Afghan attack: Sikhs planning to relocate to India

After the deadly terror attack in Jalalabad killing 13 from Sikh community in Afghanistan on Sunday, a section of the targeted Sikh community is planning to relocate to India. Another section of people is planning to stay back.

A few members of the targeted community took shelter at the Indian consulate in Jalalabad. Victims of the deadly attack included the only Sikh candidate for the parliamentary elections Avtar Singh Khalsa and a prominent Sikh activist Rawail Singh.

After the tragic incident, Indian Ambassador to Afghanistan, Vinay Kumar met the families of Sikhs targeted on Sunday. Besides, the Indian government is helping organise the last rites of the victims. The Indian government has issued long-term visas to Sikh residing in Afghanistan.

Presently there are less than 300 Sikh families in Afghanistan. Until 1990 there were nearly 250,000 Sikhs and Hindus residing there. The Indian government has issued long-term visas to Sikh residing in Afghanistan.

On Monday condemning the attack, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "We strongly condemn the terror attacks in Afghanistan yesterday,” He also added,“They are an attack on Afghanistan’s multicultural fabric. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. I pray that the injured recover soon. India stands ready to assist the Afghanistan government in this sad hour. The attack targeted Afghanistan’s multicultural fabric.”

Despite the fact that India shares a very good relationship with Afghanistan, seven Indian engineers were kidnapped in May from the province of Baghlan and remain in captive.

Despite the fact that India shares a very good relationship with Afghanistan, seven Indian engineers were kidnapped in May from the province of Baghlan and remain in captive.

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