New Delhi, Oct 13 (NVI) A delegation of prominent Sikh and Hindu leaders today met visiting Acting Foreign Minister of Afghanistan Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and urged him to ensure well-being of Sikhs along with their Gurudwaras and Temples in that country.
The delegtion was led by President of India World Forum (IWF) Puneet Singh Chandhok, who while welcoming Muttaqi’s India visit, expressed hope that it will help enhance relations between the two countries.
He apprised the minister about history of Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan and their current demographics there.
Muttaqi was requested to facilitate and invite a joint delegation of prominent Hindus and Sikhs leaders from India to Afghanistan for the restoration and maintenance of historical gurdwaras and Mandirs located there.
The delegation will be coordinated by Indian World Forum (IWF), he said
During the previous government in Afghanistan, minorities were given representation in the government, Muttaqi was reminded along with the request that the Taliban regime also should consider appointing one person each from Hindu and Sikh communities at high-ranking positions.
The Taliban regime should also consider appointing and engaging Afghan national Hindu or Sikhs at an important position in their mission in India too as this will strengthen the bilateral relations too, Chandhok told Muttaqi.
The Afghan government should ensure restoration of property rights and estate of minorities which were grabbed during the previous regime.
The Taliban regime was also requested to issue directive to all provinces in Afghanistan to provide appropriate security and assistance for maintenance of gurdwaras and Mandirs and specially those premises which are in a grazen conditions.
Besides Chandhok, the delegation included Guljeet Singh, President of Gurudwara Guru Nanak Sahib, Partap Singh, President of Gurudwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev, Mansa Ram Chopra, President of Gurudwara Sri Guru Amar Das, Harbhajan Singh, President of Afghan Hindu Sikh Society and Fateh Singh, Vice President of Khalsa Diwan. (NVI)
