New Zealand to stay in Afghanistan for another year

WELLINGTON, 23rd March: Afghan security forces are set to take charge of the province where New Zealand forces have been stationed since 2003, but New Zealand's military presence in Bamiyan province will remain at current levels for at least a year.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced overnight that seven provinces including Bamiyan were ready to begin the transition to Afghan leadership, as a first step toward full Afghan control of the entire nation by the end of 2014.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully said on Wednesday that the current ceiling of 140 New Zealand defence force personnel in the provincial reconstruction team in Bamiyan would remain constant for at least the next year.

Karzai's announcement was a major milestone and a tribute to the "outstanding work" of the hundreds of New Zealand military, police, and civilian personnel who had served in Bamiyan, Mr. McCully said.

McCully said New Zealand's transition efforts would be watched carefully by the international community and the transition was not just about security, as Karzai noted in his speech.

Six New Zealand-born soldiers have died in Afghanistan since the war began.

Source: Xinnews

Hopes of rebuilding giant Buddha statue

10 years ago, Islamic Taliban extremists blew up two giant statues of Buddha in Bamiyan because they believed them to be "idolatrous" and therefore offensive to Islam.

Now, German scientist, Professor Erwin Emmerling from the University of Munich, says he may be able to repair one of the 1,500 year old statues.

For the past five years, he and his team have  been visiting Bamiyan to examine what is left of the destroyed statues. Professor Emmerling reckons there is enough of the smaller (35 metre tall) statue to be able to rebuild it into the cliff where it had stood for centuries.

However, before work can start, Professor Emmerling needs to get permission from the Afghan government. If permission was given, he and his team would doubtless need round-the-clock protection, as would the rebuilt Buddha after it was reconstructed.

A story worth following in the future, we think.