As the new Taliban regime struggles for funding, they have started preparing to sell tickets to historical and cultural sites. This includes the Bamian Buddha statue ruins that the Taliban themselves blew up two decades ago. In 2001, Taliban founder Mohammad Omar declared the Buddhas fake gods and ordered them to be destroyed. The Taliban then used explosives and anti-aircraft guns to destroy the 6th-century statues.
Now, there are both people in the Taliban who condemn the act, and people who defend it. The Taliban are now looking for a more stable regime than their previous attempts. Either way, the Taliban “understands that destroying archaeological sites or historical buildings is not going to gain them support.” The Taliban rule also affect tourism massively. Teenage sisters who ran a souvenir shop for the Bamian say that once there were tourists who bought Afghan dresses and rugs that depicted the Buddha statues. Since the Taliban returned to power, they say business has fallen 50%. Even the learning center that the girls attended was shut down for a day when Taliban soldiers discovered boys and girls in the same classroom.
Mohammed has said that the government added guards and gates to protect the site, but is unable to install further measures due to lack of funding. This isn’t helped when many foreign would-be investors would lose interest after learning the site was controlled by the Taliban. Many nonprofits and donors think it would be immoral to return to Afghanistan as the Taliban increases restrictions on women. Separately, even before the Taliban returned, different foreign organizations disagreed on what to do with the Buddha statues. Some wanted to preserve the current condition of the statues, and some wanted to restore them.
At the end of the day, historical and cultural artifacts are destroyed either on accident or on purpose all the time. The world should protect these precious articles while they last, but eventually, everyone has to accept that sometimes things are lost forever.
Now, there are both people in the Taliban who condemn the act, and people who defend it. The Taliban are now looking for a more stable regime than their previous attempts. Either way, the Taliban “understands that destroying archaeological sites or historical buildings is not going to gain them support.” The Taliban rule also affect tourism massively. Teenage sisters who ran a souvenir shop for the Bamian say that once there were tourists who bought Afghan dresses and rugs that depicted the Buddha statues. Since the Taliban returned to power, they say business has fallen 50%. Even the learning center that the girls attended was shut down for a day when Taliban soldiers discovered boys and girls in the same classroom.
Mohammed has said that the government added guards and gates to protect the site, but is unable to install further measures due to lack of funding. This isn’t helped when many foreign would-be investors would lose interest after learning the site was controlled by the Taliban. Many nonprofits and donors think it would be immoral to return to Afghanistan as the Taliban increases restrictions on women. Separately, even before the Taliban returned, different foreign organizations disagreed on what to do with the Buddha statues. Some wanted to preserve the current condition of the statues, and some wanted to restore them.
At the end of the day, historical and cultural artifacts are destroyed either on accident or on purpose all the time. The world should protect these precious articles while they last, but eventually, everyone has to accept that sometimes things are lost forever.
