Afghan politicians, India, UN condemn Sikh temple attack

KABUL (Pajhwok): Several Afghan politicians, India and UNAMA condemned today's attack on a Sikh temple in Kart-e-Parwan area of Kabul.

At least five individuals, including three attackers, were killed and seven others wounded in the attack on the Sikh temple in Kabul on Saturday morning. The Ministry of Interior said armed attackers entered the temple and threw a hand grenade at the security personnel on duty.

An explosives-packed car was hit before it could reach its target, the ministry said, without going into details.

Police spokesman Khalid Zadran told Pajhwok Afghan News the attack had ended with the killing of all assailants.

He said two of the attackers were gunned down by security forces while a 3^rd one was killed in the car bombing.

According to Zadran, a Sikh and a security officer were among the dead. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.

Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi expressed concern over the attack and wrote: "We are closely monitoring the situation and awaiting further details about the incident."

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also condemned the attack and wrote on its Twitter account that attacks on civilians should be stopped immediately.

Anarkali Hunaryar, a Hindu lawmaker in the upper house during the previous government, reacted on her Twitter account and said that Afghan Hindus and Sikhs were the original inhabitants of this country.

She said Hindu and Sikhs were targeted because of the new relationship between Afghanistan and India.

“I am Afghan, we are Afghans, without visa or even with the expiration of the visa, we cannot stay in India, but we are still considered Indians.”

She wrote: "It is clear that we have made sacrifices in the rapprochement between India and Afghanistan and it is not unlikely to imagine that this attack was carried out by Pakistan or its supporters. Who is ISIS?" Who are the terrorist groups? All are trained in Pakistan. ”

Former president Hamid Karzai in a statement strongly condemned the attack, saying the perpetrators of such attacks were the enemies of peace, stability and the people of Afghanistan.

“ The way out of pain and suffering is in the unity of all Afghans," Karzai said.

He renewed his call for talks at the national level for peace and lasting stability in the country.

Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, Chairman of the National Reconciliation Council of the previous government, wrote on his Twitter page: "I offer my condolences to the families of the victims of this tragic event."

Fazl Hadi Muslimyar, former chairman of the Meshrano Jirga, also wrote on his Facebook page: "I strongly condemn the brutal attack on a Sikh temple in Karta Parwan. Hindus and Sikhs are symbol of love…they are part of our body. We are saddened by their grief and we are happy with their happiness."

"Such attacks cannot divide the  Afghans," he wrote.

Zia-ul-Haq Amarkhel, former governor of Nangarhar province, said the attack on the Sikh worship place was barbaric

He said the Hindu-Sikh minority suffered a lot in the previous conflict despite being not party to the conflict.

He called on the caretaker government of Afghanistan to pay serious attention to the security of Hindus.

Former Foreign Minister Mohammad Hanif Atmar also condemned the attack and wrote without elaborating: "Neither Muslims, nor Hindus, nor our Sikhs are safe from these bloodthirsty and cruel elements”.

Dr. Mohammad Omar Zakhilwal, the leader of the Afghanistan Salvation Movement, also condemned the attack and wrote on his Facebook page:”Such attacks are carried out to stir fitna, I hope the perpetrators of such attacks will be arrested and punished.”

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