: "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 in Afghanistan Affairs Ministry said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh slammed the attack as tragic and unfortunate. He urged President Ashraf Ghani to bring the perpetrators to justice.

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