Taliban selling tickets to ruins of iconic Bamian Buddhas it blasted two decades ago
Ruins of Bamian
Over two decades after the previous Taliban government of Afghanistan blew up two great Buddha figures in Bamian, the extremist regime is focusing on selling tickets for the gaping hole in the 125-foor cliff.
Authorities have set up a ticket office at the foot of the larger of the two figures, where they charge Afghans 58 cents and foreigners $3.45 (₹282) to visit, Washington Post reported.
Also read |After destroying the Bamiyan Buddha statues, Taliban attempts to destroy the historic bazaar nearby
In 2001, Taliban founder Mullah Omar declared the Buddhas false gods and announced plans to destroy them. Despite relentless pursuance from around the world, the Taliban detonated explosives and fired antiaircraft guns to smash the huge sixth-century reliefs to pieces, as the world watched.
Why this change of heart?
As Taliban administrationis vying for legitimacy from the world, Afghanistan is currently undergoing a massive economic crisis. The Taliban see the Buddha remnants as a potentially lucrative source of revenue and are working to draw tourism around the site.
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Also watch |South Asia Diary | The Taliban return to Bamiyan
"Bamian and the Buddhas in particular are of great importance to our government, just as they are to the world," Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban’s deputy culture minister, said in an interview. He said more than 1,000 guards have been assigned to protect cultural heritage across Afghanistan, restricting access and overseeing ticket sales.
Last month, senior Taliban officials were present at the inauguration of a prominent section dedicated to Buddhist artifacts at Kabul’s national museum.
Destruction of Bamian Buddhas was 'good decision': Governor
Meanwhile, Bamian provincial governor Abdullah Sarhadi said said that tourists should be steered toward other sites.
"We are Muslims," Sarhadi said in an interview. "We should follow the demands of God," adding, that destruction of iconic Buddhas was a "good decision".
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