BADGHES (SW) – Abdul Awal, interim head of the directorate of information and culture in Badghes, has claimed up to fifty per cent of the historical monuments and sites in Badghes province are ruined.
He told Salam Watandar much of these sites are located in areas under control of the Taliban, and have been destroyed by the rebels, illegally armed gangs and even by the local population. He noted the Qala-e-Naremaan, Qala-e-Morechaq in Murghaab and Qala-e-Malak Antar in Qades, Qala-e-Pewar in Jowand, and many more historical sites are present in the province, but many of them are damaged now.
He added many historical relics have been smuggled abroad by illegally armed gangs.
The interim head of the directorate of information and culture further said the government, and the Ministry of Information and Culture, has been approached multiple times to address this issue, but no actions have been taken so far.
The local population and literary figures are equally concerned due to the deplorable state of affairs here. They said these historical monuments and sites are part of the identity and culture of Afghanistan, but the government has failed to safeguard them.
Jamshed Shahabi, spokesman for the provincial governor, has said the MoIC has been asked to dedicate budget for renovation of historical sites here in the next year’s budget.
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