Taliban enter gurdwara in Kabul, intimidate community members

Heavily armed fighters from special unit of Taliban forcibly entered Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita at Karte Parwan in Kabul and threatened members of the Sikh community

New Delhi

Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of the Indian World Forum said he received distressed calls from the Sikh community in Kabul.

Heavily armed fighters claiming to be from special unit of Taliban forcibly entered Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita at Karte Parwan in Kabul and intimidated members of the Sikh community present there, Puneet Singh Chandhok, president of the Indian World Forum, said.

Chandok said he received distressed calls from the Sikh community in Kabul.

He said around 2pm on Friday, “heavily armed officials claiming to be from Special Unit of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan forcibly entered the Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita located at Karte Parwan, Kabul”.

“They intimidated the community present inside the gurdwara and abused the sanctity of the holy place. They not only raided the gurdwara but also the entire premises of the community school attached next to the shrine,” he said.

Chandok said private security guards of the gurdwara initially prevented them from entering but they were also threatened with dire consequences and also manhandled.

“They have also simultaneously raided the erstwhile residence and office of (former) MP Narinder Singh Khalsa located adjacent to the gurdwara. The community has expressed serious concerns and fearing danger to their lives. Around 20 members of the community were present inside the gurdwara,” he said.

“The incumbent regime in Afghanistan should ensure compliance with the UN Charter and well-being of minorities living there. This is a second incident,” he said.

Earlier this month, Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul was vandalised by Taliban fighters, according to reports. India had raised its concern over the incident.

Ministry of external affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said that the incident had raised concerns not just for India but for the world.

He said it is important that the international community continue to insist on the fulfilment of goals outlined in the UN Security Council resolution adopted after the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August this year.