India condemns attack on Sikh shrine in Kabul

India’s foreign minister has condemned today’s attack on a Sikh shrine in Karte Parwan, Kabul, calling it cowardly.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jay Shanker said his country was concerned about the well-being of Afghans and was closely monitoring the incident.

The clashes began this morning, Saturday, in the Bagh-e-Bala area of Kabul’s second security district, with explosions, and ended near noon, killing the assailants who had entered the Sikh shrine.

Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman Abdul Nafi Takur said several assailants threw hand grenades at bodyguards before entering the shrine, wounding two bodyguards.

According to him, one Taliban and one Hindu were killed and seven others were wounded in the incident.

But some sources say 30 people have been killed in the blasts and clashes, including Taliban forces, Hindu civilians and assailants.

No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.