Hindu, Buddhist sites in Pakistan face vandalism and neglect: Why 5,000-year-old heritage is being left unprotected

(FILES) A Pakistani Hindu devotee woman and a girl sit while waiting with others for transport before leaving to pay homage at Hinglaj Mata Temple in Balochistan, outside the Shri Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple in Karachi, Pakistan April 28, 2023. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

Ancient Hindu and Buddhist heritage sites in Pakistan face increasing threats from vandalism, neglect, and illegal occupation, with experts warning that weak oversight and extremist attacks could lead to the permanent loss of significant cultural history.

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Ancient Hindu and Buddhist heritage sites across Pakistan are facing growing threats from vandalism, neglect and illegal occupation, raising serious concerns about the country’s record on protecting minority and indigenous heritage, CNN-News18 has learnt from activists, heritage experts and intelligence assessments.

Sources cited by CNN-News18 say several historically significant regions, including Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Chilas, Hunza, Shatial, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, are home to ancient temples, petroglyphs and inscriptions that are increasingly under threat. Researchers estimate that more than 25,000 petroglyphs and inscriptions exist in the Chilas–Hunza–Shatial belt alone, with some dating back to 5000 BCE and others extending to the 16th century CE.

According to sources, extremist groups have deliberately targeted Hindu and Buddhist imagery at multiple locations. Intelligence inputs reviewed by CNN-News18 allege that figures and symbols have been defaced using permanent paint or damaged by scratching, causing irreversible harm to priceless artefacts. In some cases, even local authorities have come under criticism for painting official markings directly over ancient carvings, actions experts describe as desecration rather than preservation.

Chilas has emerged as a particular area of concern. Intelligence assessments cited by sources describe the region as having a presence of hardline Islamist groups, raising fears about the safety of nearby archaeological and religious sites. Activists also allege that several Hindu and Buddhist locations are under illegal occupation, with little visible effort by the authorities to reclaim or protect them.

Cultural heritage advocates argue that Pakistan has consistently failed to honour its obligations under international conventions, including those of UNESCO, which require the protection of cultural and religious heritage, especially that of minorities. They warn that continued inaction could result in the permanent loss of sites that form an essential part of South Asia’s shared civilisational history.

With damage mounting and oversight seen as weak, calls are growing for stronger legal safeguards, on-ground security and international monitoring. Experts and activists say urgent intervention is needed to prevent further destruction of heritage that has survived for millennia but now faces serious risk under Pakistan’s watch.