Leaders discuss Bamyan development, visit historical ruins

Courtesy Photo | Bamyan government officials and coalition and International Security Assistance Force's leadership discuss the history of the Buddhas of Bamyan. The Buddhas of Bamyan were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamyan valley of central Afghanistan before they were destroyed by the Taliban in March, 2001.  

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.12.2007

Courtesy Story

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

By Senior Airman Dilia DeGrego
Combined Joint Task Force-82

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - For more than 1,500 years they stood watch over the people of Bamyan province. The Buddhas of Bamyan remained untouched, nestled in the heart of the Hindu Kush Mountains until they were destroyed by Taliban in March, 2001.

Since their destruction, the local government and people have sought to restore this cultural landmark. Although, various countries have come forth with an interest in restoring them, their remnants wait, guarded at the foot of the mountain in which they once stood, and their future, a topic of discussion amongst the international and local community.

This topic, among others, was highlighted during a meeting between Bamyan government officials and coalition and International Security Assistance Force's leadership, Nov. 10.

German Maj. Gen. Bruno Kasdorf, NATO forces in Afghanistan chief of staff; Army Col. Jonathan Ives, Task Force Cincinnatus commander; New Zealand Col. Brendon Fraher, Provincial Reconstruction Team contingent commander; and other coalition and ISAF leadership visited with the Bamyan deputy governor to discuss the province's overall progress, as well as the local government's development priorities for the area.

They were all pleased to find the people and government working hand-in-hand towards a brighter future for the region.

"In all six districts that we have in Bamyan, reconstruction is going on to the limit that (the governor) has in her power," said Bamyan's deputy governor. "There are also other sources that are helping her as well. We see the future of Bamyan very bright. We are not worried about the future of Bamyan because all of the people of Bamyan are united with their government.

"The governor, the leader of this area, is a very competent woman and she is a very hard worker," he continued. "The men and women of this area (Bamyan) are very happy with her."

Working with their government, he said, the people of Bamyan have turned the once war-torn area into a peaceful one, where there are no armed people walking around and the agriculture, although in need of modernization, is doing well. Additionally, there no longer is any poppy seed cultivation in the province.

"We hope the government will see and realize that in Bamyan is a very peaceful province and that is why we need the government to have more attention to this area," said the deputy governor. "We want more reconstruction in this area."

Kasdorf agreed. "I am on your side, because it is a secure area, we should reinforce the success you've already had. This is a peaceful region, and if we should show everybody else that we have this kind of conditions here we will have progress."

The combined group of leaders went on to discuss the needs of the people to continue with the successful development of the area. The deputy governor stressed some of the province's main priorities, to include the need for professionally trained teachers, schools for their children, markets for their vendors and most importantly, roads to make it all possible.

"The schools cannot be built here without roads, and the teachers cannot come here to teach because we don't have roads," said the deputy governor.

Additionally, the leaders discussed the boosting of the economy, specifically discussing the area's natural resources, like coal and iron ore, and what needs to be done to mine and market it. Again, stressing the need for roads to transport and properly market the resources.

Last, but certainly not least, the leaders concluded their meeting discussing the region's rich heritage - the Bamyan Buddhas.

"We want people to come help repair these statues," said an Afghan ministry of information and culture representative. "The people ask when they will be rebuilt. They are guarding and preserving the pieces of the Buddhas so in the future if they are rebuilt we can use some of the original pieces.

"We are doing what we can to preserve what is left of the historical paintings and writings as well, putting up doors to the rooms that those paintings and writings are in," he said. "It is very important to preserve this historical area. Everyone wants to this area to be preserved. We want to rebuild it so the others can come and see the area and its historical value."

While it is still uncertain when the Buddhas of Bamyan will be rebuilt, the people of Bamyan will continue to guard their remains until the day they are restored. To them, their ruins have come to signify more than a historical memorial - the Buddhas of Bamyan represent the building blocks to a brighter future they are constructing with the help of their government.

• Date Taken: 11.12.2007
• Date Posted: 11.12.2007 20:00
• Story ID: 13859
• Location: BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF