Afghan Hindu family endlessly waits for India visa to immerse son's ashes in Ganges
Several Afghan Sikh and Hindu families that hold Afghan passports and live in various European countries are allegedly being denied Indian visas ever since the Taliban stormed back to power in 2021.
A Hindu couple had fled Afghanistan nearly three 30 years ago when the first Taliban regime in that country was ready to take control. Three decades later, the duo have found their fate linked to the religious fundamentalist group again as it has returned to power in Kabul again in the wake of the US-led west's retreat, TheIndian Express reported.
Naveen Kakkar and his wife Sheela saw the birth of their son Nishant, a special child, in Germany in 1991 after they left Afghanistan where the Taliban came to power for the first time in 1996.
Three decades later, when the Taliban have returned to power in Afghanistan (since August 15, 2021), the couple's visa applications to India to immerse the ashes of their son in the Ganges River have remained stuck "despite submitting all required documents", ostensibly because of stringent checks required after the Taliban's return to power last year, the Express report said.
Nishant passed away in February following a brain attack and his parents -- Hindus from Afghanistan who still are in possession of Afghan passports -- are waiting for a go-ahead from the Indian embassy to go to Haridwar in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand and do the needful so that their late son's soul can rest in peace.
But the Kakkars are not the only ones to face such an ordeal. Many among nearly 3,000 Afghan Sikh and Hindu families that are settled in Germany, many of whom still with Afghan passports, have not received a visa despite waiting for months as the Indian embassy has either reportedly rejected the applications without citing reason or simply by sitting over them, the Indian daily repory added.
Speaking of the situation, Jaganth Gerdezi, president of Afghan Hindu Cultural Association in Germany said a minimum of 100 visa applications of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus are waiting to be cleared of of them, at least 20 are sought by families that want to visit India for immersing ashes of their near ones in the Ganges.
Why is the delay? According to Gerdezi, they have been told off the record that there was security concern for people holding Afghan passports.
"No reason for visa denial has been given to us officially,” he was quoted as saying by the Express.
India's external affairs ministry said visas are taken care of by the home ministry and a spokesperson from the latter said while there is no such policy to deny visas to those holding Afghan passport holders, the process of issuing visas is a time-taking one.
“Visas applications from Afghan nationals have been held due to security reasons since the Taliban came to power. The backlog is being cleared after due verification," the Express quoted another official from the home ministry as saying.
Speaking to The Sunday Express over phone from Frankfurt, Naveen Kakkar, who works at McDonald's, said his late son's soul deserved to find peace and appealed to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the visas are issued so that they could immerse the ashes in Haridwar.
But the problem is not restricted to only those living in Germany. According to an Afghan Sikh community leader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, that even Afghan Sikhs and Hindus holding Afghan passports and living in countries such as Sweden, UK, UAE, etc. are also being denied visas to India since the Taliban stormed back to power.
“Their valid visas were also declared invalid and fresh ones are not being issued despite emergencies such as deaths in family or medical treatment,” the individual was quoted as saying.
Afghan Hindus and Sikhs in Germany have been visiting India without any problem over the last few decades for purposes such as family visits, pilgrimage, or medical treatment, but the situation has suddenly worsened after the Taliban's return to power, they said.
According to them, their visas are being rejected by New Delhi “without specifying any reason”, and despite Modi’s promise to “help persecuted minorities from Pakistan and Afghanistan," the report said.
For people such as Kakkars, time is running out.
“We cannot keep the ashes here after cremation for long as per German rules,” Naveen said, adding, “We have to pay them a certain amount if ashes have to be kept beyond a year. I have only two months left to keep my son’s ashes at the local crematorium. Modi-ji said he will help Hindus and Sikhs persecuted in Islamic countries…. Then we are being denied visas? Special flights went from India to rescue Afghan Sikhs and Hindus from Kabul after the Taliban came. Why can’t we come to India to give peace to our son’s soul?”
