The Indian-American community in the US today condemned the kidnapping and beheading of two Sikhs by Pakistani Taliban and appealed to India to exert pressure on Pakistan to bring the perpetrators to justice.
"We urge the Government of India to ask the Government of Pakistan and exert pressure on it to punish the guilty to the fullest extent," said the Non-Resident Indians for Secular and Harmonious India (NRI-SAHI) in a signed statement.
"We also ask the Government of India to exert pressure on the Government of Pakistan to seek release of the Sikhs and Hindus who are in the captivity of the Taliban and to provide the captives protection to live in peace," it said.
The organisation also said India should ask Pakistan to safeguard gurdwaras, temples, churches, and Ahmadiya mosques from the Taliban and other extremists.
In a separate statement, the Indian National Overseas Congress (INOC) said: "Cold blooded murder of innocents is a crime against humanity and no religious tenets would justify such an insane act."
Two Sikhs who were kidnapped for ransom were found beheaded by the Pakistani Taliban in the country's restive tribal belt on Sunday. Some more members of the minority community are still in the custody of the rebels.