Islamabad: The United States formally repatriated more than 450 cultural artifacts to Pakistan during a ceremony held at the Islamabad Museum, reaffirming the shared commitment of both countries to combat illicit trafficking of antiquities and preserve cultural heritage.

The repatriated collection includes historically significant objects that were illegally removed from Pakistan and later identified and recovered through cooperation between U.S. law enforcement agencies and Pakistani authorities. The artifacts will now be preserved and displayed in Pakistan for scholars and the public.

Speaking at the ceremony, S. Paul Kapur said the artifacts represented chapters of Pakistan's history and connected generations to their heritage. He noted that some of the terracotta figurines included in the collection were more than four thousand years old.

'Each of these objects tells a story. Each belongs to the people of Pakistan. And each now is home,' he stated.

The Antiquities Trafficking Unit of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office recovered all the antiquities. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced their return following investigations into smuggling networks and foreign-operated criminal organizations.

Officials stated that over the past decade, the Antiquities Trafficking Unit, with support from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has recovered and repatriated 514 antiquities to Pakistan valued at nearly $23 million.

Among the recovered artifacts is a rare 2nd-century C.E. Buddhapada sculpture valued at $1.1 million, which was looted from Pakistan during the 1980s and trafficked into New York. Other recovered antiquities include a Gandharan frieze depicting Buddhist figures, ancient Mehrgarh terracotta figurines dating from 3500-2600 B.C.E., a statue of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, and a Gold Strato I coin from 105-85 B.C.E. recovered in 2023.

Pakistani officials welcomed the return of the artifacts and termed it an important step toward preserving the country's rich historical and cultural legacy. They appreciated U.S. cooperation and emphasized the need for continued international collaboration to curb illegal trafficking in cultural property.

The repatriation ceremony also highlighted broader cooperation between Pakistan and the United States in law enforcement, cultural preservation, and heritage protection.