Concerns are rising among cultural figures in Bamyan Province over the rampant unauthorized construction in the historical sites of this province. They argue that if this situation persists, Bamyan will be removed from the list of world heritage sites. According to these cultural figures, historical sites in this province are at risk of destruction, and if serious attention is not paid, all historical sites will be usurped soon.
Cultural figures in Bamyan state that eight historical sites in this province are included in the list of world cultural heritage by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). They emphasize that for better preservation of Bamyan’s historical sites, urban development should be based on the cultural master plan of this province, prepared by archaeologists, former local authorities, and the Ministry of Information and Culture.
However, over the past two years, the Taliban have continued rampant development in the “Red” and “Green” areas of Bamyan City. The current market of Bamyan (Ghulghula Market) has expanded arbitrarily, with hundreds of new shops built in violation of the cultural master plan.
The Taliban have allowed Car Wash services within the green areas and destroyed agricultural lands in Bamyan. Dozens of coal markets have been built in the green and red areas, even a few steps away from the Salsal statue (53-meter-tall Buddha), which has destroyed Bamyan’s cultural landscape.
The Taliban have paved the road between the village of “Tulwara” and the front of the Salsal statue (53-meter-tall Buddha) with concrete, which is highly prohibited in the area. Furthermore, a petrol pump station and a mosque have been constructed in front of the Shahmama Statue (35 meters smaller Buddha), completely covering the view of the historical statue.
Mohammad Hussain, one of Bamyan’s cultural figures, expressed concern over the inappropriate condition of Bamyan’s historical sites, stating, “The unauthorized construction of houses and urban development in Bamyan is erasing Bamyan’s cultural landscape and contradicting Bamyan’s cultural master plan. The continuation of this situation will soon destroy Bamyan’s historical sites and intensify the risk of Bamyan being removed from the list of world cultural heritage sites.” This cultural activist adds, “In the historical sites, prohibited coal markets, petrol pump stations, lumber shops, and vehicle parking lots have been constructed, all of which seriously damage Bamyan’s historical sites.”
Mohammad Hussain mentions that the local Taliban authorities do not understand the importance of historical sites, and in most cases, members of this group are actively involved in the destruction of historical sites.
Meanwhile, an employee of the Bamyan Information and Culture Directorate, who prefers to remain anonymous in the report, said, “Previously, the Information and Culture Directorate, in collaboration with cooperating agencies, was active in preventing unauthorized construction, and historical sites were protected normally. Our guards were always present in the area, and section 012, which was specifically designated for protecting historical sites, monitored the sites around the clock.”
The employee of the Bamyan Information and Culture Directorate adds that over the past two years, the Taliban have not once prevented unauthorized constructions in the red areas of this province, and the Taliban leader does not allow this institution’s employees to inspect the sites. According to him, this has led to most historical sites being in extremely inappropriate conditions, facing destruction and ruin.
However, Faheem (pseudonym), an employee of the Bamyan Municipality, says, “Through the Municipality, which has a serious responsibility for preventing unplanned urban development, especially protecting historical sites, we have taken action to prevent unplanned development and have not allowed land grabbers to destroy Bamyan’s red and green areas; but our action faced a very strong reaction from the authorities of the local Taliban.” This municipal employee adds, “A person named Haji Ghazi, who is the provincial administrative head and the brother of Abdullah Sarhadi, the Taliban’s governor for Bamyan, summoned us to his office and threatened us, saying that you no longer have the right to go to the site without my permission and obstruct people’s work.” Mr. Faheem emphasizes, “When Haji Ghazi threatened us in his office, all the land grabbers who had destroyed Bamyan’s red and green areas were present in his office, and they laughed at us and said, ‘Do you still have illusions of the republic era?!'”
This municipal employee of Bamyan emphasizes that uncontrolled development of shops in downtown Bamyan is ongoing, and soon, historical sites where construction is prohibited will completely disappear, and this province will be removed from the list of world cultural heritage sites.
These concerns arise as the Taliban in Bamyan not only have taken no action to preserve historical sites but also many of these sites are being destroyed by the militants abusing governmental power. Last year, this group excavated several important historical sites in Bamyan Province’s center and its districts. According to locals, these excavations were carried out under the supervision of armed Taliban members.
It’s worth mentioning that Abdullah Sarhadi, a Taliban governor in Bamyan, is among the dangerous militants who, in 2001, led the Taliban’s red faction in this province and, under the orders of Mullah Mohammad Omar, the group’s former supreme leader, destroyed the Bamyan Buddhas.
During their first rule, and in March 2001, this group detonated two large Buddha statues in this province. The statues, the taller being 53 meters and the smaller 35 meters in height, were uniquely crafted between the years 300 to 700 AD and were demolished on the orders of Mullah Omar.