140 Afghan Hindus & Sikhs headed for India denied access to Kabul airport by Taliban: Sikh leaders

Kabul/New Delhi: A group of 140 Afghan Hindu and Sikh pilgrims seeking to attend the 400th birth anniversary celebrations of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur in Delhi was denied access to Kabul airport by the Taliban, the president of Gurdwara Arjan Dev here said on Thursday.

The group was scheduled to arrive on Thursday in Delhi from Kabul but was prevented by the Taliban from going inside Kabul airport on Wednesday night.

“A kirtan darbar is scheduled on Sunday, August 29. Many members of our community from various parts of the world have already arrived to attend the same. Unfortunately, the Taliban has denied them (the Hindu and Sikh pilgrims) access to the Kabul airport, " Partap Singh (Afghan origin), President of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, New Mahavir Nagar, said in a statement.

“It is sad that our brothers and sisters from Afghanistan aren’t being allowed for the pilgrimage. Each year our Afghan origin community organises pilgrimage tours to India to visit historical gurdwaras in India and this year the visit was pre-planned,” Guljeet Singh (Afghan Origin), president of Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib Ji , Vikaspuri, said.

He said after the suspension of commercial international flights in Afghanistan due to the political situation there they had requested the Government of India to facilitate the attendance of the Afghan Hindus and Sikhs to attend the celebrations.

“We regret to note that last night these law-abiding pilgrims were turned back by Taliban security forces from the airport after waiting for more than 15 hours in their convoys,” Guljeet Singh added.

“We appeal to the Taliban to facilitate an early departure of the Afghan Hindu and Sikhs pilgrims in the interest of humanity at the highest level,” Puneet Singh, President of Indian World Forum, said in the statement.

The Hindu and Sikh community in Afghanistan “has significantly contributed in the development and economic growth of the Islamic nation and they should be granted free and safe access to arrive and depart,” he added.

On Tuesday, 46 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus evacuated from Kabul were brought to New Delhi by an Air India flight.

The Afghan Sikhs and Hindus were also carrying three Guru Granth Sahibs, the Sikh holy book, that were brought from a Kabul gurdwara.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan were at the airport to receive the Guru Granth Sahibs. Hardeep Puri was seen carrying one of the three suitcases containing the Sikh holy book on his head while exiting the airport. (UNI)