Some of the most iconic sights in Afghanistan are the cliffs of Bamiyan, famous the world over for the giant Buddhas carved into the rock face. Sadly, these monumental sculptures are no longer with us, having been dynamited by the Taliban in 2001.
In this deleted scene from Afghanistan, James, Marty, and Khyber visit Bamiyan, where they encounter locals—caretakers of the Buddhas—who were forced at gunpoint to destroy them. It is an extraordinary eyewitness account of one of the most brutal acts of cultural vandalism in world history.
A UNESCO World Heritage site dating back to the 7th century, Bamiyan remains of tremendous archaeological significance despite the loss of the Buddhas, with numerous mysteries yet to be uncovered.
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