The United States has officially returned more than 450 priceless antiquities to Pakistan during a ceremony held at the Islamabad Museum, reaffirming the two countries’ shared commitment to combating illegal trafficking of cultural artefacts and protecting historical heritage.
The recovered collection includes several rare and historically significant items that were illegally smuggled out of Pakistan and later identified and recovered through close cooperation between American law enforcement agencies and Pakistani authorities. The artefacts will now be preserved and displayed in Pakistan, allowing researchers and the public to reconnect with an important part of the country’s cultural legacy.
Speaking at the ceremony, Eric Meyer, the US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan, said the artefacts represent chapters of Pakistan’s history that connect generations to their heritage. He noted that some of the recovered items, including terracotta figurines, are more than 4,000 years old.
“Every object tells a story, and every object belongs to the people of Pakistan. Now, they are finally home,” he said.
The antiquities were recovered by the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced the return following investigations into international smuggling networks, including foreign criminal organisations involved in the illegal trade of cultural property.
Over the past decade, the ATU, in cooperation with the US Department of Homeland Security, has recovered and returned 514 Pakistani antiquities worth nearly $23 million. Authorities seized the items during criminal investigations into international trafficking operations.
Among the recovered treasures is a rare second-century Buddha Padā statue valued at $1.1 million, which smugglers stole from Pakistan in the 1980s and transported to New York. Other important artefacts include a Gandharan frieze depicting Buddhist figures, ancient Mehrgarh terracotta figurines dating from 3500–2600 BC, a Bodhisattva Maitreya statue, and a Gold Stater coin from 85–105 BC recovered in 2023.
Pakistani officials welcomed the return of the artefacts and described it as a major step toward preserving the country’s rich and diverse cultural history.
