Roma Aatifi

Afghan, Archaeologist —#PreservingAfghanistan’s Cultural Heritage in Post-Soviet Conflicts د افغانستان لرغون پېژندنه

[Roma Aatifi @archaeoafg]

National Museum of Afghanistan

Where Greece met Afghanistan

Photos taken of Artifacts from Ai-Khanum (3rd-2nd century BC) once a Hellenistic city on Afghan land that was a thriving Greek-Bactrian city founded after Alexander’s conquests.

#Archaeology

[Ahmad F Samin @ahmadfsamin]

He is searching for the remains of his son 💔

No rescue workers, no rescue dogs, no firefighters, no rescue helicopters, no world condemnation, and no sympathy from Gaza keyboard warriors

More than 400 beautiful souls lost their lives in a Pakistani airstrike on a hospital

[julaibib @julaibib18]

afghanistan view

[Alexander's Cartographer @cartographer_s]

The Buddhas at Bamyan - Xavier Raymond, 19th century

[julaibib @julaibib18]

Kabul, Afghanistan.

[khalid yousef @khalidsyossef]

#OpenAccess
Afghanistan: Forging Civilizations along the Silk Road
https://t.co/atVBW0nusE
PDF 🎯
https://t.co/fVjjQDDhAR

[Roma Aatifi @archaeoafg]

Artifacts at the National Museum of Afghanistan 2026

[Sardar Wali @pashtonzoy]

Announcement:

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) in Doha, Qatar, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), has inaugurated a major international exhibition titled “Empire of Light: Visions and Voices from Afghanistan.”

The exhibition runs from 2 February to 30 May 2026 and is dedicated to Afghanistan’s rich history, art, civilization, and architecture, presenting the country to the world as a historic crossroads of civilizations, ideas, and cultures.

The constructive cooperation of the State of Qatar, Qatar Museums, and the Museum of Islamic Art in this international cultural initiative is highly commendable. The State of Qatar’s support for culture, art, and civilizational diplomacy has made such exhibitions possible, allowing Afghanistan’s historical and cultural heritage to be presented to global audiences in a dignified and scholarly manner.

The exhibition features nearly 150 historical and artistic objects, as well as wooden architectural models of important historical sites in Afghanistan, all of which were produced by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture at the Jangalak Vocational Training Center in Kabul.

The Mundigak Historical Foundation considers this exhibition an important and impactful step toward the international recognition of Afghanistan’s historical identity, artistic heritage, and civilizational values, and expresses its deep appreciation and respect to the State of Qatar, Qatar Museums, and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture for their continued cultural efforts and cooperation.

📍 Mundigak Historical Foundation, Afghanistan

#EmpireOfLight
#MundigakFoundation
#QatarMuseums
#StateOfQatar
#AgaKhanTrustForCulture
#IslamicArtMuseum
#AfghanHeritage
#CulturalDiplomacy

@akdn @MIAQatar @KarzaiH @mundigakaf

[Aga Khan Development Network @akdn]

“Receiving this cash assistance gave me hope again.”

In 2024, a fire destroyed Mohammad Sarwar’s home in Bamyan province. At 65, living with a disability that limits his income and supporting a family of eight, he struggled through the winter.

Through EU-funded support delivered by @AKF_Global and AKAH, his family received cash assistance to purchase food and essential supplies for up to three months. Their urgent food needs were met and a sense of stability was restored.

Sarwar’s story is one of many. Across the northern and central highlands, including Badakhshan, Baghlan, Bamyan, Daikundi, Samangan and Takhar, more than 145,000 people are receiving life-saving support, including food, clean water, education and disaster preparedness, with particular attention to women, girls and other vulnerable groups.

Agro-pastoralist households, whose livelihoods depend on livestock, are also being supported, with 8,400 farmers accessing veterinary services and quality fodder to protect their livestock and strengthen community resilience.

By supporting families with food, cash, livestock care and disaster preparedness, this community-based approach is helping save lives, strengthen resilience and nurture hope for tomorrow.

