A New Wave of Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs Fleeing to India

Jaisalmer, India (CHAKRA) – Pakistani Hindus are petrified after the recent chain of kidnappings of Sikhs and Hindus by the Pakistani-based Taliban group.

Many Pakistani Hindus are now applying for visa’s to escape to India to flee the chaotic Islamic state of Pakistan.  However, since relations between the two countries are currently at its lowest point, many Hindus in Pakistan are being rejected by the Indian mission in Islamabad.

Fear has spread among the Sikhs and Hindus of Pakistan after the atrocious beheading incident involving a young Sikh man because of his refusal to convert.  Furthermore, the Pakistani State has failed to protect the rights of the religious minorities which has left them feeling helpless while living with daily fear.

Bhavru Ram Bheel, who was a resident of Pakistan’s Rahmiyar Khan area, has moved to India through the Thar Express and stated that about ten families (up to 60 people), have permanently left Pakistan and travelled by train to India.  He says there are many more waiting to be accepted into India for protection.  He said that the young women of Hindu families feel threatened because the Taliban has unleashed terror among the Hindus because the Taliban has kidnapped many of the Hindu’s women.  He said that Taliban members tried to kidnap his daughter’s several times but they managed to save their daughters honour and consequently have left everything behind to spree to India in search of safety and a new home.

Nenuram Gomad Ram, another passenger of a train said “The Taliban had launched a campaign to convert the Hindus into Islam. The Hindus who resist were subject to torture and even killing. That is the reason the visa application for India has increased manifold in recent times.”  To get out of these hard times, many Hindus are desperately applying for Indian visas.

The Hindu Singh Lodha of Frontier People’s Organization said Pakistan is in a state of anarchy and that Hindus especially need help finding a way to India.  He said that the Indian Embassy is not taking this matter seriously and is issuing visas at a very slow pace.

The Indian home ministry had reportedly stated visa restrictions for the number of Pakistani Hindus and Sikhs to be allowed into the country because of the threat associated with any type of immigration into India from Pakistan.  If such restrictions are not made, they claim, it will be much easier for Pakistani terrorists to enter India.

Since the Taliban fanatics identify Pakistani Hindus as people of India, it has left Pakistani Hindus feeling helpless and with a sense of homelessness because they feel that they are being pushed out of Pakistan and at the same time not readily being accepted into their original home country—India.