Sikhs, Hindus Reject Taliban’s Call to Return, Citing Lack of Safety, Rights

DID Press: Members of Afghanistan’s Sikh and Hindu communities have rejected Taliban government’s recent invitation to return to the country, saying going back under current conditions is “impossible and meaningless” without security guarantees, religious freedom, and basic rights.

Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, had recently met a group of 13 Afghanistani Sikh and Hindu representatives in New Delhi, urging them to return home and revive their businesses. The meeting took place at the Afghanistan embassy in India.

However, the response from community leaders was sharply negative. “Afghanistan is no longer a safe home for us,” said Guljit Singh, who led the delegation. “As non-Muslims, we are labeled ‘infidels’; our women are confined indoors, and our personal safety is constantly at risk.”

Singh stressed that before any discussion of return, the Taliban must build trust by proving, through actions, that religious freedom, human rights, and security for minorities are guaranteed.

During the meeting, the delegation demanded concrete measures such as protection of gurdwaras and temples, the return of confiscated properties, and multiple-entry visa arrangements between Afghanistan and India.

But they made clear that for now, there are no conditions conducive to returning. “If we are killed in Afghanistan, who will be responsible?” said Harbhajan Singh, another participant. “We must protect our lives and our families — without security, there will be no return.”

Fewer than 50 Sikhs and Hindus are currently believed to remain in Afghanistan, most of them caretakers of religious sites. More than 90 percent of the once-thriving community has migrated to countries including India, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany, following years of persecution, violence, and targeted attacks.

The Taliban authorities have repeatedly urged exiled minorities to return, saying their rights will be protected under Islamic law. But members of these communities say they have seen little evidence of change since the group retook power in 2021.