As U.S. Troops Pull Out from Afghanistan, Safety of Afghan Minorities at Stake

July 13, 2021
As per the latest reports, Taliban has claimed to have acquired 85% of Afghanistan’s territory. Many countries such as Australia, India among others are requesting and also making arrangements for their citizens to leave the country ‘as soon as possible, fearing safety. As UNITED SIKHS has been advocating for the rights of Afghan Sikhs and Hindu minorities for years, we think that the withdrawal of the United States from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s growing prominence in major Afghan cities is an area of grave concern. 
Violence is on the rise in the country and is putting each citizen at risk. In two separate explosions in Kabul and Kandhar, four civilians were killed and many injured. The exit of U.S. and NATO troops has given the Taliban the ease and space to prosper. 
Both the Sikh and Hindu communities have been incessantly targeted by the Taliban over the years and have been repeatedly told: “that you Kafirs should be eliminated in other cities of Afghanistan and not just through the attacks in Kabul and Jalalabad.” UNITED SIKHS has been actively monitoring the situation on the ground and helping in search and rescue operations all across the country. We have also released immediate funds at multiple instances so the relief work isn’t hampered.
With the Taliban gaining control, it becomes all the way more important for the global community to support religious minorities in Afghanistan. In a letter ahead of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s visit, UNITED SIKHS urged president Biden to prioritize the safety and needs of the community. While the Afghan government has time and again denied claims of territory by the Taliban, the reports emerging from the on-ground speaks a different story. Pakistan, another neighboring country and also a preference where Afghan minority communities migrate too, has said that the process of United States withdrawal has happened a ‘little quickly’. 
UNITED SIKHS will continue its efforts towards the safety and well-being of Sikh and Hindu minorities in Afghanistan. We urge the United States to make sure these communities are protected from religious persecution. If need be, we should also be prepared for rescue operations with an aim to properly rehabilitate all immigrants. 
Gundeep Singh
Media Coordinator
UNITED SIKHS
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