"By March 12, 2001, these giant Buddhas have been destroyed by the use of mortars, dynamite, tanks, anti-aircraft weapons and rockets. Now they are nothing but piles of sandstone rubble and clay plaster. The Taleban destroyed also other buddhist images in Afghanistan, such as ancient statues and relief carvings.
"The Buddhist, the world community and UNESCO, failed to convince the Talebans to leave such artifacts and everybody expressed horror at the Buddhas' destruction.