11 Hindu & Sikh Community members from Afghanistan arrives in New Delhi

New Delhi:Facing threats from Taliban, eleven members of the minority community in Afghanistan arrived here on Sunday.

These included a Sikh community leader Nidan Singh Sachdeva who had been abducted from a Gurudwara in Pakhtia province  last month but was released on July 18.

India granted them visas and facilitated their travel.India also appreciated Afghan government's efforts in extending necessary support for their safe return. 

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said "We appreciate the efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in extending necessary support for the safe return of these families."

The Afghan nationals arrived here at 1400 hrs. "Travel of some members of the Hindu and Sikh [communities], interested in moving to India, was facilitated," the Indian embassy in Kabul said in a tweet.

India had earlier expressed concern at the "targeting and persecution'' of minority community members in Afghanistan by terrorists. Concerns among Afghanistan's Sikh minority have increased after the terror attack on a Gurudwara in Kabul in March that left 25 people dead and several others injured.(UNI)