Buddhism in Afghanistan

Buddhism in Afghanistan first arrived in present-day Afghanistan through the conquests of the Mauryan King Ashoka (r. 268-232 BCE), where the remains of an inscription in Kandahar written in 260 BCE were found on the rocky outcrop of Chil Zena. The religion was widespread south of the Hindu Kush mountains.

Bamiyan Buddhas, Engraving from Alexander Burnes' Travels into Bokhara

Quotes

• There was a time when Buddhism was flourishing in Afghanistan too. Prof C.S. Upasak, in his History of Buddhism in Afghanistan, tells us: “The monastery of Fondukistan flourished for about three or four centuries and came to an end only in the 10th or 11th century A.D. on account of Arabs' attack on Afghanistan. The city of Kapisa was sacked by Ibrahim-bin-Jabul, the Governor of Zabulistanin in the year 743 A.D. The Hindu Sahirulershadto move first to Kabul and then to Udhandapur on account of the Arabs. They ultimatelytook the possession of Kabul valley, including the adjoiningarea of Herat and Kandhar. They not only established their suzerainty over this country but also indulged into a lot of persecution against the Buddhists whom they called kafir or infidel. They razed the monasteries and temples to the ground and the monks living there either had to flee or to embrace Islam. This was the fate of all the Buddhist establishments in Afghanistan and Fondukistan was no exception.“
  • C.S. Upasak, in his History of Buddhism in Afghanistan, [1] p 171, quoted in R. Swarup, Hinduism and monotheistic religions (2009)

• The monastery of Fondukistan flourished for about three or four centuries and came to an end only in 10th or 11th century A. D. on account of Arabs ' attack on Afghanistan. The city of Kapisa was sacked by Ibrahim-bin-Jabul , the Governor of Zabulistan in the year 743 A . D . The Hindu Sahi rulers had to move first to Kabul and then to Udbhandapur on account of the They ultimately took the possession of Kabul valley, including the adjoining areas of Herat and Kandahar . They not only established their suzerainty over this country but also indulged into a lot of persecutions against the Buddhists whom they called 'kafir' or infidel. They razed the monasteries and temples to the ground and the monks living there either had to flee or to embrace Islam. This was the fate of all the Buddhist establishments in Afghanistan and Fondukistan was no exception .
  • History of Buddhism in Afghanistan, Chandrika Singh Upasak, Sī. Esa Upāsaka. 232 ff. also quoted in Swarup, R. (2015). Hinduism and monotheistic religions. 515.