India voices concern over blasts at Gurudwara in Afghanistan’s Kabul

India has voiced alarm about reports of blasts and shooting from a Gurudwara in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital today and has stated it will keep a careful eye on the situation.

Arindam Bagchi, a spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said in a statement: “We are gravely worried by reports from Kabul that a sacred Gurudwara in that city was attacked. We’re keeping a careful eye on the issue and waiting for more information on what’s going on.”

According to local media, at least two bombs were heard near the Gurdwara in Kabul’s Karte Parwan neighbourhood this morning. Meanwhile, the authorities state that no group has claimed responsibility for the incident, which resulted in the death of one individual.

However, the nature of the incident and the number of people who were injured are still unknown.

The incident occurred early in the morning when a granthi was heading inside the gurdwara for ‘Parkash’, the first-morning prayer in the gurudwara, according to Manjinder Singh Sirsa of the BJP, who spoke with Gurnam Singh, president of Gurdwara Karte Parwan, who informed him that the incident occurred when a granthi was heading inside the gurdwara for ‘Parkash,’ the first-morning prayer in the gurudwara.

Unidentified attackers are said to have invaded the gurdwara and opened fire.

According to initial reports, an explosion occurred outside the gurdwara’s gate, killing at least two Afghans.

Following that, two explosions occurred inside the complex, causing some of the gurdwara’s stores to catch fire. It is suspected that at least two attackers remain inside the gurudwara complex.

Almost 25-30 individuals were inside the gurdwara for morning prayers when the attackers were inside, 10-15 individuals were able to run, but the remaining seven or eight people are believed to be trapped inside. The figures have not been verified. The terrorists have shot and killed the gurudwara’s guard.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has urged that the Afghan envoy be summoned and that the safety of Sikhs in the region be ensured.

In Afghanistan, religious minorities, notably the Sikh community, have been targets of violence.

Last October, 15 to 20 terrorists stormed a Gurdwara in Kabul’s Kart-e-Parwan District, tying up the guards.

27 Sikhs were killed and several others were injured in a horrific attack on the Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Gurudwara in Kabul’s Short Bazaar district in March 2020. Terrorists from the Islamic State claimed credit for the attack.

Meanwhile, a bomb near Batkhak Square in Kabul’s 10th district injured numerous people earlier this month on June 11.

Prior to that, a bomb occurred in Kabul’s Police District-4, which was caused by explosives strapped to a bicycle, according to the Kabul security department.

Three blasts shook the capital of Balkh province on May 25, killing at least 9 people and injuring 15 more. Meanwhile, officials say at least two worshippers were killed in a bomb at Kabul City’s Masjid Sharif Hazrat Zakaria mosque on the same day.