Kabul Gurdwara attack to avenge India’s amended citizenship law?
New Delhi, Mar 26: The Indian Intelligence agencies suspect the role of the ISI in the Kabul Gurudwara attack that killed 25.
An Intelligence Bureau official told OneIndia that the ISI backed the attack which was carried out by the Islamic State of Khorasan. While the initial suspicion was on the Taliban, the same was denied by its spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.
The Indian agencies say that while the role of the ISIS is clear, it is also confirmed that the ISI backed the outfit in carrying out the strike. When asked if this was done to target the Sikh community in the wake of the newly amended citizenship law, the officer cited above said that it cannot be ruled out.
The Sikhs are a persecuted religious minority in Afghanistan. The citizenship law offers citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Buddhists and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Terrorists
had
stormed
a
religious
gathering
of
Sikhs,
who
are
a
minority
in
Afghanistan
and
killed
25
people.
Those
killed
included
a
child.
15
persons
were
injured
in
the
attack.
Moments
after
the
attack,
the
Islamic
State
claimed
responsibility
for
the
same.
The
Islamic
State
has
a
considerable
presence
in
Afghanistan.
It
may
be
recalled
that
it
has
also
recruited
several
Indians
for
the
ISIS
Khorasan.
Islamic State claims attack on Sikh worshippers in Kabul Gurdwara, death toll rises to 25
The security forces have cordoned off the area, located in old Kabul, and are trying to counter the attack. They are locked in a continuing battle with the gunmen.
Police in Kabul said that at least 11 children were rescued from the gurdwara.
Sikh lawmaker Nardendar Singh Khalisa told reporters close to the scene that up to 150 people were praying inside the gurdwara when it came under attack.
"Afghan forces have cleared the first floor of a Sikh worship area in PD1 of Kabul, where suicide bombers are battling security forces," Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian was quoted as saying in the report.
"A
number
of
people
have
been
rescued
who
were
trapped
inside
the
building,"
he
said.
Earlier,
the
country''s
main
militant
group,
the
Taliban,
denied
involvement
in
the
attack.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that the militant group had no link with the attack in Shor Bazar area of Kabul, Khama News agency reported.
War-torn Afghanistan is currently mired in a political stalemate with two politicians- Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah - both claiming victory in the presidential election.
The US, keen to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan, has been trying to break the deadlock and also save a historic deal it signed with the Taliban militant group that is supposed to pave the way for peace in the country.
The attack comes a day after the US said it would cut its aid to the government by USD 1 billion over frustrations that the political leaders could not reach an agreement and form a team to negotiate with the Taliban.
India strongly condemns terror attack in Kabul
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visited Kabul on Tuesday in a bid to resolve a standoff between President Ghani and his rival Abdullah, who also proclaims himself president following a contested election.
Sikhs have been target of attacks by Islamist militants before in Afghanistan.
Two years ago, the Islamic State group targeted a Sikh gathering in Afghanistan, killing 19 people.