KABUL: At least two people were killed after a blast occurred in a Sikh temple in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday morning.
“There were around 30 people inside the temple. We don’t know how many of them are alive or how many dead. The Taliban are not allowing us to go inside, we don’t know what to do,” a temple official, Gornam Singh, told Reuters.
Taliban officials have not confirmed the explosion, and it was not immediately clear who was behind the blast.
Local broadcaster Tolo aired footage showing heavy grey fumes of smoke rising from the area.
Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers say they have secured the country since taking power in August, but international officials and analysts say the risk of a resurgence in militancy remains. Multiple attacks have taken place in recent months, with some claimed by the Islamic State militant group.
Sikhs are a tiny religious minority in largely Muslim Afghanistan, comprising around 300 family members before the fall of the country to the Taliban. Many had left the country in the wake of the takeover, according to community members and media reports.
The Sikh community, like other religious minorities, has been the continual target of violence in Afghanistan. An attack claimed by the Islamic State at another temple in Kabul in 2020 killed 25.
Saturday’s explosion follows a blast on Friday in the northern city of Kunduz at a mosque that killed one and injured two, according to authorities.
Pakistan condemns terrorist attack
Pakistan strongly condemned the terrorist attack on a Sikh Gurdwara in Kabul.
“Pakistan is seriously concerned at the recent spate of terrorist attacks on places of worship in Afghanistan. Yesterday [Friday], terrorists targeted the Imam Sahib Mosque in Kunduz, killing and injuring many worshippers. These acts of terrorism targeting religious places are utterly repugnant,” it said in an official statement.
Pakistan reiterated its condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations. “We express strong solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and support all efforts of the Afghan authorities in fighting the menace of terrorism and ensuring the protection of all their citizens.”
