Afghan Hindus, Sikhs meet Muttaqi, urge restoration of religious places

A delegation of Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan who sought refuge in India to escape religious persecution, and for personal safety, over different periods of time met Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghanistan Embassy on Monday.

The members proposed to return to Afghanistan only if the Taliban regime assured their safety and protection of properties and religious places, said Guljeet Singh, president of Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib Ji, Manohar Nagar, Delhi. He was among the 15 people who met Mr. Muttaqi, currently on a week-long visit to India.

Mr. Singh said that the exodus of the minority community from Afghanistan to India started in 1992 and presently around 5,000 Sikhs and Hindus from there live in India.

He said that all the 276 Sikhs who were evacuated by India on emergency visas post the Taliban takeover in August 2021, migrated to Canada after arriving here. “Since Canada was offering asylum to people from Afghanistan, they all moved there after being evacuated by the Indian government,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu. The meeting lasted 45-50 minutes, he said.

Mr. Singh said the delegation had sought time to meet Mr. Muttaqi primarily to raise the issue of protection of religious places.

“The Minister was keen that the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus return to their country but it is not possible unless the safety is guaranteed. Around 20-25 Sikhs are still in Afghanistan who are there to protect the gurudwaras. There are just two Hindu families there,” he said.

Puneet Singh Chandhoke, president of the India World Forum, which assists the Afghan community in India, said the delegation informed Mr. Muttaqi about the history of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan and their current demography.

“The members requested the Minister to facilitate the visit of a joint delegation of prominent Hindus and Sikhs leaders from India to Afghanistan for the restoration and maintenance of historical gurdwaras and temples. A request was made that as during the previous regime when minorities were given representation in the government, at least two persons each from the Hindu and Sikh community should be appointed in high-ranking positions in the Afghanistan government,” Mr. Chandhoke said.

It was also suggested by the members that the government should consider appointing Afghan Hindus or Sikhs at their mission in India to strengthen the bilateral relations.

“The Minister was requested to ensure restoration of property rights and estate of minorities which have been occupied. He was asked to issue directive to all provinces in Afghanistan to provide appropriate security and assistance for maintenance of gurdwaras and temples,” he added.