By Kashmir Khan,Mohammad Yousaf Mangal
Copyright pajhwok
KHOST CITY (Pajhwok): Residents of Tani district in southeastern Khost province say three defensive towers, dating back to nearly two centuries, are on the verge of collapse.
According to locals, the three towers, each around 15 metres high and constructed in the form of single-room structure, are located at different sites in the Tarkhelo area of Tani district.
Qabel, an inhabitant of the area, told Pajhwok Afghan News that in the past, these towers were used to defend the entire region.
He said the towers were built more than two centuries ago, during which tribal Arbakai (community militias) took turns guarding them to protect their villages and surrounding areas.
He added: “Although war is not a good thing, the lack of weapons forced people to build such defensive structures so they could defend themselves and their villages during potential conflicts.”
Another local resident, Parhez Khan, said that these towers, the only remaining historic landmarks left by their forefathers, were now on the verge of disappearing.
He added that if the responsible authorities did not take timely action to restore them, the towers might be lost forever: “So far, I have not heard of anyone coming to inspect or repair them, but we now call on you to convey our voice to everyone so that someone helps us and these towers are restored, otherwise we will lose these historical monuments.”
Meanwhile, Professor Mullah Jan Taniwal, a member of the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan and a native of Tani district, said such sites reflect important social aspects and recount historic events.
He told Pajhwok that the Ministry of Information and Culture (MoIC) should register these and similar ancient sites as historical monuments and give full attention to their repair and preservation.
He added: “Our society’s conditions have been such that we have already lost many historical monuments, which people now only recall in writing, as the physical signs have vanished. These towers could collapse this winter or in the spring rains, leaving them only as a story, without the physical evidence for people to see.”
On the other hand, officials at the Khost Department of Information and Culture say there are nearly 30 historical and ancient sites in the province. Of these, eight, including the towers, have been newly identified and registered since the Islamic Emirate’s takeover.
Syed Qabil Shah Miyakhil, head of the Cultural Heritage Preservation Department, told Pajhwok that they had sent multiple proposals to MoIC regarding the restoration and preservation of these historic sites, many of which were at risk of destruction.
He said: “We can assure the people that we have always submitted official proposals to the ministry, stressing that sites such as the Tarkhelo palace or Ghazi Babrak Khan’s fortress are at risk of collapse if not repaired. We repeatedly write this in our submissions.”
Miyakhil added that while nearly 30 historic sites exist in Khost province, only the shrine of Shah Ismail has been repaired so far. Other monuments, such as the Tarkhelo palace, still face an uncertain fate, though efforts for their repair and preservation are ongoing.