The situation is no better for Bansi Lal Juneja, 67, and Pamila Devi, 60. The Afghan Hindu couple that live in Cologne, Germany, saw their visa getting rejected a year after application. Juneja, who has a liver ailment, wanted to receive Ayurveda treatment in India and also wanted to meet his relatives in Delhi.
Madhu Juneja, the elderly couple's daughter-in-law said the couple had never faced any issues in getting a visa for India but once the Taliban returned to power, it seemed the Indian authorities were rejecting applications of the Afghan passport-holders without conducting a background check or verifying the purpose of visit.
Nearly 500 Afghan Hindu families are registered with Asamai Temple in Frankfurt, opened by immigrants after moving to Germany, and their association -- Afghan Hindu Cultural Association -- have written several letters to Modi and the external affairs ministry to consider visas of at least those families that want to complete last rites, but no positive response has come yet, Gerdezi told the Express.
FORMER prime minister Imran Khan, 72, is expected to seek bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) hears petitions on 11 June to suspend the sentences handed to him and his wife Bushra Bibi.
Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in several cases. PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan told ARY News that “June 11 is going to be an important day for both Khan and his wife,” but he gave no further reason. The IHC had earlier adjourned the matter after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) asked for more time to prepare its arguments.
Gohar said the PTI will work with opposition parties to launch a movement led by the party’s founder from jail. He urged those parties to join “for the sake of the country's survival and security” and added that “The party will address a press conference on June 9 regarding it,” outlining plans for the forthcoming budget.
Last month Khan said he would direct the party’s protest campaign against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led coalition from prison. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has warned of a full-scale movement for Khan’s release after Eid Al-Adha.
Khan, convicted in a few cases, continues to claim the 8 February 2023 general election saw the ‘Mother of All Rigging.’ He brands the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party “mandate thieves.”
Special assistant to the prime minister on political affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday urged PTI to accept prime minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer of talks and sit with the government to amend election laws.
Gohar said Bushra Bibi is being held without charges to pressure Khan and insisted no deals would be made for his release. He also dismissed reports of internal rifts within PTI.
The Al-Qadir Trust case centres on a 190 million Pound settlement reached by the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) with the family of property tycoon Malik Riaz. In August 2019 the NCA said it had frozen eight bank accounts containing 100 million pounds “suspected to have derived from bribery and corruption in an overseas nation.”
The agency informed the government then led by Khan’s PTI. It is alleged Khan asked his aide on accountability, Shehzad Akbar, to resolve the matter and that the frozen funds belonging to the national treasury were “settled” against Bahria Town’s liability.
Bahria Town Ltd, Riaz’s real-estate firm, was later found to have illegally acquired large tracts of land on Karachi’s outskirts. It donated hundreds of acres to the Al-Qadir Trust, whose only trustees are Khan and Bushra Bibi.
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Some states continue to report relatively low numbers
India’s total number of active COVID-19 cases has risen above 6,000, with health authorities reporting 358 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). While there were no Covid related deaths during this period, the increase in cases is prompting state-level monitoring and precautionary measures.
Current case load and recoveries
As of 8:00 a.m. on June 9, 2025, India has 6,491 active Covid-19 cases. The central health ministry confirmed that 358 fresh cases were detected in the last 24 hours, with no fatalities reported in the same timeframe.
According to the ministry’s data, 624 patients recovered or were discharged across the country since the previous update, contributing to the ongoing efforts to manage the spread of the virus through home care and hospital treatment where necessary.
Kerala, Gujarat and Delhi among most affected
Kerala continues to be the worst-affected state, reporting 1,957 active cases. The state added seven new cases in the past day. Gujarat follows with 980 active cases, after recording 158 fresh infections in the same period.
West Bengal stands third with 747 active cases, including 54 new cases reported since Sunday. Delhi is close behind, with 728 active cases, having reported 42 new infections in the last 24 hours. In contrast, Tamil Nadu recorded 25 new cases, bringing its active tally to 219.