🔗 Learn more: https://t.co/7K7loJ8k4b

#Afghanistan #HumanitarianAction #FoodSecurity #CommunityResilience

[Aga Khan Development Network @akdn]

The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), presents Empire of Light: Visions and Voices of Afghanistan, an exhibition exploring the country’s rich history, art and architectural heritage. On view from 2 February to 30 May 2026 at MIA, it highlights Afghanistan’s role as a crossroad of cultures, ideas, religions and people.

The exhibition was officially unveiled yesterday by Chairperson of Qatar Museums Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in the presence of Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan, Shaika Nasser Al Nassr, Director of MIA, and Luis Monreal, General Manager of AKTC.

Curated by Nicoletta Fazio and Thomas W. Lentz and featuring nearly 150 objects, Empire of Light offers a broad cultural and artistic overview of Afghanistan, from pre-Islamic times to the present day.

It also emphasises the importance of heritage conservation through large-scale wooden architectural models depicting major sites and monuments still populating the country’s landscape. Each model was crafted at the AKTC Jangalak Vocational Training Centre in Kabul, showcasing the ongoing work of the organisation since 2002 in preserving and restoring the country’s architectural and artistic heritage.

The exhibition is part of Evolution Nation, a campaign honouring Qatar’s cultural journey over the past 50 years since the founding of the National Museum of Qatar. Curated by Qatar Creates, the movement positions Qatar as a global hub for art, culture and creativity.

@MIAQatar

[Brent E. Huffman @Brent_Huffman]

Honored to receive a @NorthwesternU 2020 Provost Grants for Research in Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts for my new #documentary project "Saving the Cultural Heritage of #Yemen"
https://t.co/j442144Ko2

[Brent E. Huffman @Brent_Huffman]

Everyone at @SavingMesAynak supports Justice and Equality for #Hazaras in #Afghanistan!
#Justice4Hazaras

[Roma Aatifi @archaeoafg]

Buddhist artifacts from Afghanistan, collected by DAFA (The French Archaeological Delegation) were brought to international audiences through their display at the @MuseeGuimet in Paris.

[Aga Khan Foundation @AKF_Global]

✨ Happy New Year from the Aga Khan Foundation!

This moment of renewal is also a time to reflect on the values that guide our work, captured here by the words of His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.

In a world shaped by difference, pluralism remains essential for building a future where we can all thrive together.

Wishing our colleagues, partners and the communities we serve hope and peace in 2026 – may the year ahead be one of understanding, cooperation and shared progress.

#Pluralism #ThriveTogether

[Ahmad F Samin @ahmadfsamin]

In the 1960s, Kabul was known as the Paris of Asia, and Lashkar Gah in Helmand Province was known as the little America of Asia, but due to the 45 years of imposed war, each inch of Afghanistan was destroyed.

Once again, Afghans have rebuilt their country

📷 Social media

[Roma Aatifi @archaeoafg]

Sitting Buddha on Lotus throne from Mes Aynak, Logar, Afghanistan. 🪷

Period: Kushan

Currently displayed at the National Museum of Afghanistan

[Brent E. Huffman @Brent_Huffman]

2025 was a great year - working on my cultural heritage #Yemen documentary.

Thank you to @MedillSchool @NorthwesternU @BuffettInst @pulitzercenter for the continued support!

[Roma Aatifi @archaeoafg]

Afghan Cultural Artifacts to Be Featured in Joint Islamic Museums Exhibition in Qatar - The Kabul times, Afghanistan Trustable News Agency. https://t.co/RaygFFgZVW

[Al Jazeera English @AJEnglish]

Horsemen from across Afghanistan converged for the dramatic final match of the nation’s prestigious annual buzkashi tournament on Kabul’s outskirts.

— in pictures https://t.co/j9AZmH8RJN

[Brent E. Huffman @Brent_Huffman]

Join us at the @MedillSchool for this special event FRAMING INNOCENCE: STORYTELLING AND WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.
The event includes screenings of four award-winning #documentaries created in my Documenting #Carceral Injustice class from Stateville and Sheridan #prisons.

[Noor Akbari @kite_runner]

The Taliban have proven administrative competence—enforcing policies, collecting revenue, balancing budgets.

But execution capacity without openness creates a ceiling. Afghanistan could be great. It requires different choices.

My argument: