Some Excerpts

Source:

“Ahmad Shah Durrani” By Ganda Singh – 1959 Page: 339

Relevant Information:

“Although the Afghan country was populated predominately by Muslims and there were not many Hindus and Sikhs in the villages. The cities and towns had a good sprinkling of them. “The cities and towns” said George Forster who traveled through Afghanistan in 1783 just a decade after the death of Ahmad Shah “are chiefly inhabited by Hindus and Mahometans of Punjab”, “At Qandahar” wrote the same traveler “are established many Hindoo families chiefly of Moultan and the Rajpoot districts who by their industry and mercantile knowledge, have essentially augmented its trade and wealth ….” The extensive range of shops occupied by Hindu traders with ease and contentment expressed in their deportment offers a fair testimony of their enjoying at Qandahar liberty and protection. In fact while busily engaged in preparing to meet the Marathas in battle, the Shah had it proclaimed (3-31-1760): no one from amongst the men from villayat (Afghanistan) shall exhibitory religious bigotry towards Hindus and muslims of India. The Shah employed Hindu vakils Anand Ram and Kalraj for his negotiations with the Marathas and appointed Hindu Sukh Jiwan and Kabuli Mall as governors of Kashmir and Lahore respectively. In addition to liberty and protection of trade in the country, Hindu and Sikh enjoyed full freedom of religious worship and their temples and Gurudwaras were never interfered with. Some of the Hindus and Sikh have lived in Afghanistan for centuries without any apprehension from the Afghan neighbor. The greatest proof of security these scattered people enjoyed was furnished in 1947 when in the new neighboring country of Pakistan, the Sikhs and Hindus were killed at sight, and men, women and children were subjects to wholesale massacre and inhuman torture, without a single incident of this nature in the whole of Afghanistan.”

 

Source:	The Gordon Creed in Afghanistan (1839 and 1878-79) London 1984. Pages 126-128
Relevant Information:	“The Hindoos are also the grasping moneylending and banker class in Afghanistan. Many of Hindoo temples in Afghanistan are partly built in the Mahomedan style.”

 

Source:

http://www.afghan-politics.org/Reference/Loya_Girga/Jirga_abstract/institution_of_jirga.htm (no longer exists)

Relevant Information:

” The year: Oct-1915 The Place: Kabul Delegates: 450 delegates, including prominent Afghans, government officials, and members of Shura-ee Daulati (the State Council)[*] Purpose: the Jirga was to decide whether Afghanistan should side with the Axis or the Allies in World War-I. Details: Although, a majority of the delegates and an overwhelming majority of public opinion supported entry into the war in favor of Germany and Turkey. But the Amir decided not to enter the war. [*] During the reign of Amir Habibullah Khan, there was a council of about 30 prominent officials and elders, whose members were selected by the King or the Princes. It is noteworthy to mention that among members of other minority and ethnic group, this Council included an Afghan Hindu by the name of Dewaan Narenjandas.”

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