Taleban demand gem from UK crown jewels

The diamond is kept with the crown jewels in London

By Kate Clark in Kabul

The Taleban movement in Afghanistan is demanding the handing-over of part of the UK's crown jewels.

Other countries also lay claim to the Koh-i-Noor diamond, whose name means Mountain of Light, but the Taleban believe Afghanistan has the strongest claim.

The Koh-i-Noor diamond came to the UK from India 150 years ago and was presented to Queen Victoria.

It has not been worn since the mother of the current Queen was crowned in 1937.

Bloody history

She had a special platinum crown made to show off the huge diamond.

It is supposed to be unlucky, particularly if worn by men.

Even so, five countries, including Pakistan, Iran and India, lay claim to the jewel -- an indication of its long and bloody history.

The diamond came into the hands of the British after they defeated the Sikh king, Ranjit Singh, in the nineteenth century.

Complicated

He in turn had appropriated it from an Afghan king who had sough sanctuary in India.

For the previous 100 years the diamond had been an heirloom of the Afghan monarchy.

Before then it was in Persian royal hands and before that Indian.

The Taleban say their claim is strengthened by the fact that the rulers of India at the time were of Afghan descent.

They admit it is a complicated matter and favour the setting up of an international commission to rule on ownership.

But it seems highly unlikely the British royal family will give up the Koh-i-Noor diamond quite so easily.