New Delhi: After returning to power, the Taliban has assured security to the people of the Hindu and Sikh communities trapped in Afghanistan. This claim is being made in a video message from the head of the Kabul gurdwara and a video shared by a Taliban spokesperson. Along with this, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, chairman of Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee and member of Akali Dal, has also shared this video saying that the Taliban has assured security to Hindus and Sikhs. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has also appealed to bring back all the Indians, including about 200 Sikhs trapped in the gurdwara.
This video shared on microblogging platform Twitter is believed to be part of a media news report. Sirsa tweeted, ‘I am in constant touch with Gurdwara Committee President S Gurnam Singh in Kabul and Sangat taking refuge in Gurdwara Karte Parwan Sahib in Kabul. Even today, Taliban leaders reached the Gurudwara and met Hindus and Sikhs and assured them of their safety.
Many people are seen in this 76-second video. It is believed that some of them are also members of the Taliban. In the video, he is seen talking to the Sikhs taking refuge in the Gurdwara. However, it is not yet clear whether these Sikhs seen in the video are from the same gurdwara. With the Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan after nearly two decades, the situation in the country has worsened. Afghan citizens have been leaving the country since last May.
Amarinder Singh said, ‘My government is ready to extend any help to ensure their safety and evacuation.’ On Tuesday, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also said that he would be brought back home as soon as possible. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the government was closely monitoring the situation in Afghanistan and was in touch with the leaders of the Hindu and Sikh communities in Kabul.
This week, the government said that Sikhs and Hindus present in the war-torn country would be given priority as they wanted to facilitate the return of those who want to leave Afghanistan. On Monday itself, the C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force reached India with about 120 passengers.
