In March, Associated Press quoted Hakumullah Mubariz, Taliban head of security, as expressing the intention of preserving the relics of Mes Aynak. But at the same time, it reminded readers that two decades ago, when the Taliban was in power, “they sparked world outrage by blowing up gigantic Buddha statues in another part of the country, calling them remnants of paganism that must be purged.”
Afghanistan’s acting Minister for Mining and Petroleum, Shahbuddin Dilawa, told Associated Press that h... moreIn March, Associated Press quoted Hakumullah Mubariz, Taliban head of security, as expressing the intention of preserving the relics of Mes Aynak. But at the same time, it reminded readers that two decades ago, when the Taliban was in power, “they sparked world outrage by blowing up gigantic Buddha statues in another part of the country, calling them remnants of paganism that must be purged.”
Afghanistan’s acting Minister for Mining and Petroleum, Shahbuddin Dilawa, told Associated Press that his country has a firm intention to preserve the site, which would preclude open-pit mining—the cheapest and easiest method of pulling the copper ore from the ground—but which would also completely raze the site. The alternative route of underground mining, however, has been dismissed by the mining company as too costly and impractical. In the meantime, Afghanistan’s Culture Ministry has been called on to provide a plan to relocate relics from Mes Aynak, most likely to the Kabul Museum.
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Afghanistan’s acting Minister for Mining and Petroleum, Shahbuddin Dilawa, told Associated Press that h... more