amardeep Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) This is so tragic, Ravail Singh and Avtar Singh were two popular Sikh leaders of the Afghans. Unlike Indian sikh leaders, these two had a huge backing and following by the Afghan Sikh community in Afghanistan and abroad. I can't see how the Afghan Sikhs will cope with their leadership destroyed. God bless these shaheeds. "On Sunday, in what seems to be a targeted attack, Khalsa was among 20 killed in a suicide blast in Jalalabad. Khalsa and the others were travelling to meet Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani, who had just inaugurated a hospital in Jalalabad. One of his sons, Narinder Singh Khalsa, was injured in the attack. Khalsa was to fight the elections in October and was touted to win a seat in the parliament. Few Afghans are as invested in the government’s quest for peace and stability as the dwindling Sikh and Hindu minorities, which have been decimated by decades of conflict. The community numbered more than 80,000 in the 1970s, but today only around 1,000 remain. A father of four, he lived his life mostly in Kabul, and served as a senator representing the minority. Khalsa also led a delegation of Sikhs and Hindus to meet Indian ambassador to Kabul Vinay Kumar last month. Khalsa also reportedly served at various ranks in the Afghan army. Sikhs and Hindus have been driven out of many areas by heavy fighting. They have suffered widespread discrimination in the conservative Muslim country and have also been targeted by Islamic extremists." https://www.news18.com/news/india/sikh-leader-avtar-singh-khalsa-champion-of-afghan-rights-among-those-killed-in-jalalabad-blast-1797697.html Edited July 3, 2018 by amardeep 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chatanga1 Posted July 3, 2018 Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 I can understand why some Sikhs there are reluctant to leave. Once they leave there will be NO going back. The Sikh presence in Afghanistan will be finished. Our historic Gurdwaras there, and there are quite a few, will be gone, just like in Pakistan. The Jews living in Afghanistan moved out some years ago, but they had a country to welcome them and support them. Plus they never had any religous connection with the land like the Sikhs do. Maybe the best thing to do in the short term would be to send Sikh families to safer places whilst a token presence remain to keep the heritage from vanishing. The US has been trying for almost 17 years now but without success. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amardeep Posted July 3, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2018 (edited) Yeah that's a good point. Something similiar happened in 18th century Punjab with the Sikhs going into mountains and forrest areas to flee persecution, while a few stayed behind (mostly Udasis) and took care of the places of worship. Edited July 3, 2018 by amardeep 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaikaara Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 17 hours ago, chatanga1 said: I can understand why some Sikhs there are reluctant to leave. Once they leave there will be NO going back. The Sikh presence in Afghanistan will be finished. Our historic Gurdwaras there, and there are quite a few, will be gone, just like in Pakistan. The Jews living in Afghanistan moved out some years ago, but they had a country to welcome them and support them. Plus they never had any religous connection with the land like the Sikhs do. Maybe the best thing to do in the short term would be to send Sikh families to safer places whilst a token presence remain to keep the heritage from vanishing. The US has been trying for almost 17 years now but without success. bhaa ji eh ki gal ho gayi..Delhi already has Afghani Sikhs settled in the last 20 years and in my city too i have interacted with Sikhs coming from Quetta . India is their first home by default , no government bjp or congress will stop them. All those of us who are using Twiter, just tweet Sushma Swaraj. Open a page on Facebook which will have copies fo those tweets and just let it spread. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chatanga1 Posted July 4, 2018 Report Share Posted July 4, 2018 14 hours ago, jaikaara said: Delhi already has Afghani Sikhs settled in the last 20 years Initially the Delhi govt was very hesitant to offer any support to the Afghani Sikhs. Even Panjab govt didn't do that much. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paapiman Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Have the Canadian Sikh MP's done anything for the Afghan Sikhs in the past (and in current times)? Canadians, please do respond. @sarabatam @Xylitol @Singh123456777 and others. Bhul chuk maaf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paapiman Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 On 7/4/2018 at 1:48 AM, jaikaara said: India is their first home by default , no government bjp or congress will stop them. All those of us who are using Twiter, just tweet Sushma Swaraj. I would prefer they come to Canada (rich and a developed nation), rather than going to India. Sikhs do have some political power here. Hopefully, they use it for the benefit of their religious kin. Bhul chuk maaf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaikaara Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 13 hours ago, chatanga1 said: Initially the Delhi govt was very hesitant to offer any support to the Afghani Sikhs. Even Panjab govt didn't do that much. that government was different than this one. That government imported Rohingyas. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amardeep Posted July 5, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Harjit Sajjan has written condolences on his facebook but that's all i have seen. The Canadian Sikh World Organizaton has provided consultancy in the past to help Afghan Sikh Refugees enter Canada. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarabatam Posted July 5, 2018 Report Share Posted July 5, 2018 Late Manmeet Bhullar alberta mp have excellent work in the past to bring awareness of afghan sikhs and hindus conditions in afghanistan and their plight. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amardeep Posted July 6, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2018 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paapiman Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 Quote Following the recent suicide attack that had targeted and killed Sikh and Hindu leaders travelling to meet President Ashraf Ghani in Afghanistan, UNITED SIKHS today called upon Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the United States Dept. of State to grant asylum to 300 Sikh families and other minorities living in the region. Unquote[1] [1] - http://www.sikhnet.com/news/humanitarian-ngo-urges-canada-and-usa-accept-afghan-sikh-and-other-minorities-refugees Bhul chuk maaf 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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