November 26, 2008	Wednesday	Ziqa'ad 27, 1429

PESHAWAR, Nov 25: After destroying the Buddha rock carvings in the volatile northern district, the Swat Museum could be the next target of the militants in the restive valley, the Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) has warned the NWFP government on Tuesday.

In a letter to the relevant government departments, the STC asked for enhanced security measures to protect the Swat Museum situated on the half-way between Mingora and Saidu Sharif.

“Based on the information received from Swat regarding growing Talibanisation in general and insecurity in Mingora and Saidu Sharif in particular, there is serious threat to the security of Swat Museum,” said a letter written by Managing Director STC Azam Khan. “There are reports which suggest that Swat Museum may be the next target of the militants and artifact smugglers.”

The museum, set up by one of the former rulers of Swat in 1959, initially the museum had the ruling family’s private collection but later it was expanded with the assistance of Japanese government. The major source of attraction in Swat Museum is the Gandhara art and ethnological collection. There are reportedly about 200 objects on display in the museum.

In recent months, the Taliban in Swat burnt down the ski-resort and PTDC Motel at Malam Jabba. They also bombed the Buddha Rock Carvings. There was an international outcry when the Taliban demolished two giant statues of the Buddha in Bamiyan, central Afghanistan, in March 2001. The Kabul museum was also badly damaged during violence and most of the artifacts were stolen due to insecurity and unrest.

The authorities have so far not been able to protect buildings of historic importance in conflict-hit areas in the NWFP so far. The artifact smugglers also pose threat to the heritage as the security situation has deteriorated.

“It is imperative to salvage whatever priceless national heritage we have left in the region,” said the STC official, who demanded that concerned authorities should immediately take necessary action to provide foolproof security to the Swat Museum.