Sikhs and Hindus worldwide have condemned the attack on the minority communities in Afghanistan, that included the death of Avtar Singh Khalsa, who would have been the first Sikh in Afghan Parliament this October. With their lives hanging by the noose, the minorities in Afghanistan currently face an unthinkable crisis.
In the UK, Dr Rami Ranger CBE, a renowned entrepreneur and community leader in a tweet urged the Indian government to help people of Indian heritage “to come out of countries where there is religious opression.” He added, “People are being targeted because they are proud to preserve their Indian roots.”
Sikh Federation (UK) Chair Bhai Amrik Singh responding to the deadly terror blast targeting the leaders of the Sikh minority in Afghanistan said, “The Sikh community across the globe is devastated having heard the news from Jalalabad.
“Tens of thousands of Afghan Sikhs have sought sanctuary in the UK and will be deeply concerned with those left behind.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of those killed and wounded.
“The timing of the cowardly attack on leaders of the tiny Sikh minority came as Awtar Singh Khalsa, MP elect who was running unopposed, was leading a delegation to meet President Ashraf Ghani.
“The Sikh community has been decimated by decades of conflict and face widespread discrimination...
“These killings sadly demonstrate there is no secure future for Sikhs in Afghanistan that have been failed by all concerned.”
Jasvir Singh, Chair of the City Sikhs Network tweeted, “So saddened to hear about suicide bombing targetting Sikhs and Hindus. 19 killed, 17 of them from minority faiths. Only Sikh candidate in upcoming Afghan elections died in blast. Devastating blow to the Afghan Sikh/Hindu community.”
Suicide bombing in Jalalabad
A horrific suicide bombing in the eastern city of Jalalabad where President Ashraf Ghani was scheduled to meet members of the community, resulted in the death of 19 members of the community, and a threatening question looming over them. “Is it safe to live here?” Victims of the attack claimed by the Islamic State, included Avtar Singh Khalsa, the only Sikh candidate in Afghan's parliamentary elections this October. The attacker struck a market located hundreds of metres from the provincial governor's compound where Ghani was holding meetings, said governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani.
Tejvir Singh, whose uncle was killed in the blast, said, “I am clear that we cannot live her any more. Our religious practices will not be tolerated by the Islamic terrorists. We are Afghans. The government recognises us, but terrorists target us because we are not Muslims.” The Sikh community, that already stood at 300 families in the county, has now numbers fewer than before. There are only two gurdwaras in the country, one each in Jalalabad and Kabul, a testament of just how lacking the community already is. Before a devastating civil war in the 90s, Afghanistan was home to over 250,000 Sikhs and Hindus. Today, despite official political representation and a freedom of worship, many face prejudice and harassment as well as violence from terrorist Islamist groups.
Now, following the latest attack, several Sikhs have sought shelter at the city's Indian consulate. “We are left with two choices: To leave for India or to convert to Islam,” said Baldev Singh, a book and textile shop owner in Jalalabad. Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Vinay Kumar, who was in New Delhi yesterday to discuss the security situation, said the government was helping organise the last rites of Sikhs killed in the blast. “They can all live in India without any limitation. The final call has to be taken by them. We are here to assist them.”
The attack came a day after Ghani ordered Afghan security forces to resume offensive operations against the Taliban following the expiry of the government's 18-day ceasefire. The government's unilateral truce overlapped with the Taliban's three-day ceasefire for Eid, however, the terrorists refused to prolong it. ISIS was not part of the ceasefire. The attack also coincided US envoy Alice Wells' visit to Kabul as part of efforts to ratchet up pressure on the Taliban to engage in peace talks.
Wells said that since the Afghan government and United States were willing to start talking without preconditions, the onus was now on the Taliban to respond. “Right now it's the Taliban leaders... who aren't residing in Afghanistan, who are the obstacle to a negotiated political settlement,” she said. She added, “Pakistan has an important role to play... but we have not yet seen that sustained and decisive action on the part of Islamabad.”
The Indian government has meanwhile assured help to the Afghan government after the attack. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. They are an attack on Afghanistan's multicultural fabric. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour.” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too met with the relatives of those who died in the bombings, and said, “My heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the terror attack in Jalalabad city of Afghanistan. We are with them in this hour of tragedy.”
