US returns 38 stolen antiquities to Pakistani museum
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- US Ambassador Ryan C Crocker on Thursday handed over 38 Gandhara antiques, which were smuggled to US two years ago, to the Ministry of Culture. American Department of Customs has discovered these smuggled antiques...
...He praised the smuggled antiques like sculptures of Buddha in meditation in 1st and 2nd centuries and some artefacts of 3rd and 4th centuries.
He said US security agencies were tracing the smugglers, adding bilateral cooperation was needed to discourage the phenomenon of smuggling...
“UNESCO is to make a strong network against smuggling to save heritage of nations,” he said. He said the smuggled antiques belonged to the era of Buddha that gave a message of peace. He said the theft of antiques was a major threat and that the government would allocate a ‘huge budget’ to preserve the national heritage. The antiques, that were returned recently, have been showcased in the Islamabad Museum.
Read entire article at Daily Times (Lahore, Pakistan)
...He praised the smuggled antiques like sculptures of Buddha in meditation in 1st and 2nd centuries and some artefacts of 3rd and 4th centuries.
He said US security agencies were tracing the smugglers, adding bilateral cooperation was needed to discourage the phenomenon of smuggling...
“UNESCO is to make a strong network against smuggling to save heritage of nations,” he said. He said the smuggled antiques belonged to the era of Buddha that gave a message of peace. He said the theft of antiques was a major threat and that the government would allocate a ‘huge budget’ to preserve the national heritage. The antiques, that were returned recently, have been showcased in the Islamabad Museum.