India condemns Jalalabad attack on Sikh and Hindus. ISI behind it?

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Afghan policemen inspect the site of a blast in Jalalabad (Photo:REUTERS/Parwiz)

India on Monday strongly condemned the attack on Sikhs and Hindus that left 19 dead in Jalalabad on Sunday. The group of Sikhs and Hindus were on their way to meet the country's president in the eastern province on Nangarhar.

"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," the Indian Embassy in Kabul tweeted.

1/2 We strongly condemn the henious 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.

India in Afghanistan (@IndianEmbKabul) July 1, 2018

A majority of the 19 dead in the attack are from the minority Sikh and Hindu community, including the only candidate for parliamentary elections Avtar Singh Khalsa, activist Ravail Singh, Sikh Community spokesman Iqbal Singh and peace activist Anup Singh.

The attack puts the spotlight on a massive operation of ethnic cleansing of Sikhs from Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.

The shameful act, allegedly perpetrated by the Taliban under the patronage of Pakistan's ISI has been condemned by the members of the Sikh community and other members of the civil society.

Manjeet Singh GK, president of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee said in his tweet, "I strongly condemn the barbaric act of terrorism in Afghanistan where Sikh leaders were killed, who were visiting the President. I urge @SushmaSwaraj to please conduct an inquiry into the matter & ensure that the bodies are received by their relatives".

A majority of Sikhs in Afghanistan has migrated to India because of ongoing decades-long conflict in Afghanistan. Many Sikh leaders in India have shown concern over the safety of minority Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan and Afghanistan, as they are frequently targeted by Pakistani terrorists and intelligence agencies.

Reacting strongly on Jalalabad attack, Manjinder S. Sirsa, spokesperson of Shiromani Akali Dal said, "I request @SushmaSwaraj to raise the issue of safety of Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan and Afghanistan, at the global level."

Shushma Swaraj also took to Twitter to offere her condolences to the grieving family

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.