Afghanistan's last king dies

Kabul, July 23 (UNI) Afghanistan's last king, Zahir Shah, died here today at the age of 92 bringing a formal end to the monarchy in Afghanistan.

Zahir Shah came to power in 1933, following the assassination of his father King Nadir Shah in 1933. The 19-year old boy remained the titular sovereign with real power exercised by his uncles until the 1950's. In 1972, he was deposed by his own cousin Mohammed Daud Khan while on a visit to Italy. Daud Khan declared Afghanistan a Republic, ending the dynastic monarchy and Zahir Shