New Delhi: Government of India on Friday granted 31 more visas to Afghan Hindus and Sikhs. As on date 74 remain in Kabul with e-visa and 22 without e-visa still pending for issuance, sources said.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), Amritsar will soon facilitate their airfare to come to India and prominent Sikhs on the country will rehabilitate them, said President of the Indian World Forum, Puneet Singh Chandhok who has been instrumental in coordinating the evacuation of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from the Taliban ruled country.
“Highly indebted to the assistance of PMO, HMO and MEA for understanding the concerns of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs,” Chandika wrote on Twitter.
Thirty Afghan Sikhs, including children, from Kabul were evacuated by India last week through commercial flight of Afghanistan’s Kam Air.
The evacuees were taken to Gurdwara Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji, Tilak Nagar area of the capital. The Afghan Sikhs are being looked after by the World Punjabi Organisation and other civil society platforms. The air fare was provided by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, Amritsar.
A large number of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs have left Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in August 2021.
UNI
