Subramanian Swamy shocked at Afghanistan Gurdwara attack amid world's Coronavirus fight

Twenty-five people were killed after gunmen opened fired at a gurdwara in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Wednesday. BJP lawmaker Dr Subramanian Swamy expressed his grief over attack and said that shocking that while world is grappling with Coronavirus, ISIS terrorists in Kabul entered a Gurdwara and shot de 25 Sikhs.

'It's extremely tragic and unfortunate'

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Bal have strongly condemned attack at Kabul gurdwara. Amarinder Singh described attack as extremely "tragic and unfortunate".

"Horrific news coming from Kabul where a barbaric terror attack happened in Gurudwara Guru Har Rai. It's extremely tragic and unfortunate. Request (Afghanistan) President @Ashraf Ghani Ji to find out perpetrators and look after our people," Singh tweeted.

Condemning ghastly attack, Union Minister and Bathinda MP, Harsimrat Kaur Bal said she requests External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to issue immediate instructions to Indian High Commission to ensure safety of Sikhs.

"We convey our sincerest condolences to immediate family members of deceased and wish a speedy recovery to injured. India stands rey to extend all possible assistance to affected families of Hindu and Sikh community of Afghanistan," Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Such cowardly attacks on places of religious worship of mirity community, especially at this time of COVID-19 pandemic, is reflective of diabolical mindset of perpetrators and ir backers," India said. 

RE | 'Find perpetrators': Punjab CM Amarinder to Afghan Prez after Gurudwara terror attack

Mirities targeted in Afghanistan

Afghan MP Nardendar Singh Khalisa told reporters that up to 150 people were at gurdwara at time of attack. 

Sikhs have suffered widespre discrimination in conservative Muslim country and have also been targeted by Islamic extremists. Under Taliban rule in late 1990s, y were asked to identify mselves by wearing yellow armbands, but rule was t enforced. In recent years, large numbers of Sikhs and Hindus have sought asylum in India.

RE | Kabul Gurudwara Attack: One Indian killed, family writes to Prime Minister Modi

In July 2018, a convoy of Sikhs and Hindus was attacked by an Islamic State suicide bomber as y were on ir way to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in eastern city of Jalalab, capital of Nangarhar province. Nineteen people were killed in that attack.

RE | India 'strongly condemns' Kabul Gurudwara attack, stands with Afghanistan: MEA

RE | Islamic State claims responsibility for Gurdwara attack in Kabul that killed 11 people

(With ncy inputs)