The book Ancient Art from Afghanistan makes this remark about the museum: "An institution unique in the world in being composed entirely of objects acquired, not by purchase, but by excavations in the native soil" (Rowland, 1976, p.15).

Rowland (1971) explains, "the Kabul collections begin with the work of the French archaeological mission in 1922...The Italian mission at Ghazni continuing the work begun by the French in 1948, has added a precious collection of objects reflecting the splendors of the great Islamiccivilization of the Ghaznavids" (x-xi).

German and Russian expeditions also took part in the excavation of priceless artifacts for the Kabul Museum. The Begram collection discovered in 1939, dating from 1st century, comprised of 1,800 lacquers, bronzes, ivories, statutes and glassware items from Ancient Rome, Greece, India, China, Egypt and Central Asia. Begram was the site of Kapisa, summer capital of Kanisha, King of the Kushans. Rashid (1995b) cites Nancy Dupree (Vice-Chairperson of the Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage) referring to the Begram collection as "The most spectacular archaeological find of the 20th century" (p.51).

According to Rashid (1995a), another excavation was the Bactrian gold discovered in 1978. The Bactrian discovery was made by a Russian expedition. Dupree (1996) suggests that the 21,000 gold objects dating from 100 BC to 100 AD discovered in 1978 at Tilla Teppe, northern Afghanistan were displayed in 1991 to Western Diplomats in Kabul. Rashid (1995a) adds, "The gold was then packed into crates and moved for safety to a vault in the Presidential Palace inCentral Kabul" (p.61).

Dupree (1996) estimates, "about 70% of the museums collections are now missing"(p.42). It is a saddening occasion for a nation, one that was so victorious against numerous foreign hands, to fall to the knees of international art dealers. In the process more unreplaceable and precious antiquities and monuments are lost along the way.

The collection can never be reassembled, or even located. Clara Grissmann (American art historian) suggests: "If new artifacts are dug up, they will be disconnected from the past because the record here has gone" (Rashid, 1995a, p. 62).

This loss not only destroys major time periods in Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, but also others it has come in contact with. Pottery from prehistory was bundled into bags like cheap china; ivory statues of Indian courtesans from the 2nd century AD stuffed into the pockets of gunmen and carted off to Pakistan to be sold for a song, eventually turning up on the worlds antique art markets for huge sums.

Worldwide organizations are unsuccessful in trying to recover the looted artifacts, such a piece held by Nasurullah Babur (Pakistani official) who bought an object from the Begram collection for $100,000 (Rashid, 1995a).

In 1995, the historic pistol of Wazir Akbar Khan that was used to kill Gen. McNaughton at Bala-Hissar marking the end of the 1st Anglo-Afghan War was discovered in the hands of another Pakistan official (Arif, 1996). In November of 1996, other artifacts like Babur Shah's (founder of the Mongul dynasty) and Ahmad Shah Baba's (founder of the Afghan Nation) swords were looted and sold to high ranking foreign officials.

During September of 1997, the Pakistani newspaper NNI wrote about former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto being linked to looted art treasures from Afghanistan: Wajid Shamsul Hassan, is accused of having given customs clearance to eight crates flown by PIA, without charge from Karachi to London in April last year. The contents are said to have included swords and antique guns.

According to an article in the French paper Le Monde, Benazir said to be a keen collector of antiquities, visited Peshawar last year, accompanied by an academic advisor, to authenticate relics from Afghanistan artifact amassed by Zardari (Bhuttos husband) left the country. According to a journalist who visited a close friend of Zardari found at his house several pieces, including guns and other weapons, that he thought might have come from[Afghanistan].

Not only antiquities, but contemporary arts such as Afghan music, films, photographs, and great Islamic literature were also among the destroyed. In addition, ancient graves are being dug up for the jewels they contain. Loyd (1997) points out that the grave diggers go further to even selling the bones of Afghans for money obtained in Pakistan (p.30).

Civilization that once flourished from the land of the Afghans is presently not noticeable, and the future looks even grimmer. We might have won lots of wars but we are losing the battle to preserve Afghanistan. The country has disintegrated socially, economically, and regionally but arguably as disastrous has been the destruction of its heritage. This unique heritage was due to Afghanistan’s position at the crossroads of commerce and conquest for thousands of years. A heritage that has transformed into a legendary myth and fantasy.

When will we speak out and say enough is enough. Its is now our time to address our nation and the world. We must reassure our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, that we will not let them become mere myth or legend. We must struggle to keep Afghanistan alive in every shape and form.

In order to do that, we need to get rid ourselves of the chips on our shoulder. If we, in the West, away from the bloodshed and misery in Afghanistan cannot come together for our nation; then we should not blame our people back home for perpetually fighting a stalemate war. We must set a model for our people we must unite for the purpose of our people back home.

Afghan educators, elders, and students from all side of the political and social spectrum must get active in efforts to bring together the largest immigrant population of the world. Otherwise, we will succumb the same fate as the people and treasure back home.

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