BANGKOK: Thailand prime minister has offered to take the remains of the Buddhas of Afghanistan’s Bamiyan province, and rebuild them in Thailand.

The Buddhas were destroyed by Taliban regime in 2001. Thaksin Shinawatra made the proposal to reconstruct the two 1,600-year-old statues to the Afghan President, Hamid Karzai. Mr Karzai said that it was a “good idea” and that he would discuss it with his government, Mr Thaksin said after returning from a summit in Kazakhstan.

The Taliban used dynamite and artillery to blast the fifth-century statues in 2001, disregarding worldwide protests.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service

Opinion

Editorial

GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...
Centre vs provinces
Updated 10 Jun, 2026

Centre vs provinces

The reason the centre finds itself in this position is rooted in its failure to expand the tax net and boost revenues.
Party in crisis
10 Jun, 2026

Party in crisis

THE young KP chief minister must be starting to realise just how thorny a seat he occupies. There has been a flurry...
Varsity woes
10 Jun, 2026

Varsity woes

FINANCIAL crises affecting public sector universities across Pakistan are now having an impact on academic...