One of the few remaining Sikhs in Afghanistan, Manjit Singh Lamba, has called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to help return their houses and other properties that were taken from them over the years.

Lamba, who is head of the Afghan Council of Hindus and Sikhs, said the majority of his community fled the country after a spate of deadly bombings against them, and after the political developments two years ago.

He said 45 Hindu and Sikh families are still in Afghanistan and that he did not leave, but has continued to live in Kabul.

Lamba also called on Afghan Sikhs to return to their country. At one time, “there were many people, 700,000 families. The revolution came and after that, our people gradually left the country,” he said.

“Currently, a total of approximately 45 to 50 Sikh and Hindu (families) live in Afghanistan in provinces such as Nangarhar, Kandahar and Kabul,” he added.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has stressed that they are committed to addressing all the problems of Hindus and Sikhs.

IEA officials stated that the lives and properties of Hindu and Sikh citizens are protected and they can perform their religious rituals in a safe environment without any worries.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the IEA, said that those who have gone abroad can return to the country without any worries.

“The Islamic Emirate commits to take care of the minorities and the Hindus are also safe. If they have gone in the past years, it is not our obligation, but we invite them to come to Afghanistan; they can perform their rituals and their security will be ensured,” said Mujahid.

Some social experts meanwhile have said that the Hindu and Sikh community in Afghanistan are among the ethnic minority groups in the country, but that various crises forced them to leave their homeland.