Low case numbers in the Northeastern and Eastern states
Some states continue to report relatively low numbers. Assam, for instance, now has six active cases, with two new recoveries in the past 24 hours. Since January 2025, Assam has reported seven total recoveries. Similarly, Odisha reported just four new cases, bringing its total active cases to 34. The state's health department has advised the public, especially those showing flu-like symptoms, to avoid attending the upcoming Rath Yatra in Puri on 27 June.
Situation in Karnataka and other states
Karnataka recorded 57 new Covid-19 cases, increasing its total active case count to 423. Meanwhile, Delhi discharged over 100 patients in the last 24 hours. This trend of simultaneous new infections and recoveries reflects a manageable situation, with healthcare systems largely coping under the current load.
New variants and government advisory
The recent uptick in cases is being attributed to new sub-variants of the Omicron strain, including JN.1, NB.1.8.1, LF.7, and XFC. These variants are believed to be more transmissible but are, so far, associated with milder symptoms. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies them as "Variants Under Monitoring"—meaning they do not currently pose significant concern but should be watched closely.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is now regarded as endemic, according to public health experts, and no longer represents the same emergency-level threat it once did. The virus is behaving more like seasonal influenza, with periodic surges expected.
West Bengal urges calm
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a review meeting on Monday to assess the state’s Covid-19 preparedness. Emphasising calm, she stated, “There is no need for panic or to get scared about Covid.” She clarified that although the virus still circulates, the government has made adequate preparations at all administrative levels.
Health officials across the country have also encouraged individuals with symptoms to isolate and seek testingiStock
Banerjee added that the WHO now considers Covid endemic, though she advised residents to verify this independently. West Bengal’s tally stood at 747 active cases, including the 54 new infections added on Monday.
Precautionary measures continue
Several states are maintaining or reintroducing basic precautionary measures, especially in public gatherings and institutions. For instance, Odisha plans to reopen schools on 20 June with Covid safety protocols in place, according to Education Minister Nityananda Gond.
Health officials across the country have also encouraged individuals with symptoms to isolate and seek testing, while hospitals and clinics continue to monitor patients for signs of complications.
The impact
While the recent rise in Covid-19 cases in India has drawn attention, authorities emphasise that the situation remains under control. The absence of new deaths, widespread recoveries, and a growing understanding of the current variants are helping states manage the impact more effectively.
Officials continue to urge vigilance, not panic, as the country adapts to living with Covid-19 in its endemic form.
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Yusuf, who resigned as Reform chairman last week before returning two days later, said he wanted to be 'crystal clear' on the party’s stance. (Photo: Getty Images)
ZIA YUSUF has said that Reform UK would deport every illegal immigrant in Britain if the party came to power.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Yusuf stated, “We will deport everybody who is here in this country illegally, which is roughly about 1.2 million people.”
Yusuf, who resigned as Reform chairman last week before returning two days later, said he wanted to be “crystal clear” on the party’s stance.
Addressing recent criticisms within the party, he added, “I am Muslim. I don’t therefore think that Islam is a ‘threat to the country’,” but said “resentment” was building due to “two-tier policing.”
He said Islamist terrorism remained a major concern for intelligence agencies and pointed to issues of assimilation. Yusuf described his resignation as a result of “exhaustion” and regretted a tweet criticising new MP Sarah Pochin’s comments on a burqa ban.
Nigel Farage is expected to present Yusuf as a potential cabinet minister while also pledging to reopen some coal mines in south Wales.
Richard Tice, Reform deputy, said Yusuf had faced “horrendous online abuse” and added the party was reorganising to manage growth. Nick Candy will take over Yusuf’s former responsibilities.
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The teenager was walking along Staniforth Road in the Darnall area on Wednesday when a grey Audi reportedly hit an electric bike rider before striking Abdullah. (Photo credit: South Yorkshire Police)
TWO men have been charged with murder and three counts of attempted murder after the death of a 16-year-old boy in an alleged hit-and-run in Sheffield.
Zulkernain Ahmed, 20, and Amaan Ahmed, 26, both from Locke Drive, have been charged over the death of Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi, according to South Yorkshire Police.
