Afghan Hindus, Sikhs meet Muttaqi, urge restoration of spiritual locations

A delegation of Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan who sought refuge in India to flee spiritual persecution, and for private security, over totally different intervals of time met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on the Afghanistan Embassy on Monday.

The members proposed to return to Afghanistan provided that the Taliban regime assured their security and safety of properties and spiritual locations, mentioned Guljeet Singh, president of Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib Ji, Manohar Nagar, Delhi. He was among the many 15 individuals who met Mr. Muttaqi, presently on a week-long go to to India.

Mr. Singh mentioned that the exodus of the minority neighborhood from Afghanistan to India began in 1992 and presently round 5,000 Sikhs and Hindus from there stay in India.

He mentioned that every one the 276 Sikhs who have been evacuated by India on emergency visas submit the Taliban takeover in August 2021, migrated to Canada after arriving right here. “Since Canada was providing asylum to individuals from Afghanistan, all of them moved there after being evacuated by the Indian authorities,” Mr. Singh instructed The Hindu. The assembly lasted 45-50 minutes, he mentioned.

Mr. Singh mentioned the delegation had sought time to fulfill Mr. Muttaqi primarily to lift the difficulty of safety of spiritual locations.

“The Minister was eager that the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus return to their nation however it’s not doable until the security is assured. Around 20-25 Sikhs are nonetheless in Afghanistan who’re there to guard the gurudwaras. There are simply two Hindu households there,” he mentioned.

Puneet Singh Chandhoke, president of the India World Forum, which assists the Afghan neighborhood in India, mentioned the delegation knowledgeable Mr. Muttaqi concerning the historical past of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan and their present demography.

“The members requested the Minister to facilitate the go to of a joint delegation of distinguished Hindus and Sikhs leaders from India to Afghanistan for the restoration and upkeep of historic gurdwaras and temples. A request was made that as in the course of the earlier regime when minorities got illustration within the authorities, at the very least two individuals every from The Hindu and Sikh neighborhood must be appointed in high-ranking positions within the Afghanistan authorities,” Mr. Chandhoke mentioned.

It was additionally advised by the members that the federal government ought to contemplate appointing Afghan Hindus or Sikhs at their mission in India to strengthen the bilateral relations.

“The Minister was requested to make sure restoration of property rights and property of minorities which have been occupied. He was requested to situation directive to all provinces in Afghanistan to offer applicable safety and help for upkeep of gurdwaras and temples,” he added.