Taliban militants have utilized heavy excavation machinery to destroy portions of an ancient historical site in Panjshir province, looting irreplaceable artifacts and leaving nearby families displaced.
According to reports from local sources in Panjshir, the destruction began last week at the ancient site known as “Hisar,” situated in the Darband area of Anaba district. Armed Taliban members brought excavators onto the historical perimeter, systematically tearing through structural remains.
During the heavy mechanical digging, historical artifacts—including ancient pottery, vessels, and relic fragments—were extracted and illegally looted by the militants. Furthermore, the aggressive excavation operations resulted in the physical destruction of three adjacent residential homes, causing structural collapses that rendered local families homeless.
International archaeological researchers and satellite surveillance initiatives have previously documented widespread bulldozing and looting across dozens of Afghan heritage sites, where heavy equipment is increasingly deployed to pillage historical wealth. The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage sites in Panjshir, coupled with forced displacement and property destruction, underscores ongoing human rights and cultural preservation concerns across northern provinces.