New Delhi (NVI): A Sikh man who was abducted by Taliban and a minor girl are among eleven members, belonging to Sikh and Hindu minority communities of Afghanistan, who arrived here today as part of the eighth batch of stranded Indians evacuated from the country.
Nidan Singh Sachdeva, the Afghan Sikh man who was kidnapped a month ago and released recently arrived here this afternoon as a Kam Air flight landed. Sachdeva was abducted from a gurdwara in Paktia province last month.
“Around eleven members, belonging to the Sikh & Hindu minority community of Afghanistan, arrived in India today. Mr. Nidan Singh Sachdeva, who was released from captivity on July 18, is also among those who reached Delhi today,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
India has granted appropriate visa and facilitated their travel to India, MEA said.
“We appreciate the efforts of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in extending necessary support for the safe return of these families,” it added.
The Ministry had recently announced that India will facilitate the return of Afghan Hindus and Sikh community members facing threat in the country.
A 15-year-old girl who was recently “rescued” from an alleged attempt at forced conversion and marriage was also among those who arrived today.
The batch left Kabul by Kam air to Delhi today under the Vande Bharat Mission, the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan tweeted.
“The eighth batch of stranded Indian citizens left Kabul by Kam Air to Delhi today. Travel of some members of the Hindu and Sikh Community, interested in moving to India, was also facilitated,” the embassy tweeted.
#VandeBharatMission The eighth batch of stranded Indian citizens left Kabul by Kam Air to Delhi today. Travel of some members of the Hindu and Sikh Community, interested in moving to India, was also facilitated. @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/lbLLB5sPxz
— India in Afghanistan (@IndianEmbKabul) July 26, 2020
Recently, members of the Afghan Sikh community had, in several appeals to the Indian government, sought immediate evacuation following the March 25 attack on a gurudwara in Kabul. At least 25 people were killed and more than eight others were wounded during the dastardly attack in which women and children were also killed.
The process was delayed in light of the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting restrictions on international travel.
