The Islamic State (IS) on Monday claimed the responsibility for the attack on Sikhs in Jalalabad in Afghanistan and said that they targetted a group of "polytheists". The suicide bombing in the eastern Afghanistan city killed 19 people including 17 Sikhs over the weekend. Sikhs and Hindus, who are a minority in the conservative Islamic nation face discrimination in Afghanistan. The group was on its way to the governor's residence in Jalalabad to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. According to news agency PTI, the community numbered over 80,000 in the 1970s, but have today reduced to mere 1000.

Meanwhile, Dr Shaida Mohammad Abdali, Afghan ambassador to India alleged that though the attack has been claimed by Daish, it is coming from across the border. "Attack has been claimed by Daish but the fact is terrorism in Afghanistan is mostly coming from across the border. Agencies will figure out whether this attack generated from across the border or from some other place," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. "Afghanistan and India are victims of terrorism from the same sources and that's why they have to stand together with rest of the world to fight terrorism in order for the two of us to be freed from the menace of terrorism attacking both nations," he further said.

"Afghanistan is a victim of terrorism almost on daily basis. It is an attack on Afghan democracy, attack on Afghan values, freedom of religion, faith, and attack on our diversity," he said. While Abdali did not directly mention Pakistan, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh blamed Pakistan for the attack.

"Strongly condemn deadly attack by ISI on delegation of Sikhs & others on way to meet Afghan president. Let global community rise in one voice against barbaric forces of terror&vow to wipe out the menace from the world. My government extends all help to the victims and their families," Singh was quoted as saying by ANI.