(Photo : GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
ISIS claims responsibility for a terrorist attack on a gurdwara in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Saturday that killed two individuals, including an Afghan Sikh citizen and a Taliban militant member.
According to Abdul Nafay Takor, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs, at least one Taliban member was killed.
One Taliban militant was found dead a day after the Karte Parwan Gurdwara attack in Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. In reaction to purported insulting statements made by BJP politician Nupur Sharma, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the incident, which featured numerous bombings near a Dharamshala in Kabul, and notified the Afghan Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).
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According to Abdul Nafay Takor, a spokesman for the Ministry of Interior Affairs, at least one Taliban member was killed, and seven civilians were injured, according to Tolo News. He added that the assailants were also dead, but he did not specify how many attackers were engaged in the assault.
An affiliate of the Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS), claimed responsibility for the three-hour attack on the Karte Parwan Gurdwara on June 18, which killed three people and wounded many more. The ISKP claimed responsibility for the incident, alleging that 'Abu Mohammed al Tajiki' carried it out using a vehicle bomb, four IED devices, submachine guns, and hand grenades.
In accordance with the Taliban, an explosive-laden truck attempted to surge into the Dharamshala grounds but was halted before entering. The incident injured two persons, who were brought to the hospital, Republic World reported.
Several explosions ripped through Kabul's Bagh-e-Bala neighborhood on Saturday while Afghan security officers prevented a worse catastrophe by halting an explosive-laden car from reaching the gurdwara. It was the latest targeted attack on a Sikh site of worship in Afghanistan. The Taliban soldiers killed the three assailants.
After killing the guard, one of its militants penetrated a temple for Hindu and Sikh polytheists in Kabul and started a fire on the worshipers inside with a machine gun and hand grenades.
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ISKP Previously Warned Attack Against Hindus in Afghanistan
The gurdwara incident happened only days after the ISKP threatened in a video message of an attack on Hindus to revenge insults made against Prophet Mohammad by two former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members, Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal.
In the past, the ISKP has claimed responsibility for assaults against Hindu, Sikh, and Shia houses of worship in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Afghan officials and the United Nations have condemned the Kabul gurdwara attack.
Former Afghan High Council National Reconciliation Chairman Abdullah Abdullah also denounced the incident. On Twitter, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated that it strongly condemns today's attack on a Sikh temple in Kabul.
Afghanistan formerly had tens of thousands of Sikhs and Hindus, but decades of violence have reduced their numbers to a few handfuls. Those who have stayed have been regularly attacked by the local ISIS affiliate in recent years, as per Outlook India.
Social media videos showed plumes of black smoke rising from the temple in Kabul's Bagh-e Bala area, as well as shooting. The battle with the insurgents concluded after the last assailant was killed several hours after the assault began, according to Kabul police.
One Sikh was murdered, seven others were injured, and a Taliban security force member was slain during the rescue effort. It was unknown how many IS terrorists were involved or killed in the gunfight with the Taliban.
For the first time since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan last year, Indian officials met with the Taliban in Kabul earlier this month to discuss the delivery of humanitarian goods. J.P. headed the Indian delegation. Singh is a secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
It was not immediately evident if J.P. Singh was the 'Hindu' referred to by the IS in its statement, or what statements he may have said that prompted the IS attack. It was also unclear why the extremist group would attack a Sikh temple in response to statements made by an Indian politician, according to Big News Network.
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