Afghan Islamic Press (AIP)

June 18, 2022
KABUL (AIP): At least two persons were killed and seven others injured in coordinated attack targeting a Hindu temple in Kabul City Saturday morning, police and interior ministry said.
A group of armed “rebels” forced their entry into Hindu temple in Kart-e-Parwan area of Kabul City at approximately 7:00 a.m. (local time) and threw hand-grenades security guards as result fire broke out in the temple and two guards were injured, said Mullah Abdul Nafee Takoor, spokesman of interior ministry.
He said the gunmen later tried to set off an explosive laden vehicle in crowed of the people but they could not hit the target and vehicle bomb detonated prematurely, causing no casualties.
According to the interior ministry spokesman, the gunmen have been surrounded in the temple and would soon be eliminated, adding the injured were shifted to hospital.
Khalid Zadran, spokesman of Kabul police, said an Afghan Hindu and a soldier of Taliban forces were killed and seven countrymen injured in the attack.
The interior ministry and police did not disclose the number of attackers and their identities.
Local residents told AIP that four explosions occurred and the first one was comparatively heavy than rest of the three. 
The site of the blast is located near Inter-continental Hotel in Bagh-e-Bala and security forces have blocked the road leading to the hotel.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast. A heavy explosion was also heard in Kabul City yesterday but its details could not be ascertained.
In the past, Islamic State –Khorasan (ISK) claimed responsibility for attacks on places of worship of Hindus, Sikhks and Shiites in Afghanistan.
Some Afghan Sikhs and Hidus were shifted to Kabul after the Taliban came into power as India expressed concern over the security of Hindu and Sikh minority in Afghanistan.
Few days ago, an Indian delegation arrived Kabul while Taliban defense minister Maulvi Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid among several other members of the Taliban delegation gave interviews to Indian television channels, urging India to resume diplomatic ties with Afghanistan and reopen Indian embassy in Kabul. Ends
Time:  02:49 GMT