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One of the concerns about Taliban rule is their treatment of religious minorities. Many Sikhs are now attempting to leave Afghanistan, despite their deep historical links with the country and Taliban assurances that they will support a multicultural society. Over the last few days, India has airlifted a number of contingents out of Afghanistan, which include both Hindus and Sikhs. Ravinder Singh Robin, a journalist in the Indian city of Amritsar, a holy city for Sikhs, explains why their departure is so significant and how the numbers of Sikhs in Afghanistan have dwindled from over 200,000 in the 1970s to several hundred since the Afghan wars began.

Photo: Sikhs evacuated by India from Afghanistan carry the Guru Granth Sahib - the Sikh sacred text - on their arrival in New Delhi, august 24 2021 Credit: Getty Images