In the remote caves of Bamyan province, many residents have been living a Buddhist way of life for many years. These inhabitants describe life in these perilous caves as challenging, and lacking basic amenities. Cave dwellers emphasize their deprivation of essential facilities such as clean drinking water, electricity, and other welfare amenities. In many cases, they suffer from various health issues, including joint pain, night blindness or nyctalopia, and persistent colds. According to them, the presence of venomous creatures such as scorpions in these inhospitable locations adds to the difficulty of their lives.
Some Bamyan residents, who have been living in caves surrounding the Buddhist relics for many years, are deprived of both welfare and health facilities. Due to the precarious conditions of the caves and the presence of harmful insects, some of these cave dwellers fall victim to various diseases.
According to statistics released during the previous government’s rule, approximately 130 families are living in caves surrounding the Buddhas of Bamyan. The Directorate of Information and Culture of Bamyan province at that time stated that cave dwellers must vacate the vicinity of the Buddhas to ensure the proper and fundamental preservation of ancient heritages and historical sites.
During the previous government’s rule, the Directorate of Information and Culture of Bamyan province claimed that they were seeking the evacuation of caves by residents and their livestock to maintain the ancient sites. However, over the two years of Taliban rule, a significant number of people have returned to cave dwellings, and the majority of these caves have once again become the dwelling place for numerous families, numbering in the tens.
Many Bamyan residents have chosen to return to cave dwellings in the province, citing severe poverty and persistent unemployment as compelling reasons for this decision, as reported by several individuals.
Mohammad Nader, one of the cave dwellers near the Western Buddha (Salsaal), shares his perspective: “During the republic era, the caves around us were nearly empty. Some deserving individuals were provided shelter, and others who could afford to rent homes were evacuated from the caves after identification by a government committee.”
He further adds that with the Taliban’s control, a significant number, reaching hundreds of families, have sought refuge in the caves again. All the caves that were previously vacated are now occupied once more.
Mohammad Nader mentions that the Taliban inaugurated a settlement township twice, which was supposed to be built with the assistance of organizations and by the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation of the province. However, practical work on this settlement has not yet commenced.
He complains of the arduous life in the caves of Bamyan and emphasizes that cave dwellers suffer from various ailments, including joint pain, backaches, and night blindness or nyctalopia.
Bamyan’s cave dwellers lament the challenging conditions of cave dwellings, pointing out that previously, Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban supreme leader, halted the construction of a cave-dweller settlement township. The settlement was intended to be built with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in an area known as Jalal’s Hill.
Bamyan’s cave dwellers state that extreme poverty and the inability to afford land for housing are the reasons for returning to the caves. They express their inability to secure their daily bread.
Ghulam Sakhi, who has lived in the caves of the Buddhas of Bamyan from childhood to old age, shares, “My father lived in one of these caves, and throughout my life, I couldn’t manage to have a shelter of my own too.”
He criticizes past governments, asserting that the Bamyan cave dwellers have become a focal point for manipulation by the local administration and the Taliban’s Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation in the province. According to him, significant assistance, including food, cash, and clothing, intended for shelter construction for cave dwellers, is provided, but the Directorate of Refugees and Repatriation mismanages these resources.
Referring to the prohibition of the cave-dweller settlement’s construction by the Taliban supreme leader, he adds that he expected to own a piece of land for years, but the settlement’s work has been halted after its inauguration.
Ghulam Sakhi mentions that with the arrival of winter, the problems of cave dwellers intensify, and access to any of the essential services becomes challenging for them.
Meanwhile, a cultural figure in Bamyan, who prefers to remain anonymous, reveals that those living in caves have turned them into storage spaces for firewood and their livestock, leading to the destruction of ancient sites of this province.
Criticizing the Taliban’s performance, he adds that this group has no plans to facilitate the lives of the people. He points out that the cave dweller settlement township, intended to be constructed by the United Nations, has also been hindered by the Taliban. This cultural figure from Bamyan emphasizes that the persistence of this situation not only harms the lives of cave dwellers but also leads to the destruction of ancient and historical sites.
It is worth noting that while living in caves temporarily alleviates the problems of impoverished Bamyan residents, it inflicts serious damage on ancient sites.
Currently, eight historical sites in Bamyan province are registered on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage list, with the caves around the Buddhas of Bamyan being among the most sensitive cultural heritage sites.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has sent numerous official letters to the local administration in Bamyan province in recent years, emphasizing that if the caves from the Buddhist era are not properly protected and the cultural identity of this province is not preserved according to the Cultural Master Plan, the province will be removed from the list of world heritage sites.