Some people are complaining about illegal digging at historic sites and artifacts trafficking in central Panjsher province by powerful figures. However, police rejected the claims as baseless.
According to the Information and Culture Department of Panjsher, there are 29 historic sites and 23 monuments and the history of some of them is still unknown.
These sites are supposed to be protected by security forces, but they have left these ancient sites unsafe, allowing some people to illegally dig them.
Mohammad Shoaib, a resident of Tul village of Parian district of Panjsher, said that some people were illegally excavating Shahr-i-Baland historic site in Qulandor village and some statues of humans, animals and others were also found in the area.
He claimed foreigners were also someway involved in the excavation and objects found in the area were trafficked to Pakistan. He asked the government to prevent the illegal practice.
Mohammad Bilal Ahmadi, a resident of Farbal village in provincial capital, confirmed the illegal digging, saying strongmen were behind the unlawful activity.
Without naming anyone, he said, “Strongmen excavate these areas with their money and collect historic objects, most of these objects are trafficked by powerful figures to foreign countries, it is a matter of concern for us, the government is yet to take action or maybe it cannot do anything in the area.”
He said if the government did not take action, then it was complicit in the illegal activity.
Mohammad Katal Najand, a cultural affairs expert, also confirmed illegal digging of historical sites in the province and said these sites were important for Panjsher’s historical identity.
Najand said Askapon Castle in Hisa-i-Awal district, Bakhtiar and Aspandyar castles in Abdullahkhel Valley, Keraman area of Hisa-i-Dawum district, a castle in Safidchehr area of Hisa-i-Awal district, Nul Abadar Castle in Rakha district, Nulich area in Bazarak village in the capital of the province and some other areas were historical sites which were unregistered.
He said if the government repaired historical sites, the move would help attract tourists and increase government’s revenue in tourism.
Abdul Wadood Alimardan, information and culture director of Panjsher, also agreed with public concerns regarding illegal excavation of historical sites.
He said people continued to dig Shar-i-Baland and Tapa Khaki sites in Tul neighborhood of Parian district.
“In these two areas which were probably temples, people had found muddy dishes, painted rocks and human bones, people still dig these areas,” he said.
On the other hand, he said some historical objects in Panjsher were also under threat and destruction.
“A historical tower in Astana village of Aabshar district, another tower in Khaja village of Hisa-i-Daum district, a third tower in Shatal area of Anaba district and one in Sangana village are under threat of destruction,” he said.
Alimardan said some historical rooms in Khawak district were most important historical sites of the province.
There are 14 rooms in Khawak Passage of Parian district which are on the brink of destruction, he said.
He added that the rooms were built from decorative rocks, bricks and flowers in the sixth solar century.
Panjsher information and culture director said they had requested security organs to take action for protection of historic sites and objects, but no action was taken.
“Panjsher province has no unit for protection of historical objects, we try to have contact with people to report us illegal digging and trafficking of historical objects and we stop it in coordination with security and judiciary organs,” he said.
Alimardan said Panjsher information and culture department had no special personnel for protection of historical sites and public support was needed in this regard.
He said he had also suggested repairing of historical sites to the governor’s house.
Mohammad Amin Seddiqi, Panjsher deputy governor, acknowledged illegal excavation of some historical sites in the province but said police forces had been ordered to take action for protection of these areas.
About repairing historic sites, he said some of Khawak rooms were repaired and efforts were on to work on other sites as well.
However, Col. Abdul Wasay Faraji, police chief of Panjsher, rejected claims of illegal digging at historical sites.
He said police had intelligence information about illegal activities in historical sites and they were in control of the areas. He said there was no illegal excavation taking place in the province.
Arbitrary digging and trafficking historical objects is a major challenge in Afghanistan.
However, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) says they have arrested a large number of traffickers of historical objects.