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The Islamic State group claimed accountability for an assault on a Sikh temple in Afghanistans capital of Kabul that killed not less than one worshipper and wounded seven others.
IS made the declare in an announcement posted on its Amaq web site late Saturday. It stated the assault on “the Sikh and Hindu temple was in response to alleged insults made in opposition to the Prophet Muhammad, the central determine of the Islamic faith, by an Indian authorities official. It didn’t identify the official.
Gunmen attacked the Sikh home of worship, often called a gurdwara, Saturday morning and a firefight between the attackers and Taliban fighters in search of to guard the constructing ensued, Afghan officers stated.
A automobile full of explosives was detonated exterior of the temple however that resulted in no casualties. Earlier than that, the gunmen threw a hand grenade which triggered a hearth close to the temple’s gate, the officers stated
The IS stated Abu Mohammed al-Tajiki, a member of the group, stormed the temple after killing the guard after which focused the folks inside with machine-gun fireplace and hand grenades. IS fighters exterior the temple detonated 4 explosive units and a automobile bomb focusing on patrols of Taliban militia who tried to guard the temple. The battle ended after three hours, the Amaq report stated.
The Sikh Coalition, the biggest Sikh civil rights group based mostly in the US, stated the gurdwara was considerably broken by the assault.
The recurring tragic violence focusing on the Afghan Sikh group is devastating, but in addition totally predictable and preventable, stated Anisha Singh, the group’s government director, in an announcement late Saturday. The worldwide group, and particularly the US, continues to fall wanting urgently-needed efforts to guard and safely resettle all Afghan Sikhs and Hindus.
Movies posted on social media confirmed plumes of black smoke rising from the temple in Kabuls Bagh-e Bala neighborhood and gunfire may very well be heard.
Kabul police stated a police operation ended after the final attacker was killed a number of hours after the assault started. They stated one Sikh was killed and 7 others have been wounded within the assault and a Taliban safety drive was killed throughout the rescue operation. It was unclear what number of IS militants have been concerned or what number of have been killed within the gunbattle with the Taliban.
Earlier this month, Indian officers held talks with the Taliban in Kabul for the primary time because the group took management of the nation final 12 months on the distribution of humanitarian support. The Indian delegation was led by J.P. Singh, a secretary within the Exterior Affairs Ministry.
It wasn’t instantly clear whether or not J.P. Singh was the Hindu the IS referred to in its assertion Saturday or what feedback he may need made that provoked the IS assault. It was additionally unclear why the extremist group would goal a Sikh temple in retaliation for feedback made by an Indian official.
An Islamic State group affiliate, often called Islamic State in Khorasan Province or IS-Okay, has been working in Afghanistan since 2014. It’s seen as the best safety problem dealing with the countrys Taliban rulers, who seized energy in Kabul and elsewhere within the nation final August. They’ve launched a sweeping crackdown in opposition to the IS in jap Afghanistan.
In March 2020, a lone IS gunman rampaged by a distinct Sikh temple in Kabul, killing 25 worshippers, together with a toddler, and wounding eight others. As many as 80 worshippers have been trapped contained in the gurdwara because the gunman lobbed grenades and fired an computerized rifle into the gang.
The Sikh Coalition has advocated for the resettlement of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus because the 2020 assault. Throughout his presidential marketing campaign, President Joe Biden supported resettlement for these households. Lawmakers on either side of the aisle within the Home and Senate additionally advocated for resettlement. Regardless of these reveals of help, nevertheless, little has been carried out to assist Afghan Sikhs and Hindus to depart the nation or help these quickly evacuated to nations together with India.
There have been lower than 700 Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan on the time of the 2020 assault. Since then, dozens of households have left however many can’t financially afford to maneuver and have remained in Afghanistan, primarily in Kabul, Jalalabad and Ghazni.
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