The Taliban which has taken control of Afghanistan stopped 140 Afghan Sikh pilgrims who were scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Thursday (26 August) to attend the celebrations marking the 400th birth anniversary of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, were stopped to board a flight from Kabul.
140 #Afghan Hindus Sikhs scheduled to arrive later today at Delhi on annual pilgrimage tour to attend celebrations to commemorate 400th Birth Anniv of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur turned back by #Taliban security at Kabul airport after waiting 15hours in their convoys-Indian World Forum
— Smita Sharma (@Smita_Sharma) August 26, 2021
“A kirtan darbar is scheduled to be held on Sunday. Community members from various parts of the world are arriving here. Unfortunately the Taliban denied the 140 pilgrims access to the Kabul airport,” said Afghan national Partap Singh, President of the Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji gurdwara in New Mahavir Nagar.
“We had requested the Indian government to facilitate their attendance at the mega celebrations. Regret to note that last night these law abiding pilgrims were turned back by Taliban security forces from the airport after waiting for more than 15 hours in their convoys,” said Afghan-origin Guljeet Singh, president of the Guru Nanak Sahib ji gurudwara in Vikaspuri.
Puneet Singh who is the president of the Indian World Forum also appealed to the Taliban to facilitate an early departure of the Afghan Hindu and Sikh pilgrims in the interest of humanity.
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