Hindus and Sikhs from Afghanistan will be granted asylum in India

New Delhi: The Indian government has taken a significant decision, given the increasing attacks on Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan. All the people from Hindu and Sikh minorities from Afghanistan, wishing to come to India, will be granted the Indian visa. Foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said that they would be provided with all the possible assistance. The US Congress representatives welcomed the Indian decision.

Since the last few months, the frequency of attacks on Hindus and Sikhs has increased in Afghanistan. Anurag Srivastava said that because of this, these communities had appealed for asylum in India. Considering the demand favourably, the Indian government decided to allot Indian visas to them. Srivastava clarified that the documents of these people would be verified in the Indian embassy in Kabul, clearing the path for their visa. Srivastava also lashed out at Pakistan over these attacks, without naming it.

Last month, Nidan Singh Sachdeva, leader of the Hindu and Sikh community in Afghanistan, had been abducted. India had expressed concerns over the abduction. Sachdeva has been recently released. Before this, in the month of March, 25 people had died in an attack on the Sikh place of worship. It was exposed that a Pakistani terrorist organisation was behind the attack. The Indian decision has come against this background.

Meanwhile, the US Congress representatives have welcomed the Indian decision of granting asylum to the Hindu and Sikh communities from Afghanistan. Costa said that this decision would save these communities from terrorism. Costa, in April, had written a letter to US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, requesting him to provide asylum to the minorities in Afghanistan. Now he has welcomed the steps taken by the Indian government.