INDIA condemns attack on Sikhs & Hindus In Afghanistan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj have condemned the terror strike in Afghanistan’s Jalalabad province saying it as an attack on country’s “multicultural fabric”. The Indian Embassy in Kabul has also condemned the deadly attack by a suicide bomber that targeted a group of Hindus and Sikhs in the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar.PM Modi has tweeted that India stands ready to assist Afghanistan “in this sad hour”. We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. They are an attack on Afghanistan’s multicultural fabric. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour.On Sunday,at  least 19 people were killed in Jalalabad as a suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Sikhs on its way to meet President Ghani. Most of those died in the blast were Hindus and Sikhs, including the only Sikh candidate in upcoming legislative elections. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. The minister said that she will be meeting the family members at the earliest.” My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan. We are with them in this hour of tragedy. I am meeting their relatives today at 6 pm in JN Bhavan, in New Delhi. she says .The attack happened at a market located near the provincial governor’s compound where President Ashraf Ghani was holding meetings.Avtar Singh Khalsa (in pic above), a long-time leader of the Sikh community who had planned to run in the parliamentary elections set for October, was killed in the attack. Criticising the attack, the Indian Embassy in Kabul on Sunday tweeted: “We strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack in #Jalalabad today evening 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 heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for early recovery of the injured…The attack again underlines the need for united global fight against international terrorism without discrimination and accountability of those who support terrorists in any manner,” it said. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh also condemned the attack and extended help to the victims and their families.(image : The Tribune)