The Department of Information and Culture in Baghlan province has announced the discovery of two archaeological sites in the Jilga district, which experts believe may date back to the Kushan period, over 2,000 years ago.
Asadullah Mostafa Hashimi, head of Baghlan’s information and culture office, told local media that the sites were identified with the cooperation of the cultural heritage preservation authority, community elders, and security unit 012. The two sites are known as “Ziarat Beakh Plakh” and “Kafar Qala,” where early signs suggest origins reaching back millennia.
While the Taliban authorities have not released further details, they have emphasized the importance of preserving and registering these historical assets. Hashimi noted that such heritage sites reflect a nation’s identity and that protecting them is a collective responsibility.
Currently, 114 historical sites have been officially registered in Baghlan. According to provincial officials, another ten newly identified sites are expected to be recorded with the Ministry of Information and Culture in the near future.
Although the discoveries mark a positive step toward expanding knowledge of Afghanistan’s ancient history, concerns persist over the Taliban administration’s commitment and capacity to safeguard cultural heritage.
