A Sacred Presence: Exploring The Number Of Gurdwaras In Afghanistan

Afghanistan is home to a small number of Gurdwaras, which are places of worship for Sikhs. The number of Gurdwaras has declined over the years due to various conflicts in the country. There are now barely ten functioning Gurdwaras in Afghanistan, down from at least 63 in the 1990s. The remaining Gurdwaras are primarily located in major cities such as Kabul, Jalalabad, and Kandahar, where small populations of Afghan Sikhs reside. The largest number of Afghan Sikhs live in Jalalabad, followed by Ghazni, Kabul, and Kandahar.

The number of gurdwaras in Afghanistan has declined over the years

Afghanistan once had a significant Sikh population, with estimates ranging from 200,000 to 500,000 people in the 1970s, constituting between 1.8% and 4.6% of the national population. However, the number of gurdwaras (Sikh temples) in the country has declined over the years due to various political changes, conflicts, and social factors.

The decline in the number of gurdwaras in Afghanistan is closely linked to the decrease in the country's Sikh population. Several waves of emigration have occurred due to persecution, conflict, and a lack of religious freedom. The Soviet-Afghan War, the Battle of Jalalabad in 1989, and the Afghan Civil War in the 1990s all contributed to the destruction of gurdwaras and the displacement of the Sikh community.

In the 1980s, there were over 200,000 Sikhs in Kabul, but most fled after the start of the Civil War in 1992. Seven of Kabul's eight gurdwaras were destroyed during this conflict, leaving only the Gurdwara Karte Parwan in the Karte Parwan section of the city. Today, the remaining Sikh community in Kabul is centred around this gurdwara and some parts of the old city.

The persecution and violence faced by religious minorities, including Sikhs, under the Taliban rule further exacerbated the decline in gurdwaras. During this period, Sikhs were subjected to discriminatory policies, such as being forced to pay the jizya tax and having their cremation grounds vandalised. The Taliban's interpretation of Sharia law and their failure to protect religious minorities from attacks by groups like ISIS-K have also contributed to the decline in gurdwaras and the emigration of Sikhs.

Additionally, the lack of accurate and official data on the number of gurdwaras in Afghanistan presents a challenge in determining the exact decline over the years. The absence of a recent census makes it difficult to pinpoint the current number of gurdwaras and the extent of their decline.

Despite the decline, there are still a few gurdwaras remaining in Afghanistan. Besides the Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul, there are a couple of functional gurdwaras in Jalalabad, where a significant number of Afghan Sikhs reside. However, the exact number of gurdwaras in the country is challenging to ascertain due to the constant changes and the ongoing emigration of the Sikh community.

Gurdwaras in Afghanistan have been attacked by terrorists

Afghanistan's Gurdwaras have been attacked by terrorists multiple times. Here is a brief overview:

The 2020 Kabul Gurdwara Attack

On March 25, 2020, the Gurdwara Har Rai Sahib in Kabul was attacked by ISIS-Haqqani network gunmen and suicide bombers. About 200 worshippers were inside the building, and the hour-long siege resulted in the deaths of 25 Sikh worshippers and one Taliban soldier, with at least eight others wounded. The attackers threw grenades, broke into the shrine, and opened fire on people before taking hostages inside the building. The three attackers were eventually killed by security forces, and at least 80 hostages were freed.

The 2022 Kabul Gurdwara Attack

On June 18, 2022, the Gurdwara Dashmesh Pita Guru Gobind Singh Karte Parwan in Kabul was attacked by terrorists. Two people were killed, including a Sikh man, and seven others were injured. The gun battle between the terrorists and Taliban fighters lasted several hours. The three attackers were killed, and another attack was thwarted when security personnel stopped an explosive-laden vehicle from reaching the Gurdwara. There were around 30 people inside the Gurdwara when the blasts occurred.

The Jalalabad Suicide Bombing

On July 1, 2018, a suicide bomb attack in Jalalabad killed at least 19 Sikhs and Hindus. This attack came after another incident on October 1, 2018, when a targeted suicide bombing at the PD1 market in Jalalabad killed at least 10 Sikhs.

The 1988 Jalalabad Gurdwara Attack

In 1988, on the first day of Baisakhi festivities, a man with an AK-47 stormed a gurdwara in Jalalabad and killed 13 Sikhs and four Afghan soldiers.

The 1989 Jalalabad Gurdwara Attack

In 1989, the Gurdwara Guru Teg Bahadur Singh in Jalalabad was hit by rockets fired by the Mujahideen, resulting in the deaths of 17 Sikhs.

Other Incidents

During the Battle of Jalalabad in 1989 and the Afghan Civil War in the 1990s, several Gurdwaras were damaged or destroyed. Seven of Kabul's eight Gurdwaras were destroyed during the civil war, leaving only the Gurdwara Karte Parwan.

The small Sikh and Hindu communities in Afghanistan have repeatedly appealed to the Indian government for evacuation due to the persistent threat of terrorist attacks. The Indian government has granted visas and facilitated the evacuation of some individuals and groups.

