Ali Zahak
Translated By: Mohammad sakhi Rezaie
On the first days of the Taliban take over, the police protection Unit (02) protecting Bamyan historical and ancient site was disarmed and some important stuff were also looted from the museum. Following this, Taliban started digging near Buddha Statues in March 2021 and no one , even the reporters, were allowed to visit the site.
In another move Taliban started rebuilding of the old market of Bamyan; the market is just loclated in front of Buddha destroyed Statues, Salsal and Shamam. According to the Bamyan Cultural master plan, this area is the red area, and any construction is prohibited in this area. Following this, Taliban removed the Tables of the historical sites of Kakrak Buddha in the center of Bamyan.
When I was assessing the situation of Bamyan historical and ancient sites, I noticed the number of the visitors of the ancient and historical sites of Bamyan has increased about 50 percent. Though, tickets are distributed to the visitors as before, visits are not controlled. Once sources who due security conditions sought anonymity, said the income of the sites was wasted. Another source confirmed that 8 family members of Saiful Rahman Mohammadi, the director of Cultural and information of Bamyan, who had collected the incomes of these sites had not deposited the incomes into the account of this directorate. Another source who did not disclose his name told the Silk Way Weekly diggings around Buddha Statues of Bamyan, had stopped but illegal constructions continued around the green area of Bamyan and parts of the site has been destroyed during one and half a year. According to him, destruction of the red area of Bamyan would cause delisting of Bamyan historical sites from UNESCO. It has been shared with the Taliban authorities for several times but they have not paid heed attention to it. During archeology research and explorations in Bamyan, tens of historical and ancient works were discovered including small statues, parts of the remains of Buddha destroyed Statues, oil paintings and other works which were restored in Bamyan museum.
At the same time, another source told the Silk Way Weekly parts of the works kept in Bamyan museum has been looted after the Taliban take over and nobody has information about them. According to this source, nobody is in picture, except the Taliban authorities and director of culture and information of the Taliban, about is going on in the Bamyan musem and how many works have been looted.
The Taliban governor for Bamyan, confirming the disappearance of a part of historical works of Bamyan, said the group has not damaged any antique works and historical sites, and if some people have do so misusing the Taliban name, they would be prosecuted by the group.
Arbitrary constructions in red and green areas of Bamyan is going on. Due to lack of supervision and international pressures, parts part of Bamyan monuments maybe destroyed by natural disasters. As such, a part of Bamyan historical sites maybe destroyed due to illegal explorations.
Considering the perception of the Taliban about the historical and ancient sites of Bamyan, and also considering the background of the group in terms of destruction of Buddha Statues in 2001, it is conduced that, historical and cultural sites of Bamyan is not important for Taliban and the group practically showed by digging in these sites that they pursue total destruction of the historical and cultural heritage of Bamyan.
It is worthy to mention the areas of Buddha Statues of Salsal and Shamama, Zahak historical city, Ghulhula city, Kakrak valley, Kaferi Fort, Ghomai valley, Akram fort, eight historical and cultural sites of bamyan that were announced as the areas in danger and registered with UNESCO, are exposed to serious risk. Continued neglect to protect the Bamyan historical and cultural heritage, increases the risk of their removal from the UNESCO list.
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