The key facts

  • The Uzbek delegation studied the heritage sites of Uzbek scholars in the provinces of Balkh, Takhar, Sar-e Pol and Faryab
  • The parties agreed to sign a memorandum of mutual understanding on the protection and restoration of the monuments
  • In August 2025, the Alisher Navoi monument in Mazar-i-Sharif was completely destroyed; construction of a new memorial complex has begun

A delegation of Uzbekistan, led by the deputy director of the Cultural Heritage Agency, Azizjon Aripjonov, studied the historical and cultural heritage sites of Uzbek scholars in Afghanistan and exchanged views on their preservation and restoration, reports the Dunyo news agency .

The delegation members, in particular, visited the provinces of Balkh, Takhar, Sar-e Pol and Faryab, got closely acquainted with a number of unique architectural monuments and collected the necessary information about them.

Among them are the Rawzai Sharif shrine in Mazar-i-Sharif, the Bobo Rahim Mashrab pilgrimage site in the Ishkamish district of Takhar province, the historic brick bridge in the city of Sar-e Pol, and the Khisht Pul and Eidgah mosques. In addition, they became acquainted with the Imamzoda Yahya shrine, the Bobo Vali madrasa complex in the Andkhoy district of Faryab province, the Bobo Vali pool built through charity by Alisher Navoi, and the Mirsaid Baraka architectural monument.

"Views were exchanged on implementing cooperation projects to pass the historical monuments on the country's territory to future generations in their original form… It was acknowledged that the Uzbek people have a worthy share in the rich cultural heritage sites of Afghanistan," the report says.

afghanistan, cultural heritage agency, alisher navoi, historical monuments, restoration

At the conclusion of the negotiations, the parties agreed to analyze the data collected on the country's historical and cultural heritage sites and to sign a memorandum of mutual understanding on the protection and restoration of the monuments.Advertising on Gazeta

In February 2023, a bas-relief depicting the Alisher Navoi monument in Mazar-i-Sharif was damaged. At the time, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, which contacted the Afghan side, stated that the vandalism was "an arbitrary and thoughtless act by unknown individuals" and announcedthat measures would be taken to restore the monument.

In August 2025, however, the monument was completely destroyed. The Taliban said the demolition had not been agreed with the government, expressed regret and promised a new monument. It was later reportedthat the construction of a new memorial complex named after Alisher Navoi had begun.