Kandahar residents call on IEA to preserve their historical sites

Kandahar residents on Tuesday called on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to protect and preserve historical sites in old Kandahar city, specifically Shah Hussain Hotaki Fortress which is on the brink of ruin.

Kandahari residents said that some of these historical sites are at risk of being seized by land grabbers and urged the authorities to prevent this from happening.

“The former government made a lot of promises to reconstruct these ancient sites, but they did nothing for the historical sites in this province,” said Abdullah, a resident of Old Kandahar city.

Meanwhile, officials from Kandahar’s Department of Information and Culture said they are drawing up plans to protect these historical sites.

“We have a letter in which no one is allowed to dig or build houses in ancient areas,” said Noor Ahmad Saeed, head of information and culture for Kandahar.

An archaeological dig at the Orange Palace in Kandahar, which was being carried out by the previous government, has meanwhile been stopped, despite the discovery of ruins relating to different eras.

Officials said, without giving details, however, that the dig would resume in the near future.