Over 300 Sikhs & Hindus Take Refuge In Kabul Gurdwara; Taliban Promises Them Safety

Concerned over their safety in Afghanistan, particularly after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban, more than 300 Sikhs and Hindus have taken refuge at Gurdwara Karte Parwan in the national capital, making desperate efforts to be evacuated from the war-torn country.

Once a sizeable minority community having historic shrines in the country, the number of Sikhs has been reduced to a few hundred due to back-to-back attacks by the extremists. The fresh situation has triggered fears of their complete exit from the country.

Taliban leaders have met the Sikh community

According to the Indian government, the Taliban leaders have met the Sikh community and assured them of their safety. According to Manjinder Singh Sirsa of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), there are about 320 Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan and the government is working on modalities to ensure their safe exit.

SGPC

"I am in constant touch with President, Gurdwara Committee of Kabul and the Sangat who have told me that 320+ people of minorities (including 50 Hindus and 270+ Sikhs) have taken refuge in Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul in wake of recent developments. Taliban leaders have met them and assured them of their safety. We are hopeful that Hindus and Sikhs would be able to live a safe/secure life despite political & military changes happening in Afghanistan," Sirsa said on Monday.

Sirsa said that the local Taliban leaders met the pradhan at the Gurdwara and assured that their safety is the responsibility of the Taliban. He further assured that the Ministry of External Affairs and others who are responsible for the evacuation of Sikhs and Hindus in the war-torn country will make all the arrangements required for their safe exit.

Sikhs seek refuge in US, Canada

In a video, the Sikhs staying in the Kabul gurdwara on Monday said, ¡°The situation in Afghanistan is quite critical. We don¡¯t know what will happen next. We urge the Sikhs in the US and Canada to evacuate us and take us to their countries.¡±

AFP

Hira Singh, a leader of Afghan Sikhs who migrated to India and now lives in Delhi, said, ¡°I am in touch with our fellow community members in Afghanistan but they are not speaking to us for last two days. I tried calling them twice since today morning, but they are declining my calls. We are also worried.¡±

¡°As per my information, the Sikhs are safe at the Afghan gurdwara. Fortunately, no untoward incident has happened yet,¡± he said.

Taliban takeover in Afghanistan

In dramatic and swift developments that have unfolded in Afghanistan over the past week, the Taliban have taken over the presidential palace and Kabul and announced that they are in control of the country.

AFP

Scenes of chaos and mayhem have been emerging from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, where people have gathered in thousands to flee the country. While India has operated one Air India flight to bring back Indian citizens from Kabul, another flight FG 311 was put on hold after commercial operations at Kabul Airport were declared closed.