UNESCO Holds Talks with Taliban Over Protection of Bamiyan’s Historic Sites

DID Press: A delegation from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Italy’s University of Florence has held talks with local Taliban officials on protecting Bamiyan’s cultural heritage, amid growing concerns over unauthorized excavations and construction in historic areas.

The Taliban governor’s office in Bamiyan said on Sunday, October 25, that Sarah Ziaei, a member of UNESCO’s technical team in Afghanistan, and Manfred Hinz, a professor at the University of Florence, met with the provincial governor to discuss the condition of historic and archaeological sites and ways to protect them.

According to the statement, a key focus of the meeting was the development and implementation of a new cultural management plan for historic sites in central Bamiyan. The Taliban-appointed governor stressed the need to consider the needs and challenges of residents living in historic areas alongside efforts to preserve cultural heritage.

The meeting also addressed restoration projects, infrastructure development and the provision of public services to residents in areas covered by UNESCO’s programmes. The University of Florence has previously worked with UNESCO on preparing a cultural master plan for Bamiyan.

The talks come amid reports of unauthorized excavations, damage to cultural sites and construction in archaeological areas of the province, raising concerns about the protection of Bamiyan’s historic heritage.

Bamiyan is one of Afghanistan’s most significant cultural heritage regions, known for its sites of international importance. Protecting these landmarks requires not only preventing damage to their historical value but also ensuring appropriate management of archaeological areas and addressing the needs of local communities.