Expedite evacuation, Afghan Sikhs urge government

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 21

After the June 18 attack on Kabul’s Karte Parwan gurdwara, terror-stricken Afghan minority community members have appealed to the Indian authorities to clear the pending applications for e-visa and expedite their evacuation.

Will give financial support: SGPC

I was told about the poor financial condition and the hardships they faced in Afghanistan. We will give financial support to bring them to India. I appeal to the Indian govt to help them settle here. Harjinder Singh Dhami, SGPC Chief

After the Taliban took control in August 2021, there were only 167 Sikhs and Hindus left in Afghanistan, including five who did not possess any passport.

All had applied for getting the e-visa (emergency visa) in September 2021, but the applications of around 100 minority community members were cleared only hours after the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), a terrorist group, attacked the Kabul gurdwara. It is learnt that 60-year-old Sawinder Singh, who died during the attack, was among the applicants seeking the e-visa for India.

Showing gratitude towards the Indian government for issuing e-visas, Gurnam Singh, president of the gurdwara, and Ram Saran Basin, president of Asami Mandir, Kabul, have urged the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to expedite the evacuation process of Sikhs and Hindus.

According to Gurnam Singh, only 109 e-visas were received whereas 58 applications were pending.

“We are thankful to the Indian government for its proactive approach towards Afghan minorities. Yet, we appeal to the Indian authorities to clear the pending applications for e-visa. They were all those who have lost their family members in terror attacks of 2020 and 2022,” he said.

Puneet Singh Chandok, president, Indian World Forum, who has been coordinating with the Afghan minorities for the evacuation process, said, “Five members are yet to apply for e-visa for want of the relevant travel documents from the local authorities”. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami offered that airfare of those who want to come to India would be borne by the committee.

Meanwhile, Sikh activists on Tuesday wrote to the Taliban leader and Afghanistan acting Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund, showing concern over linking the Sikh community with the derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad.

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