Thursday - September 13, 2007

Islamic Militants Try to Blow Up Buddha Rock Carving in Pakistan

I guess ironic would be the term to use. Just a few days ago, Osama Bin Laden was bragging about the tolerance of Islam and some of the very people he leads goes out and tries to destroy a 1400 year old rock relief of Buddha. Once again, we in the West aren't feeling the love....

In a grim reminder of the destruction of world famous Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afghanistan by the Taliban six years ago, militants tried on Tuesday to blow up a seventh-century Buddhist rock carving in Pakistan's Swat valley, northwest of the capital, Islamabad.

The the image of the sitting Buddha is carved into a 40-metre high rock in the mountains 20 kilometres north of Mingora, a town in the Swat valley.

The Gandhara civilisation site was not damaged by the blasts which were caused by two explosive devices that were detonated in the early hours of Tuesday.

Before the recent deterioration of the law and order situation in the valley, hundreds of tourists, mainly Buddhists, used to visit the site.

Local people said one explosive device had been planted on top and another in the foot of the rocks. The images were not damaged but a portion of the rock was.

They believed that it was the handiwork of local militants.

In 2001, the Taliban blew up the Buddha statues in the central Afghan province of Bamiyan saying they were offensive to Islam, despite appeals from around the world, including from Muslim leaders, that they be saved.

Author: The Machiavellian
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