Former Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan Denies Giving Priority to Sikh Afghans during Kabul Evacuation

Former Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has refuted claims of giving priority to Sikh Afghans during the evacuation of Kabul by Canadian Forces in August 2021. According to reports from the Globe and Mail, Sajjan allegedly instructed the Canadian Forces to rescue a group of around 225 Sikhs in Afghanistan amidst the Taliban takeover of Kabul, putting Canadian citizens and Afghans with ties to Canada at a lower priority.

During this tumultuous period in Kabul, Canadian forces were working to evacuate vulnerable individuals, including the Sikh community, labeled as a terrorist organization under Canadian law.

Sajjan, now serving as the Minister of Emergency Preparedness, strongly denied these allegations in a press release, asserting that he did not direct the Canadian Forces to prioritize Sikhs. Having served in Afghanistan on three occasions during his time in the Canadian Forces, Sajjan clarified that he merely relayed information about Sikhs taking refuge in a Kabul temple.

He stated, ‘I passed on all information provided by a Canadian Sikh NGO regarding the location and status of these Sikhs to be used at the discretion of the chain of command on the ground in Afghanistan.’

This group of Sikhs was unable to be evacuated from Afghanistan in August 2021 but managed to leave the country on chartered flights by other governments, including India, several months later.

During the evacuation efforts, the Canadian government prioritized supporting Canadian citizens, permanent residents, immediate family members, and vulnerable Afghans who had assisted Canada during its military operations in the country, among other designated groups.

Contrary to the Globe and Mail’s report, Sajjan defended his actions, suggesting they were misinterpreted due to his Sikh identity, stating, ‘If I did not wear a turban, no one would question if my actions were appropriate.’

Supporting his stance, the World Sikh Organization of Canada dismissed the allegations, noting that Sajjan’s actions were legitimate as 25 Canadian MPs had previously advocated for a special refugee program in Canada for Afghan Sikh and Hindu communities.

The Canadian Department of National Defence backed Sajjan, affirming that all evacuation operations were carried out in accordance with the directives of the Canadian government and the Minister of National Defence, emphasizing the challenging circumstances faced by the military during the evacuations.

Invited to comment on Sajjan’s involvement in the Sikh Afghan rescue, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh critiqued the Liberal government’s evacuation efforts in Kabul as a failure and refrained from passing judgment on Sajjan’s actions, citing insufficient information on the events.

As reported by CBC News‘ John Paul Tasker, the controversy surrounding Sajjan’s alleged prioritization of Sikh Afghans during the evacuation continues to spark debate and differing perspectives.