India condemned as “heinous and cowardly” the terrorist attack on a convoy of Sikhs in Afghanistan that left 20 people dead. It said the incident underlined the need for united global fight against international terrorism.

A suicide bomber blew himself up in the Afghan city of Jalalabad where President Ashraf Ghani was to hold a meeting with provincial officials, killing at least 19 people, officials said on Sunday. Most of the victims were Sikhs, including Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader from the community who planned to contest the parliamentary elections in October.

Khalsa was the only Sikh leader running in the 20 October elections.

The Islamic State (IS) group said it carried out the attack.

Police said Khalsa and others were travelling in a vehicle to meet President Ashraf Ghani, who was visiting Nangarhar province. Police chief Ghulam Sanaei Stanikzai told Pajhwok Afghan News that the suicide bomber detonated his explosives when the minority community members wanted to enter the governor’s house to meet Ghani.

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“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 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 condemned the attack and affirmed that India is ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour.

“We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. They are 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,” he wrote on Twitter.

We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. They are 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.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 2, 2018

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj condoled the deaths of people who died in the attack.

“My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan. We are with them in this hour of tragedy. I am meeting their relatives today at 6 pm in JN Bhavan,” the minister posted on Twitter.

My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan. We are with them in this hour of tragedy.
I am meeting their relatives today at 6 pm in JN Bhavan.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) July 2, 2018

Some reports said 19 people were killed in the attack and 17 of them were from the minority Sikh and Hindu community.

Provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the casualties and said it had been a suicide bombing.

After the blast hit the busy market of Mukhabarat square, all the victims were rushed to hospital, the official added.

Hours earlier, Ghani had inaugurated a hospital in Jalalabad during his two-day visit to Nangarhar. Officials said he was not in the area when the suicide blast occurred.

The media reported that the explosion happened close to the governor’s compound.

(With agency inputs)