Explosions, gunfire rock Gurdwara in Afghanistan's capital
Highlights
- Blast sent a column of thick smoke into the sky and triggered panic
- India said it is deeply concerned over reports of an attack on a Gurudwara in Kabul
- Blast occurred in the Karta Parwan area of Kabul, Karte Parwan Gurudwara is located in the area
Kabul blast: Several blasts and gunfire hit a Gurdwara in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Saturday morning. The blasts occurred in the Karta Parwan area of Kabul. Gunfire was also reported from the area. Karte Parwan Gurdwara is located in the area. India's official Spokesperson, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi tweeted "We are deeply concerned at the reports emanating from Kabul about an attack on a sacred Gurudwara in that city." "We are closely monitoring the situation and waiting for further details on the unfolding developments," he added.
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Abdul Nafi Takor, a Taliban-appointed spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, confirmed the attack but did not provide further details or say whether there were casualties. The security forces have cordoned off the area for precautionary measures. The blast sent a column of thick smoke into the sky and triggered panic.
"We heard a huge blast in Kart-e-Parwan neighbourhood at around 6 am local time. The blast was followed by another explosion which occurred about half an hour after the first blast. The whole place has now been sealed off," China's state-run Xinhua news agency quoted an eyewitness as saying.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday strongly condemned the attack on a gurdwara in Kabul and urged the Centre to extend immediate assistance to ensure the safety of minorities in the Afghan capital. "Strongly condemn the attack at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul. Have heard reports of shots being fired at devotees, I'm praying for everyone's safety. I urge PM @narendramodi ji and @MEAIndia for immediate assistance to ensure the safety of minorities in Kabul," Mann said in a tweet.
Community leaders estimate just 140 Sikhs remain in the Taliban-ruled country, mostly in the eastern city of Jalalabad and the capital Kabul. In March 2020, at least 25 worshippers were killed and eight others injured when a heavily armed suicide bomber stormed a prominent gurudwara 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.
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