Afghan Province Losing Heritage

Campaigners say a hilltop castle near the town of Gardez is only one of many historical sites that are being allowed to crumble away in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia.

 The Bala Hissar fort badly needs restoration work, and is placed further at risk by the encroachment of new buildings on the slopes of the hill it sits on. (See Medieval Afghan Fort Under Threat for more on the castle.)

“The houses are built so high up the hill that their walls are very close to the fortress walls – only a metre away,” said Ismail Larwy, head of the local Sarab newspaper. “The government should attend to this, otherwise a historic fort will be destroyed.”

Almir Zazai, deputy chairman of Paktia’s provincial council, says efforts have been made to preserve Bala Hissar, but they have failed.

Other writers and civil society activists in Paktia say another 35 registered historic sites in the province are at risk because the government has failed to carry out timely conservation work.

Hamed Ahmazi is an IWPR trained reporter in Paktia province.