Two of the dead were identified by Sikhs in Kabul Savinder Singh (age about 60) and Ahmed, who worked as a private security guard at the gurdwara.
At least 30 members of the minority Sikh community were at the Karta Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul’s Bagh-e-Bala area when an explosives-laden vehicle exploded near the Sikh temple at around 6.30 am. Taliban officials later said that the vehicle was blocked from reaching the gurdwara.
The heavy explosion was followed by gunfire and several explosions in what Taliban officials described as grenade attacks. Interior ministry spokesman Abdul Nafay Taqor said Taliban forces fought the militants for hours. “At least one member of Islamic Emirate forces and an Afghan Sikh civilian were killed,” Takor said. He said that all the attackers have been killed.
Armed assailants entered the gurdwara by blowing up the gate. Gurmeet Singh, an Afghan Sikh, told Kabul: “We could hear bombings and gunshots at our house. At the time of the attack, the holy Sarup of Sri Guru Granth Sahib was seated inside the gurdwara and daily prayers were being offered. The incident happened around 6.30 am Kabul time.
gurdwara does parwani President Gurnam Singh Said, “Initially we were not allowed to enter the Gurudwara premises. But when the Taliban forces took control of the situation, we went there. We first shifted the holy Sarup (Scripture) to our nearest house. The injured people were taken to the hospital. Unfortunately, we lost Savinder Singh and a security guard in this attack.” Afghan Sikhs said that the Gurdwara has been badly damaged. He said that the last rites of Savinder Singh were performed inside the Gurdwara premises and the injured were still undergoing treatment.
Kabul residents said they heard several explosions and gunfire in the area. Plumes of smoke are seen rising from the area in TV footage.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the “barbaric” terrorist attack in Kabul. “Shocked by the cowardly terrorist attack against Karte” Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul. I…pray for the safety and well being of the devotees,” Modi tweeted. foreign Minister S Jaishankar It also strongly condemned the “cowardly attack” and said the government was monitoring the situation closely.
In Amritsar, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh asked the central government to take up the issue of security and evacuation of Sikhs from Afghanistan with the Afghan government. At the same time, he also asked Sikhs and Sikh bodies around the world to discuss the issue of settlement and safe evacuation of Sikhs from Afghanistan with their respective governments.
According to community leaders, Afghanistan’s Sikh population has dwindled compared to the 1970s. Just before the country’s fall at the hands of the Taliban last year, about 300 Sikhs lived in predominantly Muslim Afghanistan. Community members said many had left the country after the takeover. At present there are about 140 Sikhs living in Kabul. In the 1970s, more than 100,000 people lived in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has seen frequent attacks by the rival Sunni Muslim militant group Islamic State (IS) since the Taliban came to power. In 2020, 25 Sikhs were killed in an IS attack on another temple in Kabul.
Saturday’s attack follows Friday’s explosion at a mosque in the northern city of Kunduz, killing one and injuring two. At least six people were killed in a similar attack on a mosque in Kabul last month.