Hollywood filmmaker Marc Forster today expressed his concern over the destruction of Kashgar's Old City:

"While shooting THE KITE RUNNER in 2006 I lived in Kashgar for several months," said Mr. Forster. "I was privileged to be welcomed and surrounded by the beauty and culture of the Uyghur people. None more amazing then their heart, their soul and their ancestry- Old Town. I am saddened to know that their homes, their faith and their heritage is being taken away from them and I urge everyone to help save Old Town."

The movie The Kite Runner, much of which was set in Afghanistan, was filmed partly in the city of Kashgar, whose traditional Central Asian architecture closely resembles that of the Afghan city of Kabul in the time the story takes place.

Forster is a German-Swiss filmmaker and screenwriter, known for films such as Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, Stranger than Fiction, and Quantum of Solace. A nominee for numerous prestigious film awards, he has also been active in humanitarian efforts.