Posted on 07/30/2006 8:30:25 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The 17 historical sites identified in Kohat, 50km south from here, for inclusion in the travel guide of Pakistan by the tourism ministry have lost most of their grandeur because of corrosion and plunder by smugglers... Most of the sites which have tourism potential have lost their original look because of negligence of the archaeology department and the district administration. The Durrani family graveyard and the ruins of Aad and Samad have been robbed of precious tiles, gravestones, coins and statues, while some graves have been demolished and reconstructed by their caretakers. The 16th century mosque in the graveyard of the family of King Ahmed Shah Abdali has been repaired and whitewashed by members of the Tableeghi Jamaat to save its sanctity. The old mosque has become a den for drug sellers and addicts. Despite repeated requests by the heirs of the former king, the provincial archaeology department has not taken any steps to preserve it... The Kohat Fort constructed by the Durranis on the hilltop where Alexander camped with his army before marching towards north serves as the headquarters of the IXth army division. Only the tunnel which served as its only entrance and the trench surrounding it are in their original form.
(Excerpt) Read more at gulf-times.com ...
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Not surprising to say the least. Recent history (the Taliban destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues) clearly demonstrate the reverence the Muslims have toward non-Muslim historical civilizations.
Most Pakistanis see the Vedic civilizations of Mohenjadaro, Harappa, and Lothal (among others) as shameful reminders of their pre-Islamic past.
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