KABUL – The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a suicidebombing in eastern Afghanistan that killed at least 19 people, mostly Sikhsand Hindus.

The bomber targeted a delegation from the minority communities as it wastraveling to the governor’s residence in the eastern city of Jalalabad onSunday for a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani.

Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader of the Sikh community, was amongthose killed. Another 20 people were wounded.

In a statement released on Monday, IS said it had targeted a group of”polytheists.” Sikhs and Hindus face discrimination in the conservativeMuslim country and have been targeted by Islamic extremists in the past,leading many to emigrate. The community numbered more than 80,000 in the1970s, but today only around 1,000 remain.