March 5, 2001

Former Afghan King Blasts Taliban Decision to Destroy Cultural Relics
Terms Taliban Regime as "Supported by Pakistan," and "Imposed Upon Afghan Nation"
By Omar Samad
WASHINGTON - March 5, 2001 - AAR - In a sharp and politically significant deviation from the archaic language of the past, Afghanistan's former king M. Zaher Shah

Taliban says demolishing statues a national honour
KABUL, March 5 (Reuters) - The supreme leader of Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement on Monday defended his controversial order to destroy historic statues as an honour for Islam and the nation.

Iran urges Muslim action over Afghan statue plans
TEHRAN, March 5 (Reuters) - Iranian President Mohammad Khatami has called for Muslim action to stop the Taliban destruction of ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan, state television reported on Monday.

Afghan opposition condemns statue destruction
ISLAMABAD, March 5 (Reuters) - The head of anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan, who is the country's internationally recognised president, has condemned the Taliban campaign of destruction of the country's pre-Islamic heritage.

German minister likens Taliban statue purge to Nazis
BERLIN, March 5 (Reuters) - Germany's Culture Minister was quoted on Monday as drawing a parallel between the Taliban destruction of Buddhist statues in Afghanistan and the Nazis' mass burning of books

Japan warns Taliban on aid if statues damaged-AIP
ISLAMABAD, March 5 (Reuters) - Japan has told Afghanistan's ruling Taliban that their decision to destroy ancient Buddhist statues could hamper Japanese aid for their drought-ravaged and war-torn nation,

Indian Hindus protest Afghan statue destruction
NEW DELHI, March 5 (Reuters) - About 200 right-wing Indian Hindus burnt a copy of the Muslim holy book the Koran and tore up posters of Islamic shrines on Monday to protest against the destruction of statues

Thailand condemns Taliban for destroying statues
BANGKOK, March 5 (Reuters) - Predominantly Buddhist Thailand said on Monday it condemned the controversial order by Afghanistan's ruling Taliban movement to destroy historic statues

Malaysia urges Taliban not to destroy statues
KUALA LUMPUR, March 5 (Reuters) - Predominantly Muslim Malaysia appealed to Afghanistan's ruling Taliban on Monday to reconsider their decision to destroy ancient Buddhist statues.

Taliban destruction of statues fueled by resentment over isolation
KABUL, March 5 (AFP) - The Taliban's efforts to erase Afghanistan's pre-Islamic heritage are fueled not only by religious fundamentalism but also by resentment over their international isolation, analysts here said.

AAR EDITORS' NOTE:
what an incredibly flawed analysis after six years of failed Taliban rule that has brought nothing but pain and agony for Afghans. The Pakistani-created notion that "frustration" for the world's

Bamiyan statues: World reaction - BBC
Political and religious leaders across Asia and the rest of the world have, with few exceptions, expressed indignation at the Afghan Taleban's decision to destroy the Buddhist statues in Bamiyan:

Murder of the dead
The Ottawa Citizen David Warren Sunday 4 March 2001
It was one of the great paradoxes of the 20th century that the whole cultural history of the world was being researched and documented and presented on a scale never before imagined.