Bamyan, the heartland of Afghanistan and the city of broken gods, has been declared as 2015 cultural center of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). While this is a pride for whole Afghanistan, it is really music in the ears of the people of Bamyan and also an honor to the destructed statues of the city.  

Recently a delegation from SAARC cultural center paid a visit to Kabul and hold meetings with Afghan authorities including Minister of Culture and Information Makhdoom Raheen. According to a statement released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation discussed preparations for the inauguration of ceremony to name Bamyan city as the first cultural capital of SAARC nations. The delegation also visited historical sites in Bamyan city 19-20 of this month.

Several cultural events are expected to be organized by SAARC nations in Bamyan city in 2015, MoF said, adding that the events will include seminars, exhibitions, musical events along with folkloric dances from South Asia, exhibition of handicrafts, food exhibitions, traditional exhibitions, silk route exhibition and numerous other exhibitions will be organized.

Bamiyan is located in the heart of Afghanistan holding a high historical importance because of its centuries old precious statues of Buddhas situated in the province.On 2nd March 2001, on the order of Taliban’s spiritual leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, the regime started destructing the Buddha statues in Bamyan and caused a non-compensable loss to Afghanistan. 

Over the last 13 years, however,Bamiyan has been the most peaceful province of Afghanistan where people pursue democratic values, focus on education, allow women to participate in social and political life and support government and efforts of the international community.Unfortunately, being peaceful does not mean the province got enough attention from the central government and the international community. The problems facing by this peaceful and historical province of Bamiyan have gone multiplying. No electric power, rough and dirty roads, lack of development projects and above all concerns over escalation of security condition are major problems that residents of that province have to deal with on daily basis.

Now that SAARC countries have declared this city as their cultural center in 2015, hopes that the city will get more focus have increased. The greatest responsibility falls on the shoulders of Afghan government that must value this honor and work fast to make condition feasible for celebrations next year. The city must get long-promised electric power and its roads must be constructed. Meanwhile, the highway connecting Kabul to Bamiyan must not only be paved but also secured. These are minimum tasksthat Afghan government must take timely measures for.