GARDEZ (SW) – Only one Afghan Sikh family now lives in Gardez, the capital of Paktia province who is struggling to survive.
The local Hindus and Sikhs say some of their land in Gardez has been grabbed while the existing land is not enough for their accommodation.
Jagmon Singh Bashardost, who owns a herbal medicine pharmacy, is generally happy with the behavior of the people in Paktia and wants the authorities to help him expand his business. He said his family is the last living here while the rest have either moved to Ghazni or India, but do want to return if situation allowed.
Bashardost cited the destruction of their places of worship and other religious ceremonies in Gardez as another challenge and called on the government to repair them.
Jagmon Singh Bashardost said dozens of Hindu and Sikh families lived in Gardez before the rages of war, but now many have moved to Kabul, Ghazni and India.
Mohammad Rahman Qaderi, a member of Paktia’s provincial council, and Sharif Mangal, a civil society activist, said Sikhs, like other Afghans, were natives of Paktia and that the government was responsible for facilitating their return to their homes.
According to them, Sikh and Hindu temples and other lands have been seized in the province. They said that during the reign of Dr. Najibullah, between 50 and 60 families of Hindus and Sikhs lived in Gardez and owned land, houses and shops, but now they do not exist and do not own land.
Paktia Governor Mohammad Halim Fidai said Afghan Sikhs and Hindus were part of Afghanistan’s identity and that the provincial government was ready to help them with resolving their problems.
The provincial administration has promised that if Hindus and Sikhs want to return to Paktia, they will be given residential plots in the new townships.
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