US returns looted artifacts to Afghanistan

Published September 10, 2013
Gold appliqués bearing the images of antelopes are put on display before the start of a press conference announcing the repatriation of gold artifacts and an ancient vase to Afghanistan in Washington, DC. -AFP Photo
Gold appliqués bearing the images of antelopes are put on display before the start of a press conference announcing the repatriation of gold artifacts and an ancient vase to Afghanistan in Washington, DC. -AFP Photo

WASHINGTON: The United States returned a Roman wine pitcher and five gold artifacts to Afghanistan on Monday in the fourth official repatriation of stolen Afghan cultural treasures in eight years.

Kabul's ambassador to Washington, Eklil Hakimi, accepted the objects from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency during a ceremony at the Afghan embassy.

US customs officers seized the items in March 2011 at Newark airport in New Jersey after investigators discovered they were destined for a New York business suspected of dealing in looted cultural property.

The Roman vase dates from the 5th to 8th century AD, while the other objects include three 5th century BC gold foil appliques depicting antelopes and two 17th century antique coiled ornaments, ICE said in a statement.

“These items are national treasures that form the country's identity and distinguish Afghanistan from the rest of the world,” Hakimi said.

Since 2005 the United States has returned several objects to Afghanistan, dating from archaeological artefacts from the second century BC to a late 19th century rifle ammunition loader that vanished from the Kabul National Museum after the Soviet pullout in 1988-89.

Opinion

Editorial

Bilateral progress
Updated 18 Oct, 2024

Bilateral progress

Dialogue with India should be uninterruptible and should cover all sticking points standing in the way of better ties.
Bracing for impact
18 Oct, 2024

Bracing for impact

CLIMATE change is here to stay. As Pakistan confronts serious structural imbalances, recurring natural calamities ...
Unfair burden
18 Oct, 2024

Unfair burden

THINGS are improving, or so we have been told. Where this statement applies to macroeconomic indicators, it can be...
Successful summit
Updated 17 Oct, 2024

Successful summit

Platforms like SCO present an opportunity for states to set aside narrow differences.
Failed tax target
17 Oct, 2024

Failed tax target

THE government’s plan to document retailers for tax purposes through its ‘voluntary’ Tajir Dost Scheme appears...
More questions
17 Oct, 2024

More questions

THE alleged rape of a student at a private college in Lahore has sparked confusion, social media campaigns, ...