Kidnapped Sikh community leader Nidan Singh Sachdeva in Afghanistan released, says MEA

In a statement, the MEA said the 'targeting and persecution' of minority community members by terrorists at the behest of their external supporters remains a matter of grave concern.

MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava

NEW DELHI: Nidan Singh Sachdeva, a Sikh community leader of Afghanistan who was kidnapped in Paktia province last month, was released from captivity on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

"We convey our appreciation to the government of Afghanistan and tribal elders from the area, whose efforts secured the return of Nidan Singh," it said.

In a statement, the MEA said the "targeting and persecution" of minority community members by terrorists at the behest of their external supporters remains a matter of grave concern.

We welcome the safe return of Shri Nidan Singh Sachdeva, a leader of the Hindu and Sikh community in #Afghanistan.

We convey our appreciation to the Afghan leadership, security forces and tribal elders whose efforts secured the return.

— Anurag Srivastava (@MEAIndia) July 18, 2020

"In a recent decision, India has decided to facilitate the return of Afghan Hindu and Sikh community members facing security threats in Afghanistan to India," it said.

Sachdeva, a leader of the Hindu and Sikh Community of Afghanistan, was kidnapped in Chamkani district of Paktia province on June 22.