Taliban desecration of revered Gurdwara in Afghanistan angers India

India on Friday strongly condemned the removal of Nishan Sahib by the Taliban from a Gurudwara in Afghanistan's Paktia province. 

Gurdwara Thala Sahib is considered one of the revered places for the Sikh religion. This place was once visited by Guru Nanak. 

Government sources said that New Delhi had come across media reports that Nishan Sahib, a Sikh religious flag atop the roof of Gurdwara Thala Sahib at Chamkani in Paktia province of Afghanistan, having been removed. 

Sources said that the Indian government condemned this act and reiterated India's firm belief that Afghanistan's future must be one where the interests of all sections of Afghan society, including minorities and women, are protected.

The situation in Afghanistan has been deteriorating ever since United States President Joe Biden announced the withdrawal of American troops from the war-ravaged country. 

Sensing an opportunity, the Taliban has been gaining ground in several provinces. 

Religious minorities and women have always borne the brunt of the Taliban's extremist ideology. In 2001, Taliban militia had blown up two world-renowned 6th century Gautam Budha statues in the Bamiyan Valley of Afghanistan. 

During the weekly press briefing Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Arindam Bagchi had said New Delhi is closely monitoring the evolving security situation.

He further said that the Indian government will continue to back an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned and Afghan-controlled peace process and to call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.

• Gurdwara Thala Sahib
• Gurdwara in Afghanistan
• Guru Nanak
• Gurudwara
• Nishan Sahib
• Sikhism
• Taliban
• Paktia province
• Afghanistan war