4.8.8. Hindus and Sikhs

Table of contents

4.8.8. Hindus and Sikhs

The Hindu and Sikh communities have significantly declined in numbers in Afghanistan1875 amid an ongoing large-scale exodus since the early 1990s.1876 Many remaining community members resettled outside of Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover.1877 According to community representatives, only a small number of Hindus and Sikhs remain in the country,1878 making up about 100 people in total,1879 that are mainly concentrated in urban areas,1880 including Kabul, Jalalabad, and Ghazni.1881 Sources in 2025 reported that less than 50 Sikhs reside in Afghanistan,1882 in contrast to the reportedly approximately 300 members of the group residing in the country by the time of the Taliban takeover in 2021.1883

Since the Taliban takeover, the ISKP has carried out attacks against Sikhs,1884 including an attack against a Sikh place of worship in June 2022, and an explosion targeting a Sikh shop close to a Sikh place of worship in Kabul City on 27 July 2022.1885 No attacks targeting Hindus or Sikhs were found within the reference period of this report, but in a report from February 2025, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan noted that attacks had been targeting, inter alia, Sikhs and Hindus, without specifying particular incidents.1886 According to Rafiey, due to ‘their small numbers and low visibility’ in the country, there have been few reports of mistreatment against Hindus and Sikhs.1887

The Taliban have pledged to protect the rights of Sikhs and Hindus, and have given security assurances during meetings with community leaders,1888 including at a meeting with a delegation of exile Hindus and Sikhs in New Delhi on 13 October 2025.1889 The delegation raised several demands, including greater minority representation in the de facto government,1890 protection and restoration of religious sites,1891 and return of seized properties.1892 Although the de facto Minister of Foreign Affairs assured the delegation that ‘they were welcome to return’ and restart their businesses,1893 and claimed that the de facto authorities support the renovation of religious sites and protection of property rights,1894 the delegation expressed scepticism, citing safety and security concerns as a major obstacle for their return.1895

  • 1875

    Indian Express, ‘Taliban says return to Afghanistan but there’s no point now, just want safety of our gurdwaras, temples’: Afghan Sikhs, Hindus meet Muttaqi, 14 October 2025, url; Amu TV, Taliban minister calls non-Muslims ‘worse than four-legged animals’, 9 April 2025, url

  • 1876

    Kabul Now, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Urge Taliban to Restore Temples, Ensure Minority Rights, 14 October 2025, url; Indian Express, ‘Taliban says return to Afghanistan but there’s no point now, just want safety of our gurdwaras, temples’: Afghan Sikhs, Hindus meet Muttaqi, 14 October 2025, url

  • 1877

    Hasht-e Subh, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Who Fled Religious Persecution Meet Taliban’s Foreign Minister in New Delhi, 13 October 2025, url; Amu TV, Five years after deadly Kabul temple attack, Afghan Sikhs face near extinction, 25 March 2025, url; Print (The), Muttaqi in Delhi, assures Sikhs & Hindus of restoration of places of worship, security under Taliban, 13 October 2025, url

  • 1878

    Hasht-e Subh, Afghanistan’s Sikh Community Sends Aid to Kunar Earthquake Victims, 3 September 2025, url; Afghanistan International, Taliban Minister’s Remarks On Non-Muslims Spark Concern Among Afghan Sikhs & Hindus, 12 April 2025, url

  • 1879

    Pajhwok News, Afghan Hindus happy with security, seek lands’ restitution, 24 August 2025, url

  • 1880

    Rasuli, H., Highlighting Afghan Women’s Experiences of Violence and Access to Justice, RWI, 30 May 2025, url, p. 55

  • 1881

    Indian Express, ‘Taliban says return to Afghanistan but there’s no point now, just want safety of our gurdwaras, temples’: Afghan Sikhs, Hindus meet Muttaqi, 14 October 2025, url

  • 1882

    Hasht-e Subh, Afghanistan’s Sikh Community Sends Aid to Kunar Earthquake Victims, 3 September 2025, url; Indian Express, Handful of Sikhs living in Afghanistan donate relief material for earthquake victims in Kunar, 3 September 2025, url

  • 1883

    BBC News, Afghanistan: Deadly explosion rocks Sikh site in Kabul, 18 June 2022, url

  • 1884

    Jamestown Foundation, ISKP Challenges Indian Interests in Afghanistan by Attacking Sikh Worshippers in Kabul, 9 September 2022, url; Al Jazeera, Deadly attack on Sikh temple in Kabul leaves community in fear, 18 June 2022, url; BBC News, Afghanistan gurdwara attack: Sikhs say 'We don't feel safe', 18 June 2022, url

  • 1885

    Indian Express, Explosion rocks Sikh man’s shop near Kabul gurdwara; kin in Delhi call for India’s help, 27 July 2022, url; Times of India (The), Kabul Gurdwara Attacked Again, Blast Near Main Gate, 28 July 2022, url

  • 1886

    UN Human Rights Council, Situation of human rights in Afghanistan, 20 February 2025, url, para. 49

  • 1887

    ACCORD, Afghanistan: Report on the impact of the Taliban’s information practices and legal policies, particularly on women and girls, February 2025, url, p. 81

  • 1888

    USDOS, 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom: Afghanistan, 2 June 2022, url, p. 2

  • 1889

    Times of India (The), Afghan Hindus and Sikhs meet foreign minister Muttaqi; urge restoration, maintenance of gurdwaras, temples, 14 October 2025, url; Hasht-e Subh, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Who Fled Religious Persecution Meet Taliban’s Foreign Minister in New Delhi, 13 October 2025, url

  • 1890

    Kabul Now, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Urge Taliban to Restore Temples, Ensure Minority Rights, 14 October 2025, url; Print (The), Muttaqi in Delhi, assures Sikhs & Hindus of restoration of places of worship, security under Taliban, 13 October 2025, url

  • 1891

    Kabul Now, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Urge Taliban to Restore Temples, Ensure Minority Rights, 14 October 2025, url

  • 1892

    Kabul Now, Afghan Hindus and Sikhs Urge Taliban to Restore Temples, Ensure Minority Rights, 14 October 2025, url; Indian Express, ‘Taliban says return to Afghanistan but there’s no point now, just want safety of our gurdwaras, temples’: Afghan Sikhs, Hindus meet Muttaqi, 14 October 2025, url

  • 1893

    Al Jazeera, Afghan foreign minister in India: Why New Delhi is embracing Taliban now, 14 October 2025, url; Indian Express, ‘Taliban says return to Afghanistan but there’s no point now, just want safety of our gurdwaras, temples’: Afghan Sikhs, Hindus meet Muttaqi, 14 October 2025, url

  • 1894

    Print (The), Muttaqi in Delhi, assures Sikhs & Hindus of restoration of places of worship, security under Taliban, 13 October 2025, url

  • 1895

    Indian Express, ‘Taliban says return to Afghanistan but there’s no point now, just want safety of our gurdwaras, temples’: Afghan Sikhs, Hindus meet Muttaqi, 14 October 2025, url