Amid staggering questions over the security and future safety of the Sikh and Hindu communities in Afghanistan, the members of the two minority groups held a meeting with Taliban delegates in Kabul on Monday. Speaking to The media over the phone from Kabul, Gurnam Singh, president of the Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita Sri Guru Gobind Singh ji Singh Sabha Karte Parwan, said around 300 people, 280 Sikhs and 30-40 Hindus have taken refuge at the gurdwara since the Taliban started taking over provinces of Afghanistan.

“But a meeting was held today which was attended by representatives of the Taliban and members of Sikh community. Taliban leaders have assured our safety and peace. They said we need not flee our country and can continue to live here peacefully. They have promised that we can practice our faith and there will be no interference with our religious practices. They have also given a number on which we can contact if there is any issue,” Singh said. 

He added that Sikh and Hindu families living in Jalalabad and Ghazni have also arrived in Kabul and all were now taking shelter at two Kabul gurdwaras. In the early 1990s, Afghanistan had over 1 lakh Sikhs and Hindus, but there was a mass exodus by members of these two communities after the Mujahideen took over in 1992. Later, even as the Taliban took over from 1996 till 2001, little changed for these minorities.

Covid Roundup: India's daily Covid count falls to 154-day low of 25,166

Gold Price Today: The Yellow metal Hit Rs 50,000 Soon? Know What Experts Say

Uttar Pradesh jail inmates can now meet visitors with Covid protocol