Afghanistan blast: Sikhs among 19 dead in Jalalabad suicide attack

8 hours ago
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Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
Nearby buildings were damaged by the force of the blast
A suicide bombing in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad has killed at least 19
people, most of them members of the country's Sikh minority.

Police said they had been travelling in a vehicle to meet President Ashraf Ghani,
who is visiting Nangarhar province, when the bomber struck.

Among those killed was the only Sikh candidate who had planned to contest October's
parliamentary elections.

The Islamic State (IS) group said it carried out the attack.

Hours earlier, Mr Ghani had opened a hospital in Jalalabad during his two-day visit
to Nangarhar. Officials said he was not in the area when the suicide blast
occurred.

The Indian embassy in Kabul condemned the "cowardly terrorist" attack.

It confirmed that Awtar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate running in the 20
October elections, was among the dead.

Militants 'threaten 70% of Afghanistan'

"The attack underlines the need for a united global fight against international
terrorism without discrimination and accountability of those who support terrorists
in any manner," the embassy tweeted.

Nangarhar health director Najibullah Kamawal told AFP news agency that 17 of the
dead were Sikhs and Hindus. Another 20 people were wounded, he added.

Image copyrightREUTERS
The bomber targeted the vehicle as it passed through Mukhaberat square in the city,
governor's spokesman Attaullah Khogyani said. The explosion badly damaged shops and
buildings.

Small communities of Sikhs and Hindus live in Afghanistan which is otherwise an

overwhelmingly Muslim nation.

Correspondents say increasing numbers have moved to India due to persecution and
repeated threats.

Image copyrightEPA
Image caption
President Ashraf Ghani visited Jalalabad on Sunday to open a hospital
IS said on its Amaq news agency that it had carried out the attack although it gave
no evidence for the claim.

The latest attack comes after last month's three-day ceasefire between government
forces and the Taliban.

The brief truce did not include IS which is fighting both the Taliban and
government forces.