Restoration of the Historic Jam Minaret Begins After Years of Warnings

After years of concern from the residents of Ghor about the deterioration of the historic Jam Minaret, a joint team from the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation has traveled to the province to begin restoration work on this monument. The team visited the site today (Wednesday) and is set to start the practical restoration of the minaret’s structure.

Worries intensified following a series of media reports, particularly from the Pajhwok news agency; these reports, citing videos recorded in 2019, showed that floods had damaged this historic monument. Additionally, residents of Ghor repeatedly issued warnings in 2023 and 2024, stating that the degradation was ongoing and urgent, fundamental measures must be taken as soon as possible.

Amanullah Sahibzada, the provincial coordination officer of the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation, during his visit to the Jam Minaret, stated that in coordination with the Ministry of Information and Culture and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the restoration process will be professionally managed under the supervision of engineering teams from the foundation and the ministry. According to him, the first phase will focus on reinforcing and restoring the body of the minaret to pave the way for targeted reconstruction.

Meanwhile, Mawlawi Abdulhai Zaeem, head of Information and Culture in Ghor, expressed gratitude for the cooperation of the Aga Khan Cultural Foundation and UNESCO and assured that Ghor’s local administration will collaborate with the technical teams at all stages. However, residents of Ghor have repeatedly criticized the responsible institutions for their neglect in preserving historical sites and have demanded sustained planning and strict Taliban oversight to prevent further damage.

The historic Jam Minaret, standing at 63 meters, is considered the second tallest brick minaret in the world after Delhi’s Qutb Minar and is one of the most prominent architectural legacies of the Ghurid Sultanate era. Built between 1176 and 1185 AD, in recent years, it has suffered damage due to floods and natural events and requires fundamental and sustained protection.