"...any damage to cultural property, irrespective of the people it belongs to, is damage to the cultural heritage of all humanity because every people contributes to the world's culture…” – Hague Convention, 1954. 
 
The Taliban are excavating around the Buddhas of Bamiyan – an area restricted by UNESCO as the buffer zone in 2003 after the statues were identified as a World Heritage in Danger. As the stewards and guardians of these ancient wonders of the world, the people of Afghanistan are calling for an immediate response from UNESCO and other international communities to safeguard and preserve the Buddhas of Bamiyan from further destruction and restore security for travelers and tourists in Bamiyan Valley. 
 
The Buddhas of Bamiyan represent an element of general interest to humanity in the safeguarding of cultural heritage. Bamiyan Buddhas, built in 544 AD in the Bamiyan Valley of Afghanistan’s central highlands, were listed as a World Heritage Site in 2003. The artifacts of Bamiyan Valley, including the Buddhas, continue to make significant contributions to the artistic and religious development of human civilization. Lamentably, in March 2001, the Taliban destroyed the two standing Buddha statues in a move that shook the world. What remains of that tragic destruction is still a source of aspiration for millions of people worldwide and creates thousands of jobs for the people in Afghanistan.
 
The ongoing excavation reported by the Deutsche Welle Farsi on 28 January 2022 is a similar act of cultural genocide to that of 2001 and as such requires the immediate attention of international actors – specifically UNESCO as the leading agency for cultural preservation and protection. No matter what the motives are for these excavations, they will adversely affect the setting of this World Heritage Site and its body. While the people of Afghanistan remain thankful to UNESCO and other international cultural counterparts, this threat should not be neglected. 
 
In line with the 1954 Hague Convention, our plea is for the immediate technical and specialized intervention of the UNESCO office in Kabul in coordination with the Taliban's de-facto Ministry of Information and Culture in order to:

1. Stop the excavations;
2. Hold the relevant parties and authorities accountable for the protection and safeguarding of the site; and
3. Prosecute and bring to just parties pursuing this destructive endeavor. 
 
This site is an important part of Afghanistan’s rich cultural diversity, and as such, it is integral to the identity of Afghan people. We believe this cultural artifact should not be sacrificed for the sake of politics or any societal motivations.