Last Hindu priest refuses to leave Afghanistan

With the Taliban capturing Afghanistan, thousands of people are fleeing the country, fearing what comes ahead in the second Taliban regime. The internet is filled with heart-wrenching visuals from the Kabul airport, where people are making all kinds of attempts to leave Afghanistan.

But Pandit Rajesh Kumar, the last Hindu priest of the Rattan Nath temple, has decided not to leave the country despite many people offered him help. The priest said that he could not abandon the temple as his ancestors had served the mandir for hundreds of years. Mr Kumar said he would consider it a service if the Taliban killed him.

“Some Hindus have urged me to leave Kabul & offered to arrange for my travel and stay. But my ancestors served this Mandir for hundreds of years. I will not abandon it. If Taliban kills me, I consider it my Seva,” said Pandit Rajesh Kumar.

Taliban rebels took over the capital of Afghanistan on Sunday after President Ghani fled the country, ending a two-decade campaign in which the United States and its allies had tried to transform the war-torn country.