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| US returns stolen ancient Buddhist sculpture to Pakistan | US returns stolen ancient Buddhist sculpture to Pakistan |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The US has returned an ancient Buddhist stone sculpture to Pakistan, from where it was stolen in the 1980s. | The US has returned an ancient Buddhist stone sculpture to Pakistan, from where it was stolen in the 1980s. |
| The 2nd Century piece, depicting Buddha's footprints alongside religious symbols, was taken from the Swat Valley and eventually smuggled into the US. | The 2nd Century piece, depicting Buddha's footprints alongside religious symbols, was taken from the Swat Valley and eventually smuggled into the US. |
| A Japanese antiques dealer who brought it to the US from Tokyo pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property in April. | A Japanese antiques dealer who brought it to the US from Tokyo pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property in April. |
| The sculpture was expected to reach $1m (£700,000) at auction, but the sale was intercepted by New York authorities. | |
| New York prosecutors returned the sculpture to Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Mission Rizwan Saeed Sheikh at a ceremony on Wednesday. | New York prosecutors returned the sculpture to Pakistan's Deputy Chief of Mission Rizwan Saeed Sheikh at a ceremony on Wednesday. |
| Mr Sheikh said it was "an important element of the cultural history of Pakistan", and would likely be kept in New York for the short term and possibly put on display. | Mr Sheikh said it was "an important element of the cultural history of Pakistan", and would likely be kept in New York for the short term and possibly put on display. |
| Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R Vance Jr said the piece was "so much more than a piece of property". | Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R Vance Jr said the piece was "so much more than a piece of property". |
| "It's an ancient piece that speaks to the history and culture of Pakistan that should be celebrated and protected," he told the Associated Press. | "It's an ancient piece that speaks to the history and culture of Pakistan that should be celebrated and protected," he told the Associated Press. |
| Antiquities dealer Tatsuzo Kaku had said he was in part motivated by a desire to protect Pakistan's artefacts, but this was dismissed by other experts, who said there were good structures in place in Pakistan for doing this. | Antiquities dealer Tatsuzo Kaku had said he was in part motivated by a desire to protect Pakistan's artefacts, but this was dismissed by other experts, who said there were good structures in place in Pakistan for doing this. |
| Kazu paid a $5,000 fine and a sentence of time-served and left the country voluntarily. | Kazu paid a $5,000 fine and a sentence of time-served and left the country voluntarily. |