The teenager was walking along Staniforth Road in the Darnall area on Wednesday when a grey Audi reportedly hit an electric bike rider before striking Abdullah. He later died in hospital.
An 18-year-old man on the bike was seriously injured but is not believed to be in a life-threatening condition.
The two men are due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court on Monday. A 46-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender remain on bail.
Abdullah had recently arrived in the UK from Yemen and was preparing to start college. Family and friends said he was devoted to his family and had been learning English.
Darnall councillor Qais Al-Ahdal said, “We’ve really lost someone who is good in the community… May God have mercy on his soul.”
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Israel had vowed in advance to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among a group of pro-Palestinian campaigners on board a Gaza-bound aid vessel intercepted by Israeli forces and diverted to its shores, the country’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on 9 June.
The ship, Madleen, was organised by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group challenging Israel’s blockade of Gaza. It had departed Sicily on 1 June, carrying a dozen activists and a symbolic amount of humanitarian supplies.
Israeli military blocks flotilla’s progress
Israel had vowed in advance to prevent the ship from reaching Gaza. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said the military was instructed to stop the vessel “by any means necessary”. The Foreign Ministry later confirmed the Madleen had been redirected to Israel and that its passengers would be repatriated.
In a social media post, the ministry dismissed the effort as a publicity stunt by “celebrities”, referring to it as the “‘selfie yacht’ of the ‘celebrities’”. It accused Thunberg and others of staging a “media provocation”. Footage released showed passengers in life jackets being offered sandwiches and water after interception.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition claimed it lost contact with the ship after alarms were triggered and drones were seen overhead. The group accused the Israeli military of “kidnapping” the activists. Surveillance footage appeared to show a vessel approaching and personnel boarding the Madleen.
Thunberg voices opposition to blockade
Greta Thunberg, known globally for her environmental activism, has been a strong critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Speaking last week, she said, “No matter what odds we are against, we have to keep trying... it’s not even near as dangerous as the silence of the entire world in the face of the live-streamed genocide.”
Israeli Defence Minister Gallant responded sharply, calling Thunberg “an antisemite” and warning that the ship would not be allowed to reach its destination. “Israel will act against any attempt to breach the blockade or aid terrorist organisations,” he said.
Small-scale aid onboard
The Madleen carried a limited quantity of humanitarian goods, including baby formula, flour, rice, medical supplies, children’s prosthetics, and diapers. The Israeli Foreign Ministry called the shipment “tiny”, adding it was “less than a single truckload of aid”.
Israel, along with Egypt, has maintained a blockade on Gaza since Hamas took control of the region in 2007. While Israeli officials say the measure is needed to prevent arms smuggling, rights groups argue it restricts essential goods and worsens the humanitarian crisis.
Repeat of earlier flotilla efforts
This is not the first attempt by activists to challenge the blockade. In 2010, a similar flotilla mission involving the Mavi Marmara ended in bloodshed when Israeli commandos boarded the ship, resulting in the deaths of nine people. A tenth person later died from injuries sustained during the raid.
Israel said its forces were attacked with clubs and knives during the operation. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition described it as “an unlawful and deadly attack”, saying the Madleen’s mission was “a continuation of that legacy”.
A separate mission earlier this year was also thwarted when a ship named Conscience, departing from Tunisia and en route to Malta, caught fire following explosions near the vessel. No injuries were reported, but the mission was called off.
Aid distribution remains contentious
In parallel with the flotilla controversy, Israel has promoted a new aid delivery mechanism via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The group claims to have delivered over 1.1 million meals and 11 truckloads of food on 9 June across three distribution sites.
However, the initiative has faced criticism and has been boycotted by the UN and other major organisations. They accuse Israel of using humanitarian aid as a tool of control and allege that the new system sidelines independent oversight.
The foundation suspended operations temporarily on 8 June, citing threats from Hamas. A spokesperson claimed that local workers received warnings of “serious consequences” if they continued with the aid delivery programme.