An exhibition showcasing over one hundred Islamic-era relics and artifacts opened in Afghanistan’s National Museum in Kabul on Tuesday.

Organized under the title ‘Relics belonging to Islamic arts’ opened on the eve of International Museum Day.

The chairman of the National Museum of Afghanistan Mohammad Fahim Rahimi said these relics were recovered by Afghan security forces who seized them from smugglers trying to get them out of the country. 

The relics were discovered in historical regions of Helmand and Ghazni provinces while others were brought from foreign countries.

The relics go back to the 11th century and some are from the 19th century. 

“If we conduct research on how the pottery was designed and created, this will help us to track the friendly relations between the families (of that time),” said Mohammad Rasoul Bawari, acting minister of information and culture.

“Over 100 relics are showcased here with the majority of them belonging to Islamic periods such as Samanid, Timurid, Ghori and Safavid,” said Mohammad Fahim Rahimi, chairman of the National Museum of Afghanistan.

In addition, UNESCO representative for Afghanistan Patricia McPhillips has hailed Afghanistan for the work it’s done in the past few years to preserve its history. 

She said the Afghan people must be proud of protecting their historical heritage sites and relics.

Afghanistan marks International Museum Day as illegal digs continue at historical sites around the country which has resulted in countless relics having been smuggled abroad.