Taliban Which Blew Up The Buddha Statues Of Bamiyan In 2001, Now Wants To Save The Relics
In 2001, during the first regime of the Taliban, the world watched in horror how the militia blew up two giant statues of Buddha, in Bamyan province, dating back to the 6th century.
The tallest Buddha statutes in the world were blown up by the Taliban using explosives as they felt that the giant structures were idols, thus un-Islamic.
The destruction, widely regarded as one of the most heinous crimes against world heritage and also inspired other Islamist extremist groups like ISIS and Boko Haram to carry out such vandalism in Iraq, Syria, and Africa.
Taliban rethinking
However, the 'moderate Taliban' seems to be taking a different path, this time, at least that is what they want the world to believe.
With the world at large still stopping short of recognizing the Taliban as a legitimate government, the new rulers of Afghanistan are reportedly guarding the cliff where the towering statues were carved out.
Incidentally, the current Afghanistan Prime Minister Mohammad Hassan Akhund is regarded as "one of the architects of the destruction of Buddhas". It was Akhund who instigated Mullah Omar who was in two minds when it comes to the statue.
But today, armed Taliban men are standing guard at the Bamiyan valley which is nestled in the heart of the Hindu Kush mountain range and marks the westernmost reach of Buddhism.
Committed to protecting??
Saifurrahman Mohammadi, who was recently appointed to the Bamiyan province cultural affairs office defended the Taliban's actions in 2001, saying "If they did it, the Islamic Emirate must have had their reasons.
"But what is certain is that now we are committed to protecting the historical heritage of our country. It is our responsibility," he told AFP.
Mohammadi said he recently spoke with UNESCO officials who fled abroad after the Taliban takeover to ask them to return to Afghanistan and guarantee their safety.
Local officials and former UNESCO employees formerly based there told AFP that around a thousand priceless artefacts once stored in nearby warehouses were stolen or destroyed following the Taliban takeover.
"I confirm that looting did take place, but it was before our arrival," Mohammadi said, blaming the thefts on the vacuum left by the old authorities after they fled.
"We are investigating and we are trying to get them back," he added.
For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit?Indiatimes News.?
