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Home > News > PTI

Taliban destroyed 70 gurudwaras
in Afghanistan


February 15, 2003 20:01 IST

It is not just the Bamiyan Buddhas which faced the wrath of Taliban. They also completely destroyed nearly 70 historical Sikh gurudwaras in Afghanistan.

"It all started after the demolition of Babri Masjid... the Taliban were angry and took out their anger at Hindu and Sikh religious structures. The factional fighting further destroyed whatever was left of them," Khajinder Singh Khurana, an Afghan refugee who has put up a photo exhibition of the destroyed gurudwaras in New Delhi, said.

But around 30 Hindu temples, which were on outskirts of Kabul and other cities were saved, Khurana said.

"The Taliban took away everything... marbles, carpets, antiques, anything they could find," Khurana said. The pictures show the ruins and clearly outline the destruction caused due by the Taliban.

The present government in Afghanistan has promised to rebuild the structures but no move has been made so far in this regard. "We have also approached the Indian government to send a delegation there to study the state of our religious structures," says Khurana, who was working in the United States embassy in Kabul before the Taliban rule.



© Copyright 2006 PTI. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of PTI content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent.
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Number of User Comments: 3




Sub: RE:Rebuliding destroyed structures

The United States has promised democracy and aid in post-Taliban Afghanistan. The rebuilding of Sikh Gurdwaras, Buddhist, and Hindu temples (and statues) are visible symbolic ...


Posted by Inder





Sub: Intolerance of Taliban

It is always said, Whenever or wherever, there is height of highhandedness on the part of fanatic and cruel people in this world, Almighty God ...


Posted by Mahinder Singh





Sub: Rebuliding destroyed structures

Afghanistan has been badly lacerated by the US bombing. In this instance we have to remember two things. Firstly, the existing Government is in no ...


Posted by Ganesh




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