The Panjshir Studies Centre says the ancient site of Hesar in Anaba District of Panjshir Province has been excavated by the Taliban using heavy machinery, and several historical artefacts have been unearthed and removed.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 17, the centre expressed concern about the fate of the artefacts removed from the site and called for an end to the Taliban’s excavations and destructive activities there.
According to the statement, although the exact historical period of the site has not yet been independently established, residents attribute its origins to the Ghaznavid period and believe the site dates back more than 900 years.
The centre said efforts to destroy the site and extract artefacts had also been made in previous years but were halted through the protection efforts of local residents and the intervention of the former government.
Referring to international standards for the protection of cultural heritage, the centre called on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and international organisations to establish an independent committee to investigate the condition of the Hesar site and assess the extent of the damage.
The Panjshir Studies Centre also urged the Taliban to stop the unauthorised removal of historical artefacts, end excavations at the Hesar site, and take the necessary measures to protect the site and other historical locations in Panjshir.
