Archives

The earliest material in the National Archives of Afghanistan in Kabul dates back to the 7th century CE, and it would appear that collections of manuscripts have been retained by religious communities and the ruling elite since that time. As indicated on the website of the National Archives, written records from the region date back to inscriptions on stone in Kharoshthi, Kufic, ‘Sardangari’, Pahlavi, Greek, Avestan and Aramaic, that are part of the collection of the National Museum.

The first to establish a repository for documents of national significance in a modern sense was Amir Habibullah, who founded a ‘royal library’ in Kabul in 1901. The development of this collection into a modern national archive is described in detail on the website of the National Archives, the country's principal archival institution. An agency of the Ministry of Information and Culture, this institution aims to conserve important historical documents, manuscripts, calligraphy and miniatures, and to make these available for official reference and private research. The National Archives comprises Departments of Manuscripts and Historic Documents, and the website of the National Archives provides details of their collections. The recently-constructed extension building provides additional storage, offices and laboratory space. While the physical premises have been improved, there is still a need for development of skills and equipment to undertake the conservation of the thousands on manuscripts in the collections, many of which are in critical condition.

Additional collections, including important instructions from the royal court and official letters, exist in the Presidential Palace and various ministries. It is foreseen by the Ministry of Information and Culture that all of this material will eventually be housed in the National Archives, and negotiations continue with the various stakeholders.

The Afghanistan National Development Strategy of 2007 sets out the aim to produce a digital inventory of the collections of the National Archives, to conserve them and to improve the environmental conditions in which they are held. Furthermore it states that 'the National Archives will also extend their activity to keep and preserve archive material about Afghanistan’s recent history and its intangible cultural heritage' (pp 18-19).

The National Film Archives house a rich collection of film material, including material produced by Afghan Film, as well as 35mm films from the Soviet Union, Iran and other countries. The Institut National de l’Audiovisuel (INA) has provided technical and financial support in digitising the collection of the National Film Archives. Among other important archives of media material are the Radio Afghanistan Archives and the Television Afghanistan Archives, where material from radio and TV broadcasts made by Radio-Television Afghanistan (RTA) are held.