In the latest targeted assault on a place of worship of the Sikh community in Afghanistan, Gurdwara Karte Parwan was attacked early Saturday morning . Several blasts ripped through a Gurdwara killing 60-year-old Sawinder Singh, a native of Ghazni whose family resides in Delhi, and Ahmad, who was a security guard at the Gurdwara, leaving several others injured.
There were at least 20-25 persons from the Sikh community inside the gurdwara when the attack took place.The Gurudwara has been demolished and completely destroyed, a place which was sacred to Sikhs in Afghanistan . It has been learnt that there were 3 saroops of Guru Granth sahib ji in the Gurdwara Sahib when the attack took place. All of the saroops have been safely removed from the Gurudwara sahib. Bhai S. Sawinder Singh ji martyred his life while saving the Gurudwara and Sangat.
Since the Taliban took power in August last year, the country has seen continuing attacks .For decades the Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan have been victims of discrimination, terror, violence, and persecution at the hands of extremists. In 2020, 25 people were killed in an attack at Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib located in Kabul, Afghanistan. Saturday's incident is the latest targeted attack on a place of worship of a minority community in Afghanistan.
“We will never forget this moment of extreme grief. Karte Parwan was the central Gurdwara of Afghanistan and the attack on it is really regrettable .The attack injured several others who were hospitalized. One of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s Swaroops was taken home by S. Raj Singh,” said Talwindar Singh
The attack on the gurdwara – came just about a fortnight after India sent a delegation to Kabul for its first formal engagement with the Taliban’s government.
In New Delhi, Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar condemned the attack and said that the government was closely monitoring the situation following the incident. "The cowardly attack on Gurdwara Karte Parwan should be condemned in the strongest terms by all," he tweeted. "We have been closely monitoring developments since the news of the attack was received. Our first and foremost concern is for the welfare of the community."
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, several other political leaders on Saturday strongly condemned the attack on a gurdwara in Kabul and urged the Center to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of minorities in Afghanistan.
Sikh body in Jammu and Kashmir , United Kashmiri Sikhs Progressive Forum, said they have been saddened by the incident of terror attack in Karte Parwan Gurudwara Kabulon and announced to donate Rs 10 lakh for the repair of a Gurdwara damaged in a terror attack in Kabul over the weekend.
Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president Harjinder Singh Dhami on Tuesday said they will help with air tickets for the Sikhs wanting to come to India from Afghanistan. Dhami also appealed to the Union government to immediately give permission to safely bring to India the Sikhs living in Afghanistan
India has decided to grant e-visas to over 100 Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan on priority. The announcement and decision came from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)