- Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
IN view of the Taliban’s growing power in Afghanistan amid the US-led forces’ pullout, the World Sikh Organisation (WSO) of Canada recently wrote to the country’s immigration minister Marco Mendicino urging him to intervene to save the lives of around 250 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who remain in the violence-ravaged nation.
The Taliban have regained control over vast swathes of the country in the wake of the Americans’ withdrawal, leaving the international community deeply worried over the future of Afghanistan which has seen dark days under the rule in the past.
Last week, WSO president Tejinder Singh Sidhu wrote to Mendicino saying, “We are writing to request your urgent action in saving the lives of approximately 250 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus who remain in Afghanistan.
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“In light of the Government of Canada’s ongoing program to evacuate Afghan interpreters and staff who assisted the Canadian Armed Forces we urgently request that Afghan Sikh and Hindu families also be evacuated immediately.”
The WSO, which is a non-profit body that works on promoting and protecting the interests of Canadian Sikhs in particular and human rights for all individuals in general, also gave the minister lists of Sikhs and Hindus remaining in Afghanistan, including names, contact information and passport details.
“As the situation on the ground in Afghanistan deteriorates at a frightening rate, the lives of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are now in severe peril. Just today, a report has been received that the advancing Taliban have desecrated and removed the Nishan Sahib (Sikh religious flag) of Gurdwara Thala Sahib in Chamkani in Paktia province. The caretaker of the Gurdwara has also reportedly been threatened by Taliban commanders. As you know, last year 24 Sikhs lost their lives in the terrorist attack on Gurdwara Sri Guru Har Rai in Kabul and subsequently, Sikhs have been targeted with several bombings and abductions,” Sidhu wrote.
He added, “The Afghan Sikh and Hindu community are desperate for assistance. There is no doubt that this vulnerable and very visible community will continue to be targeted with attacks and more lives will be lost. Sikhs from across Canada have written to you requesting your attention to this matter, as have major Sikh organizations and gurdwaras. In July 2020, 25 Canadian MPs from the Conservative Party of Canada, NDP and Green Party also wrote to you requesting a special program for Afghan Sikh and Hindu refugees.”
He said the time to act is now and any delay would lead to loss of lives. “The situation is one of life and death, and it is no longer a question of if but rather a question of when the next attack will occur,” he said, adding, “The Sikh community is willing to privately sponsor these refugees and fully assist in their settlement here.”
Last Sunday (8), it was reported that the Nishan Sahib, which was removed by the extremists from the gurdwara, was restored with its “proper dignity” on August 6, Indian World Forum president Puneet Singh Chandhok said.
Last month, Canada announced that it would resettle Afghan interpreters, embassy staff members and their families as the situation in Afghanistan deteriorated. Mendicino said on the occasion “Canada is here to support those who supported us”.
