Embracing the Bamian site is not only a gesture to archaeologists, Taliban officials suggest, but also a sign the regime is more pragmatic than in its first rule.
, a relatively progressive and educated but impoverished minority that remains outspoken against Taliban policies today.
“The shop won’t survive if things continue as they are,” said one sister, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The day before, she said, the Taliban had inspected the private education center where she studies. Finding boys and girls in the same classroom, they halted classes for the day. The girl said she was too afraid to return that morning.These days, the Bamian Buddhas mostly attract two very different kinds of visitors.
Sayed, a 22-year old Afghan man, said he had driven all day to reach the site, curious to learn about his country’s history before Islam became its dominant religion. The Taliban, he said, cannot be trusted with preserving the site.‘The entire world’s heritage’ But many nonprofits and donors say it would be immoral to return to Afghanistan while the Taliban increases restrictions on women.Separately, even before the Taliban returned, foreigners disagreed on what to do with the Buddhas. Some favored reconstruction; others wanted to preserve the current remnants.
But in a sign that some international archaeologists could ultimately return, UNESCO recently resumed a project with 100 local workers to secure paths and develop conservation works in Bamian. Marquis said the Taliban “have understood that destroying archaeological sites or historical buildings is not going to gain them support.”
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