Gunmen in Afghanistan kill 25 at Sikh complex, Islamic State claims responsibility

• Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian says an operation by the security forces was over and all of the attackers had been killed.
• Spokesperson says eight people were wounded and 80 rescued.
• The attack comes a day after the United States said it would cut aid to the government by $1 billion over frustrations that feuding political leaders could not reach agreement and form a team to negotiate with the Taliban.

(Kabul) Gunmen and suicide bombers raided a Sikh religious complex in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday (March 25), killing 25 people before security forces killed all of the attackers, the government said.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement. Sikhs have been the target of attack by Islamist militants before in South Asia. Their community in Afghanistan numbers fewer than 300 families.

Several hours after the early morning attack was launched, Interior Ministry spokesman Tariq Arian said an operation by the security forces was over and all of the attackers had been killed. He did not say how many.

The ministry said 25 people who had been in the religious compound had been killed, eight wounded and 80 rescued. Outside, families gathered and women cried as they waited to find out the fate of their relatives.

The attack comes a day after the United States said it would cut aid to the government by $1 billion over frustrations that feuding political leaders could not reach agreement and form a team to negotiate with the Taliban.

An official with Afghanistan's NATO mission said the response to the attack had been led and executed by Afghan forces but they had received some advice and assistance from NATO.