Recent heavy rains in the country, coupled with the Taliban’s neglect of Ghazni province’s historical and cultural assets, have resulted in the collapse of sections of the historic Ghazni Fortress. Images of the fortress reveal that several towers are now on the brink of collapse. Known as the “Old City,” the Ghazni Fortress holds significant cultural heritage status, dating back over a thousand years. Spanning an 80-hectare area in the heart of Ghazni city and atop a high plateau, this fortress comprises 34 towers and four gates. Historical records indicate that all Ghazni residents inhabited this fortress at one time.
Some residents of Ghazni province criticize the Taliban for their weak performance in preserving historical sites, stating that during the past week, a section of the wall and two towers of the historic Ghazni Fortress have collapsed, with several other towers on the verge of collapse. These Ghazni residents emphasize that the accumulation of snow and rainwater on the roofs of these towers and the lack of Taliban supervision over this area have caused damage to this historic fortress. They believe that with the continued neglect of the Taliban towards this historic fortress, there is a fear that it will be destroyed.
In the images provided to the Hasht-e Subh Daily of the damaged sections of the wall and towers of this fortress, it is evident that the accumulation of water on the roofs and infiltration into the towers’ interiors has caused damage to this historic structure.
Murtaza, a resident of Ghazni, states that as a result of recent heavy rains, the towers and walls of the old city of Ghazni have been damaged. He adds, “The wall collapsed during the night. In the vicinity of this collapsed area, several other cracks have also appeared, which if not addressed, will be destroyed. In the past, there were individuals responsible for regularly inspecting the towers. Now, the towers are not properly maintained, and rainwater has seeped inside.”
This resident of Ghazni urges the Taliban authorities in the Ministry of Information and Culture to avoid ideological approaches when maintaining historical sites. He emphasizes, “We urge the leadership of Ghazni’s Directorate of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Information and Culture under Taliban management to take action. Ghazni’s ancient city is globally renowned for its historical significance, and steps should be taken to halt further destruction and initiate the reconstruction of damaged areas.”
Ghazni, with its rich historical past, was recognized as the “Islamic Cultural Capital” by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in 2013. The previous government had undertaken restoration and maintenance work on several historical sites in this province, including strengthening the towers and walls of the old city of Ghazni province.
However, Ghazni residents argue that the efforts made to protect this historical site are insufficient. According to them, reports of further destruction and collapse of this fortress are reported annually, and people witness firsthand the historical sites of Ghazni being destroyed due to neglect and indifference. They emphasize that safeguarding the old city of Ghazni requires greater attention from both domestic and international entities.
Residents of Ghazni City state that the historic Ghazni Fortress has deteriorated significantly over the past year, and no entity has taken responsibility for its protection. They add that the Taliban’s negligence towards historical and cultural heritage has heightened their concerns.
Conversely, Taliban officials from Ghazni’s Directorate of Information and Culture, speaking to local media in the province, have communicated their concern to senior members of the group in Kabul regarding participation in the repair of ancient artifacts. They have announced plans to commence reconstruction and restoration work on this fortress soon.
It’s noteworthy that in recent years, six out of the 34 historical towers at this site have collapsed due to natural events and heavy rains. Neglecting the preservation of this historical structure could lead to further destruction of the fortress.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
بیتوجهی طالبان به آبدههای باستانی؛ بخشهایی از قلعه تاریخی غزنی فروریخت
