Vanishing History, Pakistan

When schoolteacher Osman Ulasyar took steps to protect an ancient Buddhist site in Pakistan’s northwestern Swat Valley in 2008, he was lucky to escape the brutal retribution of the Tehrik-e Taliban (Pakistani Taliban). The extremist group, in control of much of the region at the time, considered the site to be filled with “symbols of infidels.” The militants have since been routed from the area, but Ulasyar’s struggle to safeguard local history from thieves and developers continues.

Courtesy: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty