Getting into the situation at the Arsenal today in Kabul is probably the most exciting part of its living history because unlike so many historic sites around the world, most of the arsenal is still intact!

-SR

After the production of small arms stopped, the arsenal continued to be used as a government production facility well into the 1980s until the communist regime fell during the civil war and then the take over from the Taliban in the 1990s.

-SR

While not producing heavy industrial items, the arsenal still churned out various forms of metal products such as bowls and belt buckles, made by Afghan Army soldiers and civilian workers.

-SR

You can still meet older Kabulians today who worked there during the Communist era or their offspring.

After the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 the arsenal again fell under the stewardship of the Ministry of Defence.-SR

This capacity saw the use of the arsenal as a small arms and artillery repair shop where defense items were brought in to be repaired or rehauled before returning back in service.

-SR

As part of President Ghani's efforts to reshape some of these historic sites (among them the renovation of the Darulaman Palace) custody of the arsenal was assigned to Aga Khan Foundation.

-SR

Today the Aga Khan Foundation is in the process of completely renovating the arsenal grounds as space for a market, a conference center, among other uses by the public.

While not destroying the historic character of the arsenal -SR

Aga Khan is doing an absolutely fantastic job of keeping with the original and historic character of the arsenal and retaining the Afghan history that is associated by preserving some of the original brickwork and materials. -SR