Afghanistan: Islamic State claims attack on Sikhs, Hindus in Jalalabad
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan yesterday that killed at least 19 people, mostly Sikhs and Hindus. The bomber targeted a delegation from the minority communities as it was traveling to the governor's residence in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Sunday for a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani. Another 20 people were wounded. Here's more.
Community number reduced to 1,000 from 80,000 since 1970s
Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime Sikh community leader, was also among those killed. In a statement, IS today said it had targeted a group of "polytheists." Sikhs and Hindus face discrimination in the war-torn country and have been targeted by Islamic extremists in the past, leading many to emigrate. The community numbered more than 80,000 in the 1970s, but today only around 1,000 remain.
