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QUESTION NO-2143 ATROCITIES ON SIKHS AND HINDUS FROM INDIA IN AFGHANISTAN

August 04, 2022

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2143
ANSWERED ON-04/08/2022

ATROCITIES ON SIKHS AND HINDUS FROM INDIA IN AFGHANISTAN

2143. SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether Government is aware of atrocities on Sikhs and Hindus from India in Taliban ruled Afghanistan;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether Government has taken any step for protecting lives and livelihood of Sikhs and Hindus from India in Afghanistan; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a) to (d): In view of the rapid deterioration in the security situation in Afghanistan last year, all Indians were advised to leave the country. A Special Afghanistan Cell was set up in the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate repatriation and other requests from Afghanistan. As a result, a total of 669 people were evacuated from Afghanistan under the ‘Operation Devi Shakti’ which included 206 Afghans, including members of the Afghan Hindu/Sikh minority community.

In the terrorist attack on Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita Sahib Shri Gobind Singh Sahib Ji in Kabul on June 18, 2022 two Afghan nationals, including an Afghan Sikh community member, lost their lives and three other civilians were injured.

In order to facilitate evacuation of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, Government of India has been providing e-visas since August 2021.

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