2 years ago
As cities are under control of Taliban, Afghani museums and archaeologists across the country were caught off-guard. They documented and safeguarded the nation’s cultural heritage. Question has been raised regarding security of artifacts and ancient sites. The 80,000 items collected at the National Museum of Afghanistan are deemed to be under threat.
Buddhism played a important role in the history and culture of Afghanistan. It was flourishing along the Silk Road trade routes with Central Asia. From the Mauryan emperor Ashoka (268–232 BCE) and the subsequent Greco-Buddhist and the later Indo-Greek Kingdom (180 BCE–10 CE), Buddhism was established in Afganisthan. After this, for more than 12 centuries Muslim conquests in the seventh century caused disappearing of Buddhism. Press release was made via facebookpost of National Museum of Afghanistan two weeks ago:
“Press release!
Unfortunately, today Kabul city had witnessed an unprecedented chaos; using the opportunity looters and smugglers in different part of the city have looted private and public properties.
However, the Museum Staff, Artifacts, and goods are safe yet, but continuation of this chaotic situation causes a huge concern about safety of Museum’s Artifacts and goods for Museum Employees. Therefore, the National Museum of Afghanistan urges from security forces, International Community, Taliban, and other influential parties to pay attention to the safety and security of objects and do not let the opportunists to use this situation and cause for deterioration and smuggling the Objects and Goods of this institution.
Kabul
15 August, 2021”
Having been established in 1992, the National Museum houses a vast collection of artifacts from Buddhist, Persian, and Islamic cultures, despite enduring looting and bombings over the years.
Afghanistan was a major crossroads for the trade routes of the Silk Road for many centuries. It nurtured a rich heritage of influences that included Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism, prior to Islam until seventh century.
In 2001, the Taliban destroyed two sixth-century Buddha statues at Bamiyan, along with numerous other statues and artifacts at the National Museum in Kabul. Thus, there is fear of losing 80,000 artifacts from the regions’s pre-Islamic history. Other notable sites such as museums in Balkh, Ghazni, Herat, and Kandahar,and ancient Buddhist monastic complex of Mes Aynak are under threat.
Luckily, this time there have so far not been reports of cultural desecration. Taliban spokesman assured Sri Lanka’s Daily newspaper that Buddhist are not at risk. Historyn of Taliban from 1996–2001 have attacking and looting museums and libraries, while banning almost all forms of artistic and cultural expression.
