Looting Afghanistan’s antiquities with unauthorized excavation

According to the correspondent of Fars News Agency’s Afghanistan website, the Taliban announced that illegal excavation of ancient monuments is going on in some areas of Afghanistan.

In this regard, Moulvi Mustafa Hashemi, head of Baghlan’s information and culture, said: During the previous government and the beginning of the current government, illegal excavations took place in some historical and ancient areas of Baghlan.

This Taliban official added: Many excavations in these areas were carried out by local military commanders.

Hashemi explained: In the previous government, the ancient area of ​​”Chamkla” in central Baghlan city, which was under the control of the local police, was invaded by these people and illegal excavations took place in this area.

He said: digging has been done in this area after the new government took power.

But the head of information and culture of Baghlan said: In the new government, a special unit has been formed for the protection of ancient areas, and the duty of this new body is to protect the valuable antiquities of Afghanistan.

Antiquities of Baghlan belong to the Kushan and Sassanid eras, which have great historical value for Afghanistan.

Taliban: We protect historical monuments in Afghanistan

Previously, the Taliban had banned the transfer of ancient artifacts out of Afghanistan.

Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Taliban, said in a statement that if dollars or antiquities are obtained from someone while traveling, they will be confiscated and dealt with legally.

The spokesperson of the Taliban has also said that the historical monuments of Afghanistan represent our identity and culture and the Taliban will try to preserve the historical monuments, show these monuments to the world and restore the destroyed historical places.

The spokesperson of Taliban has asked international institutions to cooperate with this group in order to protect cultural heritage.

Afghan media also reported that illegal excavations are taking place in other areas of the country, including Bamiyan, in addition to Baghlan, and the new government must take serious measures to protect ancient monuments.

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