The Sikh Akali leadership met the Delhi-based Afghan envoy Shaida Mohammad Abdali and sought assurances for full protection of the Sikhs and the smooth movement of those Afghan Sikhs who may want to migrate to New Delhi as asylum seekers.

After the culmination of a well-attended protest demonstration, including a large cross-section of Afghani Sikhs settled in Delhi, senior Akali leadership comprising the SGPC President Gobind Singh Longowal and DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK and DSGMC general secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa as well as Members of Parliament Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and Prem Chandumajra met the Afghan Embassy High Commissioner, His Excellency Shaida Mohammad Abdali seeking full protection of Sikhs in Afghanistan and a probe into the recent killing of 13 Sikhs by a suicide bomber in Jalalabad on 1 July.

At the global level, Member Parliament from Slough, UK -Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi has called the attack, “A devastating news as the forces of hate and division have murdered in cold blood 19 Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan.” He said that the dastardly attack was “a massive blow for those that were hoping to unite the various sub-committees of a war ravaged country.”

Marching from Teen Murti House to the barricades at the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, Sikhs protested on the streets chanting “Satnam Waheguru”. The march started with an Ardas -a supplication prayer by Jathedar Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh at Gurdwara Rakabganj Sahib.

“SGPC and the DSGMC have decided to give a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each to the families of those killed. ”

As per the information shared by those who were part of the delegation which met the Afghan envoy, High Commissioner Shaida Mohammad assured the delegation of passing on Sikh concerns to his government.  The Sikh delegation sought visas for the relatives of those killed in the Jalalabad blast on 1 July and compensation to the families of the deceased. Furthermore, they asked for representation for the Sikhs and Hindus who still want to stay in Afghanistan as they have said, “we belong here and will continue to live here despite the heavy threat to our lives.” The leaders also emphasized that in case some of those left behind in Kabul and Jalalabad want to come to Delhi, the government of Afghanistan must facilitate their departure.

 Also Read: Afghan Sikhs killed, Sikhs protest, seek answers from Muslim world

DSGMC President Manjit Singh GK informed the Sikh Sangat that the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj was asked to talk to the Afghan government at the highest level and seek protection for Gurdwaras, Hindu temples and the community of Sikhs and Hindus.

In the meanwhile, both the SGPC and the DSGMC have decided to give a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh each to the families of those killed.

The Global Sikh Council President Kanwaljit Kaur has asked for immediate US state department intervention through the offices of the US envoy to the UN -Ms. Nikki Haley. They have also sought full protection for the Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan.

The Sikh Federation UK, various Gurdwara Sahibs in the UK and the Afghan-Sikh dominated Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Darbar of Long Island, Hicksville, New York have strongly condemned the killing of the Sikhs. They are also holding Akhand Path -uninterrupted reading of the Guru Granth Sahib in honour of those who were killed in Jalalabad.

The Sikh Council of Australia from Sydney has written letters to the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Immigration Minister Peter Daton registering their protest of the killing of Sikhs and Hindus in Afghanistan. The Council general secretary Bawa Singh has appealed to Sikh Australians to come out in whole-hearted support of the Afghan Sikhs.

Singh Sabha Mumbai has written to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Delhi seeking immediate intervention.

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Meanwhile, in Jalalabad, amidst a sea of humanity, with tears rolling down their cheeks, Sikh Afghans cremated their creme-de-la-creme with anger, fear and some hope writ large on their faces.