Bamiyan Valley in Afghanistan, a UNESCO world heritage site, once boasted two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff. Testament to the country’s rich history as part of an ancient travel route from China and India to the West, the statues were destroyed by the Taliban.

Now, a renowned Afghan archaeologist has raised concern about unregulated development in the area, which he says threatens other ancient Buddhist structures and artefacts thought to be buried there.

Bernard Smith reports from Bamiyan.