Two days ago, the international community observed World Refugee Day. UNHCR put out videos and statements about refugees in many parts of the world. The Afghan Sikhs were not part of the story. The officially elected Afghan government is kind to  Afghan Sikhs and Hindus and aware of their trials and tribulations, yet unable to make a difference to their situation. WSN editor Jagmohan Singh writes that the abduction of a Sikh volunteer -Nidan Singh Sachdeva, once again focusses on the precarious condition of Afghan Sikhs.

AFGHAN SIKHS -REFUGEES IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY, living by the day, perhaps by the hour, await their turn to reach Canada, USA, UK or India -any country of their choice to be officially declared refugees under the UN dispensation. The Afghan Sikh Diaspora and the Sikhs worldwide, are sitting tight with fingers crossed, praying for peace.

With the news that a Sikh Gurdwara volunteer -Nadan Singh Sachdev -a Sehajdhari Sikh of the Khost clan, has been abducted, purportedly by the Taliban, from Chamkani, Paktia Province, where he was do­ing Sewa in a Gurdwara Sahib, adds fuel to the fire. Reportedly, the Government of Afghanistan is engaged in repairing Sikh religious institutions and Nadan Singh was responsible for repairing a religious place when he as whisked away. Community sources say that Afghan Sikh member Narinder Singh is in touch with his government and the Taliban leaders to get Nadan Singh back.

Recently, according to Afghanistan’s ministry of internal affairs, the killers of Preet Kaur, who was looted and killed in Kabul in February this year were arrested on 19 June 2020.

It is time for India to grant visas and arrange travel of the Sikh and Hindu community members to Delhi.  Barely two flights are needed to bring close to 600 odd people whose bags are ready and they are willing to fly and abide by quarantine regulations. All Afghan Sikhs and their well-wishers are willing to pay for their airfare and the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee has committed to providing isolation and other facilities in view of the pandemic.

As Canada is also seized with the Afghan Sikh situation and has enabled a section of them to land on Canadian soil in the past, no time should be lost to repatriate those who want to migrate to multicultural Canada.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees -UNHCR, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan -UNAMA, Canada and the US as active participants in the war zone, with their manpower and logistical resources, must immediately scale up the security of the Afghan Sikhs and Hindus in Kabul, Ghazni and Jalalabad.

India’s main opposition party -the Indian National Congress, has been conducive to the situation and status of Afghan Sikhs in the past, must raise its voice and seek immediate intervention from the BJP government. The Shiromani Akali Dal -an ally of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party owes it to the Sikhs to persuade the Sikh Civil aviation minister, the Home Minister and the External Affairs Minister to promptly respond to the situation.

India’s main opposition party -the Indian National Congress, has been conducive to the situation and status of Afghan Sikhs in the past, must raise its voice and seek immediate intervention from the BJP government. The Shiromani Akali Dal -an ally of the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party owes it to the Sikhs to persuade the Sikh Civil aviation minister, the Home Minister and the External Affairs Minister to promptly respond to the situation.

Updates: Afg Sikh Senator @DrAnarkaliH tells me that Nedan Singh is a religious servant who was in Chamkani to volunteerly serve the historic GuruNank Gurdwara.

“He was kidnapped midnight from the Gurdwara. We are trying to locate him. He is a poor family man.” #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/8kYGcNAKsY

— Bashir Ahmad Gwakh (@bashirgwakh) June 21, 2020

As war clouds gather on the horizon with Indo-China standoff and Indo-Pak war-like preparations, Afghan Sikhs are in an extremely vulnerable position. Death seems to be stalking the poorest of the poor Afghan Sikhs struggling to make a living in lockdown conditions.

The Afghan Sikhs SOS calls have not been attended to effectively so far. The tears of the last tragedy of 25 March have not yet dried up. Are we waiting for another tragedy to happen?