Historic artifacts in Nangarhar face looting and smuggling

In several parts of Nangarhar province, locals have begun unauthorized excavations of historical artifacts, raising concerns about the destruction of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage. One of the affected areas is Kama district, where residents are digging up ancient relics illegally and smuggling them to Pakistan, Iran, and other countries through illicit trade routes.

A resident of the area, speaking anonymously, said that in the past three years, since the Taliban’s return to power, unemployment has surged, forcing many people to resort to looting historical sites to meet their daily needs.

Another local resident stated that former government soldiers, who lost their jobs after the Taliban takeover, are among those involved in the excavations due to the lack of alternative income sources. According to him, the unearthed artifacts are bought cheaply by local traders before being smuggled out of the country.

Cultural activists in Nangarhar warn that if this situation continues, the province's remaining historical relics will be completely destroyed, and Afghanistan’s priceless cultural heritage will be lost forever. They claim to have raised their concerns with Taliban officials, but no concrete measures have been taken to address the issue.

Meanwhile, Quraishi Badloon, an official from the Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture in Nangarhar, stated that they have prevented the smuggling of thousands of historical artifacts, many of which were being illegally transported to Pakistan via the Torkham border. He urged locals to help protect Afghanistan’s cultural heritage and report any illegal activities.

Despite these claims, cultural activists argue that Afghanistan’s historical artifacts, which represent the country’s rich history and heritage, are being destroyed and looted at an alarming rate.