Taliban's special forces 'forcibly' enter Kabul Gurdwara, Sikh community seeks India's help

Taliban's special forces 'forcibly' enter Kabul Gurdwara, Sikh community seeks India's help

Geeta Mohan, India Today, 15 Oct 21 : A week after suspected Taliban fighters stormed Kabul's main Sikh shrine, a special unit of the group "forcibly entered" Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita at Karte Parwan in Kabul on Friday.

The Taliban allegedly intimidated and abused the worshippers inside the sanctum. This is the second incident of its kind since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.

Puneet Singh Chandhok, President of the Indian World Forum, stated in a statement, "I've received distressed phone calls from Kabul's Sikh community. Today, around 2 pm, heavily armed officials claiming to be from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Special Unit forcibly entered the Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita in Karte Parwan, Kabul."

"They are not only raiding the gurdwara but also the entire premises of the community school attached next to the gurdwara," he added.

The community members also alleged that the gurdwara's private security guards initially barred them from entering, but they were also threatened with dire consequences and manhandled.

"They have also simultaneously raided the erstwhile residence and office of MP Narinder Singh Khalsa located adjacent to the gurdwara. The community has expressed serious concerns and fears for their lives. Around 20 members of the community are present inside the gurdwara," said Chandhok.

"The Sikh community has urged the Government of India to immediately raise the concerns of the Hindu and Sikh communities living in Afghanistan with their counterparts at the highest level," Chandhok said.

"At the same time, the incumbent regime in Afghanistan should ensure its compliance with the UN Charter and the well-being of minorities living there," Puneet Singh Chandhok added.