TORONTO: Canada India Foundation (CIF) has condemned the killings of 19 Sikhs and Hindus in Jalalabad, Afghanistan on 1 July 2018, and urged members of the Sikh and Hindu minority community from Afghanistan and Pakistan be allowed as refugees into Canada.
In a statement released in Toronto, Ajit Someshwar, Chair, CIF, said, “This dastardly act is yet another manifestation of the continuing victimisation of the religious minorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan by fundamentalist Islamist forces.”
Canada India Foundation has urged that Canada should work to alleviate the plight of the religious minorities in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“Just as Canada took the lead in accepting Syrian refugees, the Canadian government should also allow the members of the minority communities such as Sikhs and Hindus from Afghanistan and Pakistan to immigrate to Canada,” Mr. Someshwar said.
The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility of the attack on July 1 that killed 19 members of the Sikh and Hindu community in Jalalabad, the town that borders Pakistan. Among those killed, include Avatar Singh Khalsa, a prominent community leader, who was the only Sikh candidate for the October 2018 parliamentary elections.
The Islamic State’s statement said, “A suicide bomber detonated his vest at a gathering of Afghan troops and Hindus and Sikhs, who were on their way to meet the Afghan President.” The statement added that the group was targeted, as it comprised “polytheists.”
Anil Shah, the National Convener of Canada India Foundation, said, “Our hearts and minds are with the families of the victims, and we hope and pray that they will have the forbearance to face this calamity with equanimity.”
The Canadian government should proactively work with the persecuted religious minorities in Afghanistan to prevent any further mass killings of people merely because they have a different belief system, Mr. Shah observed.
WASHINGTON: The United States is calling for “sustained and decisive steps’’ by Pakistan to bring Taliban leaders to the negotiating table with the Afghan government.
The militant group has resumed attacks after respecting a brief cease-fire last month.
The top diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells, has just returned from talks with leaders in both countries. She met Pakistan’s powerful army chief Tuesday. She welcomed positive steps by Pakistan and Afghanistan to improve ties, but said Pakistan needs to take political initiatives to help drive an Afghan peace process.
She urged Pakistan to expel Taliban leaders and press them to negotiate with Kabul.
Wells spoke to reporters in Washington Thursday.