Afghan and Indian experts blame Pakistan's ISI for Jalalabad blast killing 17 Sikhs

Accusations surrounding Pakistan's involvement in carrying out the blast with the Taliban to particularly target the minority Sikh population of Afghanistan have been  doing the rounds with some direct accusations pouring in from prominent voices.

While the Chief Minister of India's Punjab state, Amarinder Singh, has gone all out in his attack in naming and shaming the Inter-Services Intelligence, Pakistan's premier intelligence agency, it's a certain tweet from Amrullah Saleh, former head of Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security, that makes it more than just an Indian politician trying to accuse Pakistan.

"The ISI backed terrorists killed Mr. Khalisa, a patriot Afghn citizen of Sikh faith running for parliament whose ancestors have been owners of this land for thousands of yrs.Targeting Sikhs & Hindus is like massacring pigeons & doves in our own backyard.A stain on forehead of Tbn," (sic) Saleh tweeted.

Atvar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate running in elections this year in Afghanistan, is among those killed in the attack. The attack is seen as an attempt to target at the few remaining Sikhs of Afghanistan and thus the semblance of diversity in the war-torn country.

Indian politician and chief minister of Punjab Amarinder Singh tweeted: "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 govt extends all help to the victims & their families."

In an editorial titled "Diversity Under Attack", Afghanistan Times wrote that people of Afghanistan must stand together to fight terrorism and its sponsor Pakistan.

"The attack again underlined the need for united global fight against international terrorism without discrimination and accountability of those who support terrorists in any manner," it read.

A Taliban attack with the help of Pakistan's ISI is also aimed at an ongoing ethnic cleansing of the Sikhs from both Pakistan and Afghanistan, geopolitics commentators think.

The incident received severe condemnation from all corners and while the finger is pointed towards Pakistan, Islamabad was quick to condemn it.

"Pakistan strongly condemns terrorist attack in Jalalabad city, killing and injuring many innocent civilians on Sunday," read a statement issued by Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs.

"We are distressed and grieved at the loss of precious human lives. We express our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives and pray for early recovery of the injured. Pakistan reiterates its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations," it added.

But terrorism commentators feel that despite the apparent condemnation, it is well known that the ISI is infamous for its altruistic approach towards terrorists.

According to a report by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), the ISI is working relentless to revive the Khalistani movement in Punjab. The aforementioned movement left the Indian-side of Punjab in dire straits in the early 80s.