I write in response to MGG Pillai's column on the Taliban's destruction of the centuries-old Bamiyan Buddhas and other invaluable pre-Islamic historical artifacts in Afghanistan ([#1] The Bamiyan Buddhas and the Taliban [/#], March 5).

The writer attempts to put the Taliban's action in some historical perspective by relating it to the destruction of historical sites in Iraq during the Gulf War, and the alleged silence by various governments over that and other similar wrongs.

However, contrary to what he claims, Islamic countries like Pakistan have spoken out against the destruction of statues in Afghanistan, and there has been nearly universal condemnation of the Taliban's action.

It simply does not aid the cause of saving such monuments to go on about how nothing was done in Cambodia, Iraq etc. To be sure the monuments which were destroyed in two world wars, under colonialism, and in the decades since are to be lamented and condemned. However, the writer's cynicism at the anger and frustration felt at the destruction of the Bamiyan monuments, which as Unesco has pointed, are a heritage of all civilisations, is to mock any sustained criticism of the Taliban's actions and undermines international efforts to redress them.

The Taliban are not known for their tolerance of many things. Their treatment of women, and the impoverishment of their citizenry is not only a result of isolation by the international community, although the latter has clearly impacted the conditions of the people of Afghanistan. The writer presents us with some false choices in weighing international concern about the plight of a starving population and the destruction of historical treasures.

Condemnation of one is not necessarily related to the other. And neither will silence over the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas generate more attention to the plight of ordinary Afghans. There is no doubt that both situations need to be addressed.

We also do not have to excuse superpower involvement in Afghanistan's politics in making the case for rescuing its Buddhist heritage. Consequently, speaking out against this senseless and defiant action by the Taliban government is the responsibility of all humanity. It is the silence about such affronts that ultimately result in reactionary re-writings of history, and the erasures which accompany them.