357 Hindu and Sikh refugees reach India from Afghanistan, informs foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastav

New Delhi: – 357 refugees from the minorities in Afghanistan have come to India for asylum, since March. Foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastav gave this information. A major suicide attack was carried out targeting the Sikh community in Afghanistan in March. The minorities are finding Afghanistan unsafe given the increasing terror attacks, by Taliban and fears of abduction. Therefore, people from the Hindu and Sikh minorities are taking refuge in India.

In March, 25 people died in the suicide attack by the Taliban in Kabul, targeting the Sikh community. 14 Hindu and Sikhs had also been killed in the attack in Jalalabad. Following these attacks, Hindu and Sikh communities appealed to India for asylum. In response to the appeal, India has given them asylum and they will be granted Indian citizenship in due course, under the Citizenship Amendment Act.

Increasing attacks on the minorities and their abductions, in Afghanistan, had become a matter of concern for India. Anurag Srivastav said that the Indian embassy took the responsibility of their security and reached them to India safely, following the guidelines for protection from Coronavirus. Since the lockdown, 357 Hindu and Sikh refugees from Afghanistan have come to India. Anurag Srivastav said that the Sikh community in India is cooperating to the fullest, with these immigrants.

Meanwhile, in July, the first batch of 11 Sikhs had reached India. Thereafter, Sikh and Hindu refugees reached India in batches. Three decades ago, there were nearly 250,000 Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan. But due to the increasing terrorism and violence, there are only 1,350 Hindu and Sikh families left in Afghanistan, as of today. Now, these citizens are returning to India due to the insecure atmosphere in Afghanistan.