UNITED SIKHS renews its pleas to the Canadian and US Governments to help the remaining Afghan Hindus, Sikhs and other religious minorities

New York, NY
August 13, 2021

Image C’tsy: FDD’s Long War Journal

Taliban forces are gaining ground in Afghanistan. The insurgents have taken half of the country’s 34 provincial capitals including the country’s second and third largest cities, Herat and Kandahar. The Taliban now have control over two thirds of the country.
Recently there have been reports of the Taliban capturing the City of Ghazni, a provincial capital which lies around 150 kilometers south of Kabul.
The last Sikh and Hindu families escaped from Ghazni to Kabul on Wednesday. The three families include two Sikh families (Surbeer Singh, his wife and two daughters and Argeet Singh, his wife, and daughter) and 2 individuals, a married couple, from the Hindu community.
“We were aware that the Taliban were about to capture the city of Ghazni, therefore we left everything and came to Kabul to save our lives. This nightmare became true when the news of Taliban forces capturing the city of Kabul emerged. The chances of the situation getting worse in Kabul are also certain. After that we don’t know where we will go.” said Surbeer Singh, Ghazni resident to the volunteers of UNITED SIKHS.
Increasing fear of destruction and desecration of the Gurudwaras compelled Sikhs to remove the Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji from Jalalabad and Ghazni to Kabul.
According to the Associated Press, “The latest U.S. military intelligence assessment suggests Kabul could come under insurgent pressure within 30 days and that, if current trends hold, the Taliban could gain full control of the country within a few months.”
Gurvinder Singh, International Director of Humanitarian Aid said, “At this point, we feel powerless to help the people of Afghanistan. We have written to United States President Biden and Secretary of State, Antony Blinken. We have written to Minister Mendicino, Canada’s Minister of Refugees, Immigration and Citizenship. We are advocating with MP’s in Australia
Gurnam Singh, President of the Gurudwara Karte Parwan, Kabul spoke to the UNITED SIKHS team and said that the recent attacks in the major cities of Afghanistan have shaken the community. “We are scared for ourselves but we are concerned about the children who are with the families left in Kabul and Jalalabad. What will happen to them?”
He further stated “We request the Canadian Government to please immediately evacuate the remaining members of Hindu and Sikh minorities. We are ready to leave everything behind, anytime.”
The situation in Jalalabad is deteriorating even more rapidly. Around 15 days ago, there was a bomb attack on Satpal Singh’s shop in Jalalabad. The attack left Satpal and his friends severely injured.
“Today’s circumstances give me a flashback of how my father, Mar Singh, was killed in the attacks by Taliban,” said Jasbeer Singh, resident of Jalalabad.
Only 15-16 families from the two religious minorities in Jalalabad remain in Afghanistan. They are desperately looking for a way to escape and seek immediate evacuation.
We desperately need the world community to step in and help. UNITED SIKHS is willing to assist in our capacity, but we can’t do anything without the support of the global community.”
Gundeep Singh
Media Coordinator
UNITED SIKHS
Recognize the Human Race as One