The deaths of at least 20 people, a majority of them Sikhs and Hindus, in a suicide bomb attack in Afghanistan's Jalalabad on Sunday has raised concerns that Pakistan's ISI may be deliberately targeting the Sikh minority in the strife-torn country.
On Sunday, a group of Sikhs and Hindus, who were on their way to meet the country's president in the eastern province on Nangarhar, were targeted by a suicide bomber. The dead included the only Sikh candidate for Afghanistan's parliamentary elections Avtar Singh Khalsa, activist Ravail Singh, Sikh community spokesman Iqbal Singh and peace activist Anup Singh.
The attack, 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 civil society in India and has also drawn the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
One of the victims was Avtar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate for Afghanistan's parliamentary elections | AP
Manjeet Singh G.K., president of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, said in a tweet, "I strongly condemn the barbaric act of terrorism in Afghanistan where Sikh leaders were killed, who were visiting the President. I urge @SushmaSwaraj ji to please conduct an inquiry in the matter & ensure that the bodies are received by their relatives."
A majority of Sikhs in Afghanistan had migrated to India because of the ongoing decades-long conflict.
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 to the 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 global level."
According to one estimate, Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan numbered more than 80,000 in the 1970s. But, today, only around 1,000 remain.
The situation of Sikhs and Hindus living in Pakistan, especially in areas bordering Afghanistan, is not good.
A month ago, prominent Sikh religious leader Charanjit Singh Sagar was shot dead in Peshawar city of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The seemingly systematic attacks on Hindus and Sikhs have been orchestrated by the ISI as the minority communities are suspected of having close links to India.