Gunmen storm and vandalise Kabul Gurdwara

The vanadalism happened at the same time as a Kashmir murder of a Sikh woman, showing ongoing issues of persecution for Sikhs in these Muslim nations.

More than a dozen gunmen seized Karte Parwan Gurdwara in Kabul (Afghanistan) on Tuesday (5^th October).

According to local reports, the assailants, who claimed to be Taliban, tied up guards and destroyed security cameras, but there were no major injuries. It is unclear if anything was stolen or the exact purpose of the violent seizure, beyond subjugation of the Sikh community.

“At around 3.30pm on 15 to 20 militants entered the shrine and tied up the guards. They also broke security
cameras,” Gurnam Singh, an eyewitness, told local media. “They were in the Gurdwara for about half-an-hour. Security officials did not tell us if they were thieves or the Taliban.”

Today, over 15 armed individuals claiming themselves as #Taliban officials attacked the #GurudwaraSahib in #Kabul. They first tied the security guards of the #Gurudwara, then broke all the security cameras during their attack. pic.twitter.com/Fnm53aRLSo

— UNITED SIKHS (@unitedsikhs) October 6, 2021

Bilal Karimi, from the Taliban’s media team, told reporters that the attack was being investigated but he did not elaborate, increasing speculation that the assault could either signal rogue factions of the Taliban or an issue of individuals impersonating the group for criminal gains.

Hundreds of Sikh and Hindus had taken refuge in Karte Parwan Gurdwara after the Taliban seized Kabul on 15th August 2021. At the time, Taliban leaders visited the Gurdwara and assured the Sikhs and Hindus that they would be safe. However, since the Taliban took over in August, many people have become concerned about a rise in violence, and the Afghan Sikh community has renewed its efforts to seek asylum in the West.

Last year, a terrorist attack by ISIL at Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji Gurdwara in Kabul claimed the lives of 25 worshippers. The Taliban also beheaded two Sikhs in 2010. Both historically and since the Taliban takeover, on the
ground reports from Sikhs state the community faces regular abuse and attacks, as well as extortion from Islamic extremists and criminals utilising the lack of protection for minorities in the country.

The community of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs was once estimated to be more than 80,000 strong, but many began to leave during the Afghan Civil War in the 1990s. 276 Sikhs and 50 Hindus remain in Afghanistan, according latest reports from the afghan Sikh community. Whilst most are believed to be ready to leave the country for the West, as opposed to India where many have faced problems after recent moves, some Afghan Sikhs have stated they will always remain there to cater for the countries Gurdwaras.

This alleged Taliban attack happened just days before two Sikhs were killed in Kashmir (7th Oct), where Sikhs also face issues via the hands of Islamic extremists. Two teachers, including a Sikh woman named as Supinder Kaur, were killed by a Kashmir based Islamic extremist outfit for actions perceived as against the agenda of Kashmir’s Muslim community. This latest targeted killing follows another of a Sikh man just last week in Pakistan.

Another horrifying act 😢 Two teachers killed in broad daylight in Srinagar, Kashmir – both from minority community of Sikh and Kashmiri Pandits. The teachers identified as Satinder Kour and Deepak Chand. pic.twitter.com/VfW0WF7CyA

— Kashmiri Sikh Project (@kashmirisikhpro) October 7, 2021

The incident is guaranteed to further concern about the safety of Afghanistan’s minorities since the Taliban takeover, increasing the urgency of efforts from international Sikh organisations to help Afghan minorities get refugee status in countries like the UK, USA and Canada.