Talks over Bamiyan Buddhas' future

Rebuilding the Buddhas is not an immediate priority

By Lawrence Pollard BBC World Service

Plans for the great Buddhas of Bamiyan, which were destroyed by the Taleban, are being discussed at a conference in Munich.

The two-day meeting will consider the fate of what remains of the two huge sculptures in central Afghanistan, which were torn down because they were considered "un-Islamic" by the former Afghan rulers.

The Buddhas had stood for around 1,800 years

Though reconstruction of the figures is not likely in the near future, the conference is expected to approve vital first steps in a recovery process.

In October of this year a party of archaeologists and art historians visited the site in central Afghanistan where the remains of the Buddhas have been lying since their destruction in February 2001.

Not priority

After discussion with local leaders and much research into the current state of the shattered sculptures, the working party says it now has a good idea of what can practically be done to preserve the remains.

The conference is expected to support a long-term strategy for the area.

Most importantly, reconstruction of the Buddhas is not seen as an immediate priority, especially in the light of Afghanistan's humanitarian needs.

Instead, it is likely to recommend basic first steps in the area, including the removal of mines and the reinforcement of what is left of the rock face in the niches where the sculptures used to stand.

Funding has been found for this essential remedial work, principally from Japan - and the United Nations cultural organisation, Unesco, says it hopes work can begin on the site after the winter has passed.

Whether the statues are ever reconstructed will be up to the Afghan government in the future - it has been estimated full reconstruction could cost between $30-50 million.