Buddhist relics worth millions seized in Pakistan

[Apóllōn]

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani police seized a large number of ancient Buddhist sculptures that smugglers were attempting to spirit out of the country and sell for millions of dollars on the international antiquities market, officials said Saturday.

The stash included many sculptures of Buddha and other related religious figures that experts say could be over 2,000 years old. The items were likely illegally excavated from archaeological sites in Pakistan's northwest, said Salimul Haq, a director at the government's archaeology department.

The northwest was once part of Gandhara, an ancient Buddhist kingdom that stretched across modern-day Pakistan and Afghanistan and reached its height from the first to the fifth century. Police seized the items Friday from a 20-foot (6-meter) container in the southern port city of Karachi that was being trucked north toward the capital, Islamabad.

Buddhist relics worth millions seized in Pakistan - Asia news

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

Why confiscate them? If some rock fetches for some greenback, do some business.

 

[MilSpec]

Why confiscate them? If some rock fetches for some greenback, do some business.

well said mate, especially when idol worship is harram , right

 

[somebozo]

These can provide a deep insight into the old civilizations. Looks like the government is least bothered or they happen to be dime a dozen - dig up anywhere for some relics!

 

[Rig Vedic]

These statues show a very high level of artistic skill.

Unfortunately they have not escaped vandalism by fanatics - see for example the arms and nose of the statue in the second picture. Perhaps the vandalism occurred many centuries ago.

 

[BelligerentPacifist]

well said mate, especially when idol worship is harram , right

No, especially when money's a powerful god for most people, including most Pakistanis. There's no indication that these figurines are idols.

 

[W.11]

These statues show a very high level of artistic skill.

Unfortunately they have not escaped vandalism by fanatics - see for example the arms and nose of the statues in the second picture. Perhaps the vandalism occurred many centuries ago.

why would fanatics destroy arms and legs and leave the face intact??

 

[Rig Vedic]

why would fanatics destroy arms and legs and leave the face intact??

There is no hard and fast rule for the fanatics. The intent is to dishonor the ancient civilization.

Just a few days back pictures were posted of a Buddha carving from Swat, in which the entire face was damaged, but the rest of the statue was intact.

In this case the nose has been cut off but the rest of the face is not damaged.

You must be aware that the common Muslim name "But-Shikan" means "smasher of Buddha statues".