A historic Hindu temple near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan has been destroyed, and construction for a commercial complex has commenced at the location in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Known as Khyber Temple, it was situated in the border town of Landi Kotal Bazaar in the Khyber district. Over the years, it had been gradually disappearing. The construction work began approximately two weeks ago.

When questioned about the existence of the Hindu temple, officials from various administrative departments either denied knowledge of its presence or stated that the construction was being carried out by regulations.

Ibrahim Shinwari, a prominent tribal journalist from Landi Kotal, affirmed the existence of the historical temple in the main Landi Kotal Bazaar. He mentioned that the temple had been closed in 1947 after local Hindu families migrated to India. In 1992, it was partially damaged by certain clerics and seminarians following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India. Shinwari recalled hearing numerous stories about the temple from his ancestors during his childhood, leaving no doubt in his mind about its existence.

Haroon Sarabdiyal, representing the Pakistan Hindu Mandir Management Committee, said that it was the responsibility of the district administration and relevant government departments to safeguard and restore historical religious buildings significant to non-Muslims. He pointed out that the 2016 antiquity law bound the archaeology and museums department, police, culture department, and local government to protect such sites, including places of worship.

The Assistant Commissioner of Landi Kotal, Muhammad Irshad, as quoted by The Dawn newspaper, stated that there was no mention of the temple in the official land record of the Khyber tribal district and that the entire land in Landi Kotal Bazaar was owned by the state.

A no-objection certificate was issued by the official for the renovation and repair of some old shops in Landi Kotal Bazaar.

The Tehsil Municipal Officer (TMO) Shahbaz Khan mentioned that the local government had the authority to approve the construction of commercial structures in the area only after the maps or drawings were approved and the necessary fees were paid.

The municipal authorities in Khyber district acknowledged the lack of authentic and organized revenue records.

Abdus Samad, the former TMO, claimed he did not know of any order issued by his office regarding the construction of a commercial building.

Patwari Jamal Afridi of Landi Kotal stated that he was unaware of the construction activity at the temple’s site and that the revenue records did not mention a temple at that location.

Shinwari raised doubts about the district administration and municipal authorities’ claims of not having an official land record of the temple, emphasizing the responsibility of the auqaf department to maintain historical non-Muslim places of worship.

Sarabdiyal proposed the idea of utilizing places that were either unused by minorities or in a state of disrepair for social welfare activities that would benefit the local communities as a whole, instead of demolishing them and building something new.