The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan are undertaking initiatives to return private land to Hindu and Sikh minorities, reclaiming these properties from warlords linked to the previous West-backed regime.

This development marks a significant step toward redressing the injustices faced by religious minorities in the country, who have long been displaced and marginalised, said a Taliban official, as reported by Time of India .

Indian officials view this development as a positive gesture towards India. A notable development is the return of Narender Singh Khalsa, a Member of Parliament representing the Hindu and Sikh communities, who recently came back to Afghanistan from Canada.

Also Read: Fall of Kabul- Reporting from a hostile war zone

Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen told The Hindu, A commission chaired by the Minister of Justice has been established to return to their owners all properties which had been usurped by warlords during the former regime.

Following the Talibans takeover in Afghanistan, a significant number of Sikhs and Hindus fled the country, including Narender Singh Khalsa, who was among the first group evacuated by the Indian Air Force in August 2021.

Also Read: Most UN Security Council members demand Taliban rescind decrees seriously oppressing women and girls

The Hindu and Sikh communities have long been integral parts of Afghanistans demographic landscape, historically constituting around 1 per cent of its population. However, the exodus of these communities commenced in the late 1970s and the 1980s amidst political upheaval and the Soviet invasion that engulfed Afghanistan, The Hindu reported.

More here:

Taliban to restore properties of displaced Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan - The Financial Express