mysterious death at the hands of the Taliban, by Karim Khalili.

During the Taliban period, Bamiyan changed hands several times resulting in great destruction and civilian casualties. Worse, the predominantly Sunni Taliban blockaded the Shia Hazaras adding to the woes of the terrible drought. International attention turned back to Bamiyan and the Hazara when, in March 2001, Mullah Omah declared the Buddhas idolatrous and ordered them destroyed once and for all. Only rubble remains.

                        © Phil Grabsky