Pictures of the aftermath of the destruction of statues by Taliban

(26 Mar 2001) VOICED BY: TARA OGDEN 00:00 Various file (1997) of statue before it was destroyed 00:00 Tilt down of place where buddha stood 00:20 Pan from space to Taliban fighters 00:28 Tilt up to space where buddha stood 00:36 Pan across rubble 00:45 Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Foreign Ministry spokesman 00:57 Mid shot Taliban soldiers 01:00 Shot of space where buddha stood through soldiers' shoulders 01:03 Wide shot of mountains 01:09 VISION ENDS STORYLINE Ignoring worldwide criticism by Muslims, Buddhists and art lovers, Taliban officials showed off their destruction of two ancient statues on Monday by taking foreigners to the Bamiyan mountainside in central Afghanistan, where the relics were blasted apart. All that remained of the two towering sandstone statues of Buddha that had been carved in the mountainside in the 3rd and 5th centuries was chunks of rubble. VOICE-OVER: 00:02 This is close to what the giant statues of Bamiyan looked like just over a week ago - the largest of the two believed to be the world's tallest standing buddha. 00:11 Locals referred to this one as “Solsol“ - or “time after time“. 00:16 This is all that remains of Solsol and the frescos that surrounded him - a crumbling pile of rubble - for the Taliban a defiant display to its critics that it will do as it pleases. 00:27 Both were condemned as idolatrous - and against the Taliban's interpretation of Islam. 00:32 Their destruction continues to spark an international outcry. 00:36 Even last minute appeals by Islamic countries were ignored. 00:40 Now Afghanistan's fundamentalist regime claims the rest of the world is focusing on the loss of ancient artifacts at the expense of the Afghani people. 00:48 On Monday, it said the international community had turned a blind eye to the hardships faced by the common people. 00:55 SOUND UP 00:58 Monday's display is expected to prompt further indignation from abroad. But any criticism is unlikely to deter the Taliban from pursuing its objectives. 01:09 Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: