Minorities Flee Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Rising Terrorism

Many minority families in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have migrated due to deteriorating security. Hindu and Sikh families have moved to Punjab, Sindh, or abroad. Increased terrorism, particularly targeting these communities, has forced them to abandon their ancestral homes for safer regions.

In Pakistan's restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, many minority families are migrating to safer regions of the country or abroad due to escalating security issues. Haroon Sarabdiyal, a notable religious scholar and Hindu rights activist, reported that Hindu, Sikh, and Christian families have predominantly relocated to Punjab and Sindh provinces or have sought refuge in foreign countries. This worsening law and order situation has particularly impacted Hindu and Sikh traders, prompting them to leave their ancestral homes in search of peaceful living conditions elsewhere.

Sarabdiyal highlighted that most Hindus and Sikhs from tribal areas, as well as from cities like Peshawar and Swat, have vacated their long-established homes. A significant number of Sikh families have also abandoned Mohallah Jogan Shah, one of Peshawar's oldest Sikh neighborhoods, following a surge in targeted killings over recent years. This historic locality, known for its gurdwara and community school, once housed around 6,000 Sikhs.

The Bhai Joga Singh Khalsa Dharmic School and Guru Angad Dev Jee Khalsa Dharmic School in Mohallah Jogan Shah have been critical in preserving Sikh culture by providing both religious and secular education. However, the residents face a harsh reality due to the province's proximity to Afghanistan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed an alarming number of terrorism-related incidents, with 179 reported by the Counter-Terrorism Department until the end of April this year. Last year's data revealed 563 terror incidents, with police targeted 243 times. Officials attribute this surge in violence to militants crossing the porous Afghan border, launching attacks, and retreating swiftly.

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