UNESCO Expands Efforts To Protect Afghanistan’s 12th-Century Minaret of Jam

The UNESCO Kabul Office has announced expanded efforts to protect Afghanistan’s 12th-century Minaret of Jam, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2002 and added to the List of World Heritage in Danger that same year.
UNESCO and the Aga Khan Cultural Service, with support from the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas (ALIPH), are advancing structural monitoring, flood-risk reduction and improved access for emergency response teams.
Regular assessments of data from monitoring equipment installed at the monument enable specialists to track structural changes, evaluate risks and plan long-term conservation measures.
At its 2026 session, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee acknowledged ongoing efforts, including on-site security, remote monitoring, flood protection and a suspension bridge serving local communities. However, it retained the site on the List of World Heritage in Danger and requested an updated conservation report by February 1, 2027.
Flooding remains a major threat. Repeated high-water events have damaged river defenses, while erosion, sediment accumulation and climate pressures have heightened concerns about the monument’s stability. UNESCO has called for further hydraulic studies and a long-term flood-prevention strategy.
Standing approximately 65 meters tall in Ghor Province, the Minaret of Jam is an outstanding example of medieval Islamic architecture and a testament to the artistic achievements of the Ghori dynasty.
Surrounded by a remote mountain landscape, the monument and nearby archaeological remains face continuing risks from riverbank erosion and structural deterioration.
On October 10, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Information and Culture reported a meeting with UNESCO officials to discuss the minaret’s condition and restoration efforts.
The ministry said a nearby bridge was approximately 95 percent complete, marking progress in improving access to the area.
Despite ongoing conservation initiatives, the monument’s remote location, exposure to recurring floods and structural vulnerabilities continue to complicate preservation efforts.
The challenge now is to ensure that restoration and flood-protection measures can safeguard the historic structure for future generations.