First “Jihad Museum” Opens in Kandahar

DID Press: Taliban authorities have officially opened what they describe as the first museum dedicated to preserving “jihadist” artifacts in Kandahar, according to Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture and local media reports.

The museum was inaugurated in the presence of Mufti Mohammad Tahir Ahmad, head of the General Directorate for the Preservation of Jihadist Artifacts, Qari Ahmadullah Saeed Khosti, head of the directorate’s registration department, and Kandahar officials.

According to the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, more than 100 artifacts have so far been collected from different parts of Afghanistan. The collection includes weapons said to have been captured from British, Soviet and U.S. forces, as well as items and personal effects left behind by people killed during the past two decades of conflict.

Saeed Khosti said the authorities have also begun collecting physical artifacts related to what they describe as the “jihad” from all provinces of Afghanistan. The ministry said the collection will continue to expand the museum’s holdings.