Category: News

23 June 2003 Source Three Sikh asylum seekers, who were forcibly returned by the UK, were forced to seek shelter in a Sikh temple in Kabul as they had nowhere else to go. Two of them were originally from Jalalabad but had no idea whether they had any relatives still left in that city and… Continue reading Untitled

Source Amnesty International has today (23 June 2003) singled out the UK, alongside Afghanistan’s immediate neighbours, for criticism for its policy of returning refugees to Afghanistan. The organisation said that the security situation in Afghanistan had deteriorated in 2003, with at least two thirds of the country now in a situation of “generalised instability.” There… Continue reading Afghanistan refugee returns: ‘Out of sight, out of mind’

By P.T.I. Rediff.com, Feb. 15, 2003 Source “It is not just the Bamiyan Buddhas which faced the wrath of Taliban. They also completely destroyed nearly 70 historical Sikh gurdwaras in Afghanistan. ‘It all started after the demolition of Babri Masjid . . . the Taliban were angry and took out their anger at Hindu and… Continue reading Taliban Destroyed 70 Gurdwaras in Afghanistan

Source Tribune News Service New Delhi, January 8 For the first time in 20 years, Afghan refugees in India have evinced interest in returning to Afghanistan. The changing political conditions in Afghanistan have encouraged 80 Hindu and Sikh Afghan refugees to opt for voluntary repatriation since April 2002. The Ariana Airlines direct flight between India… Continue reading Afghan refugees opt for repatriation

Afghani Sikhs Decline P.S.G.P.C.’s Kar Seva Offer Source By STAFF The Tribune, Dec. 31, 2002 “In a significant development, Mr. Mopi Muta Faqir, Deputy Transport Minister, Afghanistan, today said the Sikhs in his country had refused to get the kar seva [voluntary work in the context of renovating religious shrines] of their shrines done by… Continue reading Untitled

Varinder Walia Source Lahore, November 16 After the ouster of the Taliban who had imposed restrictions on minorities, a large number of Afghan Sikhs today visited Sikh shrines of Pakistan to celebrate the 533rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak here. They are a star attraction for Sikh pilgrims. Earlier, a jatha of 46 Indian pilgrims… Continue reading Token Sikh jatha reaches Pakistan

Source [ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations] KANDAHAR, 17 Jun 2002 (IRIN) – For 15 year-old Ruby the prospect of being able to visit her homeland after the Afghan airline, Ariana, recently resumed flights to the Indian capital, Delhi, was something she had only dreamt about. “I used… Continue reading AFGHANISTAN: Focus on Hindus and Sikhs in Kandahar