Buddha images survive blasts in Swat

Published September 12, 2007

MINGORA, Sept 11: In a grim reminder of destruction of world famous Buddha statues in Bamiyan by the Afghan Taliban, blasts in Swat’s Buthgarh Jehanabad historical site on Tuesday damaged rocks engraved with Buddha’s images.

The Gandhara civilisation site was attacked with two explosive devices early on Tuesday morning.

The area is about 20km from here, near the tourist resort of Malam Jabba.

Before the recent deterioration of the law and order situation in the valley, hundreds of tourists, mainly Buddhists, used to visit the site.

Local people said one explosive device had been planted on top and another in the foot of the rocks. The images were not damaged but a portion of the rock was.

They believed that it was the handiwork of local militants.

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