Fifty-five Afghan Sikhs reached India on Sunday night as part of the efforts to evacuate distressed minorities from the Taliban-led nation. A special flight carrying them, along with some from the Hindu minority as well, landed at Delhi airport to an emotional welcome from family and friends. Relief and happiness were evident on most of the tired faces, as they disembarked from the aircraft and stepped onto the Indian soil.
38 adults, 14 children, and three infants were evacuated from the country. The evacuation efforts were carried out by the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandak Committee in coordination with the Indian government and the social organisation Indian World Forum.
Distressing stories of persecution and terror were shared by many who landed at the airport. "The condition is not very well in Afghanistan. I was imprisoned for four months. Taliban have cheated us, they butchered our hair in prison. I am thankful and happy to return to India and to our religion," said an Afghan Sikh, Baljeet Singh to ANI.
"We would like to thank the Indian government to give us urgent visas and help us to reach India. Many of us still have families left behind as around 30-35 people are left stranded in Afghanistan," Sukhbeer Singh Khalsa, an Afghan Sikh refugee told ANI.
According to Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of the Indian World Forum, around 68 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus have arrived in Delhi after the attack at Gurudwara Karte Parwan in Kabul. More than 300 have arrived since the Taliban took over Kabul, added Puneet.
Meanwhile, around 40 Sikhs and Hindus are still stranded in Afghanistan and still, and about 9 visa applications are pending with the Indian Government.
According to the PTI reports, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier granted e-visas to the latest batch of Afghan minorities, and their repatriation was facilitated by both the Indian and Afghanistan governments.
