NEW DELHI: The Indian embassy in Kabul on Sunday night strongly condemned a suicide attack on a group of Afghan Sikhs in which at least 20 people were killed earlier in the day. Among those killed was Ottar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate for upcoming presidential elections in Afghanistan.
"We strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack in Jalalabad today which resulted in the death of 20 innocent Afghans, including 10 members of the Afghan Sikh Community, and injured more than 20 persons. We convey heart-felt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for early recovery of the injured," the statement said.
"Today's terrorist attack again underlines the need for a united global fight against international terrorism without discrimination and accountability of those who support terrorists in any manner," it said. "We are awaiting details, but first reports indicate that the group of Sikhs were on their way to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is on a two-day visit Nangarhar province, when they were attacked," a senior Indian official in Delhi.
Nangarhar Province borders Pakistan.
"There are about a 1000 Sikhs in Afghanistan, and they have often been targeted by Muslim extremist groups, but this is one of the deadliest attacks on the community, he said.