ISLAMABAD: The Department of Archaeology and Museums on Wednesday officially inaugurated a new gallery, Legacy Returns Home, during a ceremony held at the Islamabad Museum.

The inauguration coincided with the United States’ formal repatriation of more than 450 cultural artifacts to Pakistan, reaffirming the shared commitment of both countries to combat illicit trafficking of antiquities and protect cultural heritage.

The repatriated collection includes historically significant objects that were illegally removed from Pakistan and later identified and recovered through close cooperation between US law enforcement agencies and Pakistani authorities.

The artifacts are now preserved and displayed in the new gallery, allowing scholars and the public to reconnect with an important part of the country’s cultural legacy.

Speaking at the ceremony, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur said, “These artifacts represent chapters of Pakistan’s history, connecting generations to their heritage. Among these artifacts are terracotta figurines that are more than four thousand years old.” He added, “Each of these objects tells a story. Each belongs to the people of Pakistan. And each now is home.”

The Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office recovered all these antiquities. District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced their return to Pakistan following investigations by the ATU into smuggling networks, including foreign-operated criminal organisations. Over the past decade, the ATU, with support from the US Department of Homeland Security, has recovered and repatriated to Pakistan 514 antiquities worth nearly $23 million. These items were seized through criminal investigations into international trafficking networks.

This event represented a range of government agencies in the United States working to create a safer and stronger nation.

Among the recovered artifacts is a rare 2nd-century CE Buddhapada sculpture valued at $1.1 million, which was looted from Pakistan in the 1980s and trafficked into New York. Other significant recovered items include a Gandharan frieze depicting Buddhist figures, ancient Mehrgarh terracotta figurines dating back to 3500–2600 BCE, and a statue of the Bodhisattva Maitreya.

The seizures also include a Gold Strato I coin from 105–85 BCE, recovered in 2023.

The US embassy said these efforts had led to multiple convictions and highlighted ongoing international cooperation to combat illicit antiquities trafficking.

Pakistani officials welcomed the return of the artifacts, describing it as a significant step toward preserving the nation’s rich and diverse history. They expressed appreciation for US cooperation and underscored the importance of continued international efforts to curb the illegal trade in cultural property.

The repatriation underscores broader US-Pakistan collaboration in law enforcement, cultural preservation, and heritage protection.

Minister for National Heritage and Culture Aurangzeb Khan Khichi said, “This is bigger than just stone sculptures returning to Pakistan. These artifacts are symbols of a journey of a civilization, artistic excellence and rich history of this region going back thousands of years.”

Secretary, Ministry of National Heritage and Culture Asad Rehman Gilani lamented that by spiriting artifacts out of Pakistan, traffickers deprived generations of their rich cultural traditions.

Both the minister, Aurangzeb Khichi and the assistant secretary cut the ribbon and declared the gallery open.

Published in Dawn, May 14th, 2026