LONDON: Dr.Zaffar the Afghan charged Affairs in London, has blamed armed bandits for killing, looting and harassment of the Sikhs resident in Afghanistan.
Talking to a five-man delegation from Khalistan Government-in-exile, Dr Zaffar said that neither the Afghan Government, nor any of its militias was involved in these regrettable incidents.
The delegation, led by President Bhai Sewa Singh Lalli, had called at the Afghan embassy to voice their concern over the incidents in which the Sikh residents in Kabul and other towns had been the victims of armed attacks, resulting in some of them being killed and others being deprived of their cash and valuables.
The delegation told the Afghan Charge d’ Affairs that the Sikhs in Britain were disturbed over these incidents, and wanted reassurance that the perpetrators of these crimes would be adequately punished and steps would be taken to guarantee the safety of person and property of Sikhs, who have been living in Afghanistan for several decades, playing an important role in the development of the country’s economy.
The charge d’ Affairs assured them that his Government was equally concerned and was doing everything possible to ensure that such incidents did not happen again, and that the perpetrators of these incidents were brought to justice.
“We value the contributions of Sikh businessmen to the Afghan economy,” Dr.Zaffar said. “The Government of Afghanistan teats the Sikhs as equal to the Afghans, and are doing everything possible to stem the tide of violence and banditry by armed gangs.”
He said that the 11 years of civil war had wreaked havoc on the country, but the situation was now fast improving.
He was hopeful that the gangs of bandits would soon be liquidated, and the Muslim and non-Muslim citizens alike would soon be able to resume life in a peaceful atmosphere.
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 21, 1992
