Residents of Jaghatu district in central Afghanistan say a centuries-old historic monument known as the Begum Minaret is at risk of collapse, citing natural damage, ageing and what they describe as years of neglect.
Locals said the structure, believed to date back around a thousand years, has deteriorated significantly and requires urgent restoration to prevent irreversible damage.
Residents complained that authorities have failed to take adequate steps to preserve historical sites in the area, despite their cultural importance.
“If serious restoration work is not carried out, this historical structure could collapse due to erosion and years of neglect,” said Abdul Raziq, a local resident.
Others urged the Taliban authorities to intervene, saying the monument belongs to the national heritage rather than to a single community or individual.
“Tourists sometimes come here and ask why this site has not been restored,” said another resident, Sayed Amin. “This is a state responsibility. Without government attention, nothing can be done.”
Another resident, Abdul Wadud, said preserving the site was essential to prevent it from turning into ruins.
Residents said the Begum Minaret was not only a historical landmark but also a symbol of the region’s cultural identity, calling for immediate measures to protect and restore it.
The Taliban authorities have not publicly commented on plans to restore the monument.
Background
The Begum Minaret, also known locally as the Begum Dome, is located in Ghazni province, a region that was once a major cultural and political centre during the medieval Islamic period. Ghazni is home to numerous historical sites from different eras, including monuments dating back to the Ghaznavid and Seljuk periods, many of which have suffered damage from conflict, earthquakes, weather exposure and lack of conservation.
Afghanistan’s historical heritage has long faced challenges due to decades of war, limited funding and weak institutional capacity for preservation, prompting repeated warnings from cultural experts about the risk of losing irreplaceable monuments.
