Afghanistan's national museum reopens, minus looted treasures

KABUL, Afghanistan (Reuters) -- Afghanistan's national museum has reopened for the first time in almost a decade, but many of its old treasures are missing, looted during factional battles in Kabul in the 1990s.

"This is a big day for all of us. We are happy that the museum is open after this long period," said museum director Naqibullah Ahmad Yar on Thursday.

On display were items that survived the pillage and destruction that took place between 1992 and 1995 when Afghan factions fought for control of Kabul after the withdrawal of Soviet forces and the fall of a Communist regime.

The museum was on the front lines in Kabul's once-grand Darulaman district, which was designed as a new capital by King Amanullah in 1923.

Officials believe about 70 percent of the museum's collection was stolen and sold on the international black market.

Among the remaining treasures on show were a big, black stone bowl from the early Islamic era, pottery, coins, a small Buddha statue and a new exhibit known as the Rabotak Stone.

The Rabotak Stone, a 1.5 meter-wide (1.5 yard) block of whitish limestone was brought to Kabul earlier this year from the north of the country.

The artifact is almost 2,000 years old dating to the time when the region was ruled by King Kanishka of the Kushan empire.

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