The Afghan government has not consistently provided security for gurdwaras

Afghanistan has a long history of religious conflict, with the country being described as a "graveyard of empires". The country's religious minorities, including Sikhs and Hindus, have been subjected to violence and discrimination by extremist groups and the Taliban.

In the 1980s, there were over 200,000 Sikhs in Kabul. However, after the start of the Civil War in 1992, most had fled the country. During this conflict, seven out of eight gurdwaras in Kabul were destroyed, leaving only the Gurdwara Karte Parwan. Today, there are only a handful of gurdwaras left in Afghanistan, with most located in the capital, Kabul.

The Sikh community in Afghanistan has endured years of discrimination and violence from extremists. In March 2020, a terror attack on a gurdwara in Kabul's Shor Bazaar killed at least 25 members of the Sikh community. This was not an isolated incident, with previous attacks on gurdwaras in Jalalabad in 2018 and 1988 also resulting in the deaths of Sikhs.

The failure of the Afghan government to provide consistent security for gurdwaras has been a contributing factor to the decline of the Sikh community in the country. The community, which once numbered between 200,000 and 500,000 in the 1970s, has dwindled to only a few hundred families today. In addition to the lack of security, the Afghan government has also failed to address other issues faced by the Sikh community, such as the loss of cremation grounds and discrimination in education and employment.

The former parliamentarian who represented the Sikh and Hindu communities stated that the Taliban were aware of the security threats against the Sikh minority but chose to ignore them. He also said that the Taliban had not consistently provided security for gurdwaras, and that members of the community no longer felt safe in the country. This lack of security has led to the emigration of many Sikhs, with close to 200 families being evacuated to gurdwaras in Delhi, India, in 2020.

The Indian government has played an active role in evacuating and resettling Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Indian World Forum facilitating their return to India. The Indian government has also provided assistance in the relocation of vulnerable members of religious minorities and condemned the "targeting and persecution" of these communities by terrorists.

The largest numbers of Afghan Sikhs live in Jalalabad, Ghazni, Kabul, and Kandahar

Afghan Sikhs are primarily found in major cities, with the largest numbers living in Jalalabad, Ghazni, Kabul, and Kandahar.

Jalalabad is the capital of the eastern Afghan province of Nangarhar. In 2001, Jalalabad was home to 100 Sikh families, totaling around 700 people, who worshipped at two large Gurdwaras. Gurdwara Guru Nanak Darbar is one of the two large Gurdwaras in Jalalabad. In 2018, a suicide bombing killed at least 19 Sikhs in Jalalabad, including community leaders Avtar Singh and Rawail Singh.

Ghazni is a province in Afghanistan. The Gurdwara Guru Har Rai Sahib, which was attacked in March 2020, is located in Ghazni. Gurdwara Bhai Nand Lal Goya, Gurdwara Kotha Sahib, and Dargarh Peer Rattan Nath Mandir are other Gurdwaras in Ghazni.

Kabul is the capital city of Afghanistan. Guru Nanak Dev visited Kabul during his trip in the 16th century. There were over 200,000 Sikhs in Kabul in the 1980s, but after the start of the Civil War in 1992, most fled. Seven of Kabul's eight Gurdwaras were destroyed during the war. Today, Kabul's Sikh population is estimated to be around 300 families, with the remaining Gurdwaras including Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Gurdwara Baba Sri Chand, Gurdwara Baba Almast, and Gurdwara Khalsa Ji.

Kandahar is a city in Afghanistan. It was historically a trading route for Sikh merchants. While there is a small Sikh presence in Kandahar today, the city is more closely associated with Afghan Hindus.

Guru Nanak visited Afghanistan in the early 16th century and laid the foundation of Sikhism there

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, visited Afghanistan in the early 16th century, during his fourth Udasi (journey). He entered the country via Baghdad, Iraq, and proceeded to Tehran and Mashhad in Iran, before reaching Afghanistan.

Guru Nanak visited several Afghan cities, including Kabul, Kandahar, Jalalabad, and Sultanpur. In Kabul, the capital city, he held discourse with several Muslim holy men, who cautioned him about travelling in a predominantly Muslim land. Guru Nanak told them that God's light shines in everyone, and that humans are all made alike.

Guru Nanak's visit to Afghanistan laid the foundation of Sikhism in the country. After his visit, Sikh preachers were stationed in the country to spread his teachings. Several Gurdwaras were also built in Afghanistan to commemorate his visit, including the Gurdwara Choha Sahib in Jalalabad, which was built to commemorate Guru Nanak's stay in the city for 40 days.

Over time, a significant Sikh community developed in Afghanistan, with the largest numbers living in Jalalabad, Ghazni, Kabul, and Kandahar. However, due to various political changes and conflicts in Afghanistan since the 1970s, the Sikh population in the country has dwindled significantly. Despite this, Guru Nanak's legacy continues to be honoured in Afghanistan through the Gurdwaras and the Sikh community that remains.

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