Afghan security forces stop explosive-laden vehicle from ramming into gurdwara, bigger tragedy averted
A serial blasts ripped through a gurdwara in Kabul on Saturday, killing two persons, including a Sikh and injuring seven others, while Afghan security personnel thwarted a bigger tragedy by stopping an explosive-laden vehicle from hitting the worshiping place of the minority community in the war-torn country.
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 neighborhood was attacked on early Saturday morning, coupled with a gun battle followed after, that lasted several hours between the terrorists and Taliban fighters, said Abdul Nafi Takor, a spokesperson for the Afghan Interior Ministry.
Takor said a vehicle packed with explosives was detonated outside the gurdwara thwarting a bigger tragedy that could have claimed scores of lives.
Three attackers involved in the incident were killed by the Taliban forces, the Pajhwok news agency reported. Takor confirmed that at least one member of the Islamic Emirate forces and an Afghan Sikh national were killed in the incident. Seven others were injured and hospitalised.
According to the statement from the Afghan Interior Ministry, an explosive-laden vehicle aiming at targeting the place was thwarted before reaching its target place.
India condemned the attack on the gurdwara in Kabul with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar terming it a “cowardly” act. He also said India is monitoring the situation in the strife-torn country.
“The cowardly attack on Gurdwara Karte Parwan should be condemned in the strongest terms by one and all. We have been closely monitoring developments since the news of the attack was received. Our first and foremost concern is to ensure the welfare of the community,” Jaishankar tweeted.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India is “deeply concerned” about the attack. “We are deeply concerned at the reports emanating from Kabul about an attack on a sacred Gurdwara in that city,” MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and waiting for details of the further developments,” he said. Bagchi was responding to media queries on the reported attack on the Gurdwara.
The Afghan interior ministry, in a statement, said two persons were injured after unidentified attackers attempted to enter the area, according to Tolo news.
Reports indicated an explosion took place outside the gate of the gurdwara. About 25-30 Afghan Hindus and Sikhs were present inside the gurdwara when the ISIS attackers stormed the premises.
First the gunmen threw a hand grenade which caused a fire near the gate of the gurdwara, the Interior Ministry spokesman said, as Associated Press quoted.
Khalid Zadran, a spokesman for the Kabul police chief, said the police operation ended after the last attacker was killed several hours later.
“The security forces were able to act quickly to control the attack and eliminate the attackers in a short span to prevent further casualties,” he said.
Since the Taliban took power in August last year, the country has experienced continuing attacks by rival Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State.
Saturday’s incident is the latest targeted attack in line, on a worshiping place of the minority community in Afghanistan.
In March 2020, at least 25 worshippers were killed and eight others injured when a explosive laden suicide bomber stormed Har Rai Sahib, a prominent gurdwara in the heart of Kabul, in one of the deadliest attacks on the minority Sikh community in the country.
The Islamic State terror group had claimed responsibility for the attack in the Shor Bazar area.