Afghan Embassy in US holds memorial service for Sikhs killed in Jalalabad terror attack

Washington, July 17: The Afghanistan Embassy in the United States on Sunday held a memorial service for the members of the minority communities including Sikhs killed in a terrorist attack in Jalalabad.

 

During the memorial service, Afghanistan Ambassador Hamdullah Mohib, Indian Ambassador in US Puneet Kundal, first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress Tulsi Gabbard, Sena Lund, president of the New York-based Afghan Hindu association amongst other dignitaries were present.

Afghanistan Ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib said, "This occasion is one that brings us together to recognize a community that has deep roots in Afghanistan." "For many, they often think of the minority Hindus and Sikhs as migrants from India. But in reality, the Hindus and Sikhs of Afghanistan are the original residents of this country," he added.

The deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in US in his remark condoled of the loss of lives in the "dreadful violence". "The very fact that you are organizing this event here today is a representation of the sentiments that the government of Afghanistan feels for these communities," Kundal added.

While Tulsi Gabbard who is the first Hindu lawmaker in the US Congress said that this brutal attack was yet another example of the fear, bigotry and hatred that sadly exists in the world. "During the Taliban regime, Hindus and Sikhs were forced to wear yellow patches to identify themselves in public, furthering extreme prejudice, and eventually forcing many to seek asylum in India," she said.

"These fear tactics and attacks attempt to divide us, but we cannot give into this hate. We must confront hatred with love, fear with understanding and darkness with light. We must continue to stand up to bigotry and hatred in Afghanistan, here at home and around the world," Gabbard concluded.

The New York-based Afghan Hindu association president Sena Lund read out the names of the 18 slain leaders. Meanwhile, Asha Kapoor of the local Asamai Hindu Mandir recited a speech in Dari, the official language of Afghanistan, to commemorate the victims.

A suicide bomb attack hit Jalalabad of eastern Afghanistan on July 1 in which at least 19 people including 13 from the Sikh Community were killed. The attack left the Sikh community candidate for parliamentary election Avtar Singh dead while at least twenty-one people sustained injuries. Following the attack, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani visited Gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan area of Kabul and offered condolences to the Afghan Sikh Community along with promising a thorough investigation.