Reuters
10/18/2007
By Sayed Salahuddin
[Printer Friendly Version]

HERAT - A group of mediaeval minarets in the Afghan city of Herat could be saved thanks to the closure of a busy road threatening their foundations.

The minarets, standing at more than 100 feet, are all that remain of what was once a brilliantly decorated complex for Islamic learning and devotion on the Silk Road on the outskirts of the western Afghan city.

Just over a century ago, more than a dozen minarets stood in Herat, part of a madrasa-mosque complex built in the 15th century.

Most of the camel-colored mud-brick towers, which were once sheathed in sparkling blue, green, white and black mosaic tiles, have toppled during decades of war and neglect.

Experts had hoped the end of Taliban rule in 2001 and the advent of a new government would save the remaining towers.

However, the city's new-found wealth in the post-Taliban era has served only to heighten concerns about the towers' stability.

Heavy trucks and cars rumble along a road that runs through the middle of the remaining minarets, shaking the ground and threatening their foundations.

Recently authorities banned trucks from using the road, and on Thursday the head of Herat's information and culture department said the next step was to build a new road.

"Herat was due to have been included in the list of World's Cultural Heritage by UNESCO," Nimatullah Sarwari told Reuters.

"They (UNESCO) had a set of preconditions; preserving the old city and the closure of the road that runs through the minarets. We have prevented big vehicles from using the road and soon we will close the road totally by building a new one."

Once a bastion of culture and literature, Herat has prospered compared to other parts of Afghanistan since the fall of the Taliban, due largely to trade links with Turkmenistan and Iran.

New buildings of glass and concrete are sprouting up, overlooking the old city and challenging the minarets' command of the skyline for the first time in six centuries.

The old city of Herat is already on the tentative list for inclusion on UNESCO's register of World Heritage sites.

Life in Talibanistan - Part One: Throw these infidels in jail Asia Times (09/03/2010)

The disconnect between pipelines and transparency Globe and Mail, Canada (09/03/2010)

Of women, cosmetics & electioneering Pajhwok (09/03/2010)

Karzai orders huge shakeup in Ministry of Interior Pajhwok (09/03/2010)

Afghan banker warns of 'revolution' United Press International (09/03/2010)

Karzai tells Afghans not to panic in rush for withdrawals The Washington Post (09/03/2010)

What Led Kabul To Sack Ambassador To U.S.? RFE/RL (09/02/2010)

Karzai's brother calls for U.S. to shore up Kabul Bank as withdrawals accelerate The Washington Post (09/02/2010)

Interviews With Said Jawad, Afghan Ambassador To U.S CNN, The Situation Room (09/02/2010)

Afghans Pull Money From Weakened Bank The New York Times (09/02/2010)

Afghan finance minister: "Every penny of the deposits would be guaranteed by the government" The Associated Press (09/02/2010)

Lessons in Crony Capitalism The Huffington Post (09/02/2010)

Too Corrupt to Fail? The New Yorker (09/02/2010)

A.Q. Khan Newsweek (09/02/2010)

'It's premature to begin pulling troops' from Afghanistan, says Greg Mortenson Pioneer Press (09/02/2010)

Lonq queues at Afghan bank amid corruption claims AFP (09/02/2010)

14 Candidates Removed from Parliamentary Elections List Tolo News (09/02/2010)

Few signs of run on Afghanistan's Kabul Bank The Associated Press (09/02/2010)

Nervous Afghans pull money from Kabul Bank, raising fears The Washington Post (09/02/2010)

Afghan ambassador to US to leave post, slams smears AFP (09/01/2010)

Afghanistan takes over biggest private bank to avert collapse AFP (09/01/2010)

Karzai in panic as graft probe closes in Global Post (09/01/2010)

Where Did The Money Go? Yahoo News (09/01/2010)

Afghanistan's biggest bank in near disastrous collapse World News (09/01/2010)

After Obama's Iraq Speech, Afghans Worry About U.S. Commitment TIME (09/01/2010)

Afghan Police's Lack of Guns and Gas Shows U.S. Exit Plan Flaw Bloomberg (09/01/2010)

"Afghan concern about Pak is legitimate" - Gen. Petraeus The Associated Press (09/01/2010)

Birthplace of the Taliban: the next battleground The Associated Press (09/01/2010)

Afghan Ambassador Said T. Jawad leaving his post in Washington The Washington Post (09/01/2010)

Afghanistan bomb attacks kill twenty-one US soldiers in 48 hours The Telegraph (09/01/2010)