Need unified global fight against terrorism, says India after attack on Sikhs in Afghanistan

India has condemned the terrorist attack on Sikhs in the Afghan city of Jalalabad on Sunday. The official statement described the incident as "heinous and cowardly". India also called for a unified global fight against international terrorism, PTI reported. 

"We strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack in #Jalalabad today evening which resulted in the death of 20 innocent Afghans, including 10 members of the Afghan Sikh Community, and injured more than 20 persons," the Indian Embassy in Kabul tweeted.

"We convey heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for early recovery of the injured...The attack again underlines the need for a united global fight against international terrorism without discrimination and accountability of those who support terrorists in any manner," it said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter and condemned the attack. The Prime Minister described the incident as "an attack on Afghanistan's multicultural fabric".

"My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour," Modi's tweet read. 

A suicide bomber targeted the convoy of Afghan Sikhs while they were on their way to meet Afghanistan's president in Jalalabad on Sunday. At least 20 have been reported killed, 17 belonged to the minority Sikh and Hindu community. 

Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader of the Sikh community who had planned to run in the parliamentary elections set for October, was killed in the attack. 

Meanwhile, Chief Minister of Punjab, Amrinder Singh also reacted to the incident stating that he strongly condemns the deadly attack by ISI on delegation of Sikhs IN Afghanistan.

"Let global community rise in one voice against barbaric forces of terror and vow to wipe out the menace from the world," Singh noted.

The Chief Minister also expressed full commitment of Punjab government to extend all help to the victims and their families.

The suicide bomber detonated his explosives when the minority community members wanted to enter the governor's house to meet President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday, reports suggest.

(With inputs from agencies)