An ancient tower dating back 2,000 years in the historic Afghan city of Ghazni collapsed last week, local officials said, raising concerns about the vulnerability of the country's cultural heritage and the government's ability to protect them.

The old citadel, known as Ghaznain Fort, originally had 36 towers but 14 had collapsed in recent years due to decades of war, heavy rain and neglect.

The fort is one of dozens of unique historic sites in Afghanistan — ranging from the pre-Islamic Buddhist center in the Bamyan Valley to the 12th-century minaret of Jam in a remote area of Ghor province — in urgent need of protection.