By: Madison Tian

Over twenty years after the Taliban government blew up the ancient Buddha statues of Bamiyan—using dynamite, rockets, and antiaircraft guns—the administration is now charging tourists to visit the site. Facing economic difficulties and struggling to be recognized by the rest of the world, Taliban officials now consider the area an opportunity for profit, as well as a chance to prove that they are no longer the extremist regime they were understood to be in 2001.

The Buddhas were two large statues carved into a cliff face near Bamiyan, a city in Afghanistan. Carbon dating reveals that both the Eastern Buddha, which stood at 38 meters tall, and the Western Buddha, which was 55 meters tall, were built in the 6th century. Now, all that remains are two enormous holes and no trace of the statues can be seen.

Taliban founder Mullah Omar ordered the destruction of the Buddhas in 2001, arguing that they were depictions of false gods. Moreover, the Taliban strictly enforces its interpretation of Islam in which idols such as the Buddhas are considered as an affront to God. Despite protests around the world against the destruction of a monument with cultural and historical significance, the Taliban drilled holes into the statues and used various explosives and other weapons to blow them up. Both statues were famous landmarks that continuously attracted pilgrims to the region. Their destruction contributed to much of the rest of the world’s view of the Taliban as an extremist government with unreasonable beliefs.

Since the Taliban’s return in 2021, Taliban leaders appear to have changed their stance on the Bamiyan Buddhas. Atiqullah Azizi, the Taliban’s deputy culture minister, stated that the Buddhas are “of great importance” to their government. Some Taliban members acknowledge the monuments as a significant part of Afghanistan’s cultural identity, and, as one soldier remarked, “shouldn’t have been bombed”. By preserving what is left of the site and no longer seeking to destroy other ancient artifacts, Taliban officials could show that they have progressed in the twenty years since the Buddhas’ destruction, further aiding them in their quest to be recognized as a legitimate government.

Over a thousand guards now patrol the site, where Afghans are charged 58 cents and foreigners $3.45 to visit. Officials are hopeful that tourism could improve the economy in Bamiyan, one of the poorest areas in Afghanistan.

However, some still stand by the decision to destroy the Buddhas. Abdullah Sarhadi, provincial governor of Bamiyan, said in an interview, “We are Muslims. We should follow the demands of God.” Those who think similarly continue to see the statues as an insult to God. Nevertheless, Sarhadi also hopes the world will realize the Taliban has changed, and that there is “peace and security in Afghanistan now”.

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