Islamic Terror Outfit Daesh Claims Responsibility For Attack On Sikh Gurudwara In Kabul That Killed 2

Islamic terror outfit Daesh has claimed responsibility for the attack on Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul’s Bagh-e-Bala neighbourhood on Saturday that killed at least two people and injured seven.

The attack on Sikh gurudwara is the latest in a series of violent attacks targeting religious minorities and places of worship.

On an affiliated Telegram channel, the local branch of Daesh said the attack was a retaliation to alleged insults leveled at the Muhammad (considered by Muslims as their last prophet) an apparent reference to blasphemy row that recently erupted in India.

According to a Taliban government spokesman Abdul Nafi Takor, attackers had laden a car with explosives but it had detonated before reaching its target.

"The security forces were able to act quickly to control the attack and eliminate the attackers in a short period of time to prevent further casualties," he said.

Gornam Singh, a Gurudwara functionary, said there were around 30 people inside the building at the time. In recent months, many impoverished Sikhs, including women and children, took refuge in the complex that was attacked on Saturday.

At least 25 people were killed in March 2020 when gunmen stormed another Sikh Gurudwara in Kabul in an attack that was also claimed by Daesh.

Sikhs are a tiny religious minority in largely Muslim Afghanistan, comprising about 300 families before the country fell to the Taliban. Many have since left, according to members of the community and media.
Like other religious minorities, Sikhs have been a continual target of violence in Afghanistan.