ISLAMABAD – United States formally returned more than 450 ancient cultural artifacts to Pakistan during high-profile ceremony in one of the major repatriations of stolen antiquities in recent years.
The returned treasures, which were illegally removed from Pakistan over decades, were recovered through extensive investigations led by US law enforcement agencies in close coordination with Pakistani authorities. After their recovery, the artifacts will now remain in Pakistan, where they will be preserved, studied, and displayed for the public, reconnecting the nation with its deeply rooted historical legacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur described the moment as the “return of history itself,” stressing that the artifacts represent vital chapters of Pakistan’s civilization. He highlighted that among the collection are terracotta figurines dating back more than 4,000 years, some of the earliest known human-made objects from the region.
“Each of these objects tells a story,” he said, adding that every piece belongs to the people of Pakistan and has now been restored to its rightful home.
The massive recovery effort was led by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, working alongside the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Over the past decade, this coordinated operation has resulted in the recovery and repatriation of more than 500 Pakistani antiquities, collectively valued at nearly $23 million. Authorities also confirmed that the investigations targeted complex international smuggling networks and led to multiple criminal convictions.
Among the most remarkable items returned is a rare 2nd-century C.E. Buddhapada sculpture, valued at $1.1 million, which was looted in the 1980s and later trafficked into New York. The collection also includes a Gandharan frieze depicting Buddhist figures, ancient Mehrgarh terracotta figurines from 3500–2600 B.C.E., a statue of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, and a Gold Strato I coin dating back to 105–85 B.C.E., recovered as recently as 2023.
Pakistani officials hailed the repatriation as a historic victory for cultural preservation, expressing gratitude for U.S. cooperation and emphasizing the importance of continuing joint efforts to dismantle the global illicit antiquities trade.
The ceremony also underscored a broader message: cultural heritage is not just history—it is identity, memory, and national pride.
US Assistant Secretary Paul Kapur called the repatriation a landmark achievement in U.S.-Pakistan cooperation. He announced that more than 450 artifacts, valued at over $23 million, had been successfully recovered and returned through coordinated efforts involving the Manhattan District Attorney’s Antiquities Trafficking Unit and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Kapur said the extraordinary historical significance of the returned artifacts, particularly the terracotta figurines that are over 4,000 years old. He described them as among the earliest artistic expressions of settled communities in the region, offering rare insight into ancient human civilization. Each artifact, he said, represents a story of Pakistan’s past and now rightly belongs to its people.
He also warned about the scale of the global illegal antiquities trade, describing it as a multi-billion-dollar criminal industry that fuels organized crime and, in some cases, extremist networks. He stressed that no nation can combat this threat alone, highlighting the importance of global partnerships involving INTERPOL, customs authorities, and museum and academic institutions.
