The existence of
several ethnics, religions and languages in a society indicate the unity and
love among the citizens with painting a great image of beauty of a unified
nation. Afghanistan is one of those rare countries in the region that has
several religions, ethnics and languages. Besides the Pashtons, Tajikis,
Hazaras, Uzbek and etc…there is some other minorities also living in the
country.
Two of these rare
beauties in Afghanistan are the Hindus and Sikhs who have been living since
ages in the country. But unfortunately throughout the history, they have been
oppressed and treated cruelly during the longest conflicts in Afghanistan.
Recently an attack
conducted by the Islamic State (IS) also known as Daesh on the Sikhs’ temple in
downtown Kabul, killed at least 25 Sikhs including women and children and
wounded eight others. The attack faced widespread condemnation by the Afghan
and foreign officials, but such acts would not cure their pain after they lost
a member of their family. The consecutive deadly attacks and threats forced
these minorities to consider leaving Afghanistan – a country they have called
home for centuries.
As expected Delhi
become the first country to officially announce the endorsement of visa and
permanent asylum for the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in India. On Sunday 26th July, the first
batch of 11 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus left Kabul for Delhi to seek a permanent
asylum there. However most of those Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, who left
Afghanistan, promised to returned back home if the security become tighten that
their lives would be no longer at risk. They have been having a very sound and
peaceful relations with every other tribe in the country.
The Afghan Sikhs and
Hindus mainly worked in the educational centers and some of them were engaged
into personal business in the past. But recently, they have been faded in
Afghanistan. Losing such peaceful minorities is a great lost for Afghanistan.
It is so disappointed that we could not support them or embrace such a minor
ethnic, which was considered as a main beauty of national unity in our country.
The Afghan government
failed to protect them. For the ordinary Afghans, it is really painful to see
this happening. Extremely heartbreaking, hope a day will come that all Afghans
irrespective of their religious, ethnic, political and linguistic affiliations
will be able to live peacefully in Afghanistan without the fear of
discrimination and intimidation. It’s of great concern that billions of dollars
expended on Afghan democracy and the result is that…
Dr.Gurdeep Kaur
Associate Professor
Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa Collge
University of Delhi
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