A former Taliban commander has openly admitted to taking part in the destruction of Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Buddha statues, one of the most infamous acts of cultural vandalism in modern history.
Abdullah Sarhadi, who commanded Taliban forces in Bamiyan during the group’s first rule, told the BBC he personally detonated explosives against the two colossal statues in March 2001. “I destroyed them with my own hands,” he said, adding that he felt no regret and considered the demolition a divine command.
Cultural loss condemned worldwide
The statues, carved into sandstone cliffs in the Bamiyan Valley in the 6th century, had stood for nearly 1,500 years. Their destruction drew global condemnation from UNESCO, governments and cultural organisations, who called it an irreversible assault on shared human heritage. The Bamiyan Valley remains a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a record of centuries of Buddhist civilisation along the Silk Road.
From Guantanamo to governorship
Sarhadi served as a Taliban commander in the 1990s before surrendering to US‑led forces after the regime’s collapse in 2001. He was detained at Guantanamo Bay before being released. Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, he was appointed governor of Bamiyan and later Jawzjan province.
A rare admission
While the Taliban leadership ordered the demolition, Sarhadi’s statement is one of the few direct, first‑hand accounts from someone involved. His lack of remorse underscores the ideological justification the Taliban gave at the time – portraying themselves as “idol breakers” acting under religious duty.
Legacy of destruction
The Bamiyan Buddhas’ loss remains a symbol of how conflict can erase centuries of cultural memory. For Afghanistan, the episode continues to resonate as both a tragedy of heritage and a reminder of the Taliban’s uncompromising rule.
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