Positive development: India on move to return private land to Hindu, Sikh minorities in Afghanistan

The Taliban regime has reportedly set up a commission to ensure return to owners the rights of private land which were seized by warlords during the tenure of the previous dispensation in Kabul.

India on Friday described as “positive development” the move by the Taliban regime to restore private land rights to Afghan Hindus and Sikh minorities.

India on Friday described as “positive development” the move by the Taliban regime to restore private land rights to Afghan Hindus and Sikh minorities. (Rahul Singh)

According to reports, the Taliban administration has taken steps to restore property rights of the Hindu and the Sikh communities.

“We have seen reports on this issue. If the Taliban administration has decided to restore property rights to their citizens belonging to the Afghan Hindu and Sikh community, we see this as a positive development,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

His remarks came in response to a question on the matter during his weekly media briefing.

The Taliban regime has reportedly set up a commission to ensure return to owners the rights of private land which were seized by warlords during the tenure of the previous dispensation in Kabul.

The latest move by the Taliban dispensation comes weeks after India’s pointsperson on Afghanistan J P Singh met senior members of Afghan authorities in Kabul.

Singh, the joint secretary heading the division for Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), held talks with Taliban’s foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi last month.

India has not yet recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country.

India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country.

In June 2022, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a “technical team” in its embassy in the Afghan capital.

India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power in August 2021 following concerns over their security.