India has strongly condemned the terror attack on a convoy in Afghanistan that left 20 people dead and an equal number injured in the city of Jalalabad last evening. Ten members of the Afghan Sikh Community, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, were among those who lost their lives. Singh was a long time leader of Sikh community who had planned to run in the Parliamentary elections set for October.

In a series of tweets, the Indian Embassy in Kabul described the attack as heinous and cowardly. It said, the incident underlined the need for united global fight against international terrorism without discrimination and accountability of those who support terrorists in any manner.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also condemned the incident, terming it as an attack on Afghanistan’s multi-cultural fabric. In a tweet, he said, India stands ready to assist the Afghan government in this sad hour. Mr Modi extended his condolences to the bereaved families and hoped that the injured recover soon.

A suicide bomber had detonated his explosives when the convoy wanted to enter the Governor’s house to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who was visiting the region.