American dream holding back a group of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus

Even as people scramble to leave Afghanistan at the earliest, a group of 70-80 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are staying put at a Gurdwara near kabul. Reason: Their American dream. They would rather go to the US or Canada. The authorities coordinating evacuation to India have finally put them on notice asking them to decide quickly.

“Around 70-80 Afghan Sikh and Hindus are staying at Gurdwara Karte Parwan and do not want to move to India. They are keen on migrating to the US or Canada,” said Indian World Forum president Puneet Singh Chandok on Tuesday, reports The Times of India.

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Chandok added that the group is, in the process, delaying the evacuation process. “India is trying its best but this group has missed flights twice in the hope of travelling to the US,” he added. In a video released by the group, their leader has said that they would migrate only to the US or Canada.

India offered to evacuate Afghan Sikhs and Hindus after the Taliban took charge of the country. India has already flown eight flights to Kabu bringing back more than 730 Indians and Afghans.

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Among the 730 people who have been brought back are members of the Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities. On Monday’s flight,  146 nationals were flown back on four different flights from Qatar’s capital Doha, days after they were evacuated from Afghanistan by NATO and American aircraft in view of the deteriorating security situation in the war-torn country.

On Tuesday a group of Sikhs carrying Swaroops of the Granth Sahibs landed in New Delhi and were welcomed by union ministers and other BJP leaders.

Also read: US racing against time as Aug 31 deadline for withdrawal from Afghanistan looms

Afghanistan plunged into turmoil after the Allied troops announced their decision to exit the country. That Taliban will try to take over the country was known but that they will take it so swiftly came as a surprise. The Taliban was almost unstoppable with most provinces falling without a bullet being fired. Their takeover was complete on August 15, when they marched into Kabul.