Taliban Ministry Reports Transfer of Over 13,000 Historical Artifacts to National Museum

Officials from the Taliban Ministry of Information and Culture stated that more than 13,000 historical artifacts have been transferred to the National Museum of Afghanistan since the beginning of the solar year 1404.

Eynalddin Sadaqat, an official from the ministry, said the artifacts date from various historical periods. According to Sadaqat, some were discovered at ancient sites, others were seized from smugglers, and additional pieces were donated by cultural heritage enthusiasts.

The protection of Afghanistan's cultural heritage has been a major concern for cultural experts and UNESCO since the Taliban takeover. UNESCO called for safeguarding the country's cultural sites following the takeover.

The Taliban, which oversaw the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues and other ancient artifacts in the past, have repeatedly pledged to protect Afghanistan's cultural heritage.

Nevertheless, reports over the past four years have documented unprofessional excavations and suspicious activities by Taliban forces toward cultural sites across various regions of the country.