Security measures block access to Khost historic sites

KHOST CITY (PAN): Police have established check-points at historic sites in southeastern Khost province and have been refusing to allow the authorities concerned to maintain the sites, officials said on Monday.

“If the occupation of historic sites continues, the sites will lose their importance and may collapse without the proper attention,” said Mohammad Amin Shah Ulfat, the provincial director of information and culture.

Ulfat urged the government and local authorities to help his department maintain and reconstruct the historic sites in the province.

He said security forces had erected fences around the Karwan Sarai historical area and were not allowing information and culture officials to maintain the site.

The historic building was comprehensively damaged when a suicide car bomber crashed his explosives-laden car into the structure few months back, he said.

Ulfat also pointed to another historical site occupied by security forces in the Mangal area, saying the building was on the verge of collapse and needed urgent repairs.

“If security officials do not cooperate in preserving historic sites, how can we keep them intact for upcoming generations?” Ulfat asked.

mrh/ma

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