US returns stolen artifacts worth $23 million to Pakistan

A ceremony was held at the Islamabad Museum where the United States handed over 450 ancient cultural artifacts to Pakistan on Wednesday, marking a significant step in preserving the country’s historical heritage.

Addressing the ceremony, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur said Pakistan’s historical and rare heritage had finally returned to its rightful home. He stated that the total value of the returned artifacts exceeded $23 million.

Kapur said the successful recovery and return of the artifacts was made possible through the efforts of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and US Homeland Security. He noted that the artifacts represented important chapters of Pakistan’s history and connected generations with their cultural heritage.

The collection includes 4,000-year-old clay figurines and some of the world’s earliest human creations. “Everything belongs to the people of Pakistan, and now it has reached its home,” he said.

The US assistant secretary of state highlighted that antiquities smuggling is a global criminal business worth billions of dollars and said trafficking deprives nations of their history and identity.

He reaffirmed that the United States would continue to work with Pakistan against the illegal trafficking of cultural heritage. He added that the Pak-US agreement on cultural property would help prevent illegal antiquities from entering the US market while also creating new opportunities for museum exchanges, conservation efforts and professional training.