India takes up Taliban targeting Sikhs with Pakistan
May 1st, 2009 - 4:50 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, May 1 (IANS) India Friday said it had taken up the issue of treatment of minorities with Islamabad, following reports of Sikhs being persecuted by the Taliban in parts of Pakistan.
“The government of India has taken up the question of treatment of minorities in Pakistan with the government of Pakistan,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said here.
He was responding to reports about Sikh families in Pakistan being driven out of their homes and forced to pay jaziya (a tax levied on non-Muslims, under a version of Islamic law).
According to media reports, Taliban militants have demolished 11 homes of Sikhs in Pakistan’s Aurakzai tribal region after they failed to pay the tax.
Over 35 Sikh families have been living in Ferozkhel near Merozai in Aurakzai Agency for decades.
Early this week, the Taliban occupied two shops and three homes of Sikhs in Ferozkhel on Tuesday to force the community into paying jaziya. Last month, the Taliban had asked the Sikhs to pay Rs.50 million a year as jaziya or protection money in the name of imposing sharia or Islamic law.
- Sikhs in Pakistan seek compensation for terror losses - Feb 07, 2011
- Taliban militants demolish 11 Sikh minority community homes in Pak - Apr 30, 2009
- Sikhs in Pakistan pick up pieces of their shattered lives - Nov 01, 2010
- Sikhs begin leaving Pakistan's Orakzai Agency, India concerned (Lead) - May 01, 2009
- Pakistan rejects India's concern for Sikh minorities (Lead) - May 02, 2009
- US Sikhs ask Obama to intervene on beheading - Feb 24, 2010
- American Sikhs approach US to ensure Pak-Sikhs' safety - Mar 03, 2010
- Sikhs quitting Pakistan's Orakzai, India expresses concern (Second Lead) - May 01, 2009
- Pakistani military plans third front against Taliban - Jan 12, 2010
- BJP expresses concern over targeting of Sikhs in Pakistan - May 03, 2009
- India conveys its concern to Pak about Taliban targeting Sikhs in FATA - May 01, 2009
- Pakistan rejects Indian concern over welfare of Sikh minorities - May 02, 2009
- Pakistan rights report highlights problems of Hindus, Sikhs - Apr 15, 2011
- After beheading, Pakistani Sikhs want to flee to India (Roundup) - Feb 22, 2010
- Sikhs, Hindus protest outside Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi - May 20, 2009
Tags: 50 million, decades, external affairs ministry, government of india, government of pakistan, islamic law, may 1, militants, minorities in pakistan, muslims, New Delhi, protection money, sikh families, sikhs in pakistan, spokesperson, taliban