Archaeologists just south of Kabul are racing to preserve one of the richest Buddhist historical sites ever found.

The ancient monasteries and statues in Mes Aynak are under threat from a Chinese company which plans to develop the area in order to tap into the world's second largest copper deposit.

Many fear the $3bn mining contract, Afghanistan's biggest commercial deal, will lead to the destruction of thousands-of-years old heritage sites.

Al Jazeera's Jennifer Glasse reports from Mes Aynak.