Yup, that's the story, all right . . . at least the one given in a television
interview that I saw with a Taliban spokes-fellow.
Apparently the rule is "no *worshipping* of idols," not "no idols" . . . so
there are many, many Buddhas in Afghanistan (among other artifacts) that no
one pays much attention to and so no one needs to blow them up . . .
The "cultural mission" was offering substantial sums for "restoration" of
these particular Buddhas -- which constitutes "worship," it would seem -- and
that's what set the whole exposive matter into motion.