Afghanistan’s Greatest Treasure At Risk Again

Afghanistan’s greatest treasure – the Bactrian Gold -survived the Taliban and looting when the Taliban were deposed. Now “Afghan ministers, desperate to earn prestige and money for the country, want to send the collection abroad. Exhibiting it would be a coup for any museum, and a publicity triumph for a nation better known for narcotics and unrest. Major museums in America, France and Austria have asked to put the hoard on display. Officials in Afghanistan believe the money raised could pay for the restoration of Kabul’s museum. But some experts believe that, with corruption and crime rampant in Afghanistan, it would be dangerous to move the treasure out of the vault.”