‘Some Herat historic sites on the brink of vanishing’

HERAT (Pajhwok): Historic Monuments Protection officials in western Herat province say that some of the historical monuments of the province face destruction and erosion due to their longevity.

Speaking to Pajhwok Afghan News, ZalmaiSafa, Historic Monuments Protection in charge in Herat province, called on the central government to pay attention to the protection of Herat’s historic monuments.

He said that some of the historic monuments in the province are being eroded due to their size and age, and despite efforts, they failed to raise fund for the maintenance of the heritage sites.

Speaking to Pajhwok, he said that a number of historical monuments in Herat were repaired last year, but there are many other monuments and historical sites that need to be taken care of and repaired.

He asked officials of the central government to pay attention to the protection of Herat’s historical monuments, which he said are the most important cultural, social and economic features.

“Afghanistan’s antiquities, especially the historical monuments of Herat, can attract many tourists and boost Afghanistan’s economy,” he added.

Mohammad Seddiq Mir, a Herat scholar and custodian of Herat’s historical monuments, called for allocation of fund for the protection of the province’s ancient sites.

He believed that Islamic Emirate officials had no enough time to think about the condition of the antiquities of Herat and other provinces of the country, nor they spend money for the protection of the important sites.

Mir believed that Herat with more than 800 historical monuments and archeological sites, needs more cooperation from international organizations and local businessmen.

He said that uncontrolled constructions around historic buildings and archeological sites in the recent years has affected the structure and image of these sites and the previous government has failed to stop it.

Repairing of historical monuments should be a permanent process because occasional attention could not solve the problem, he added.

This comes as Herat monuments were subject to damages during conflicts or they were used as trenches by fighters.

Herat officials in the past also complained about lack of attention to the protection of historical sites of the province.

ZabihullahMujahid, deputy information and culture minister, recently announced that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan was committed to protecting cultural heritage and antiquities.

Herat has many historical and natural sites and its capital is one of the largest cities in Afghanistan in the west of the country, which has political, cultural and economic importance for the country.

Herat Grand Mosque, Sultan Hussein WayezKashefi Shrine, the minarets of Herat and Ekhtiaruddin Castle are among the historical monuments that have been relatively well protected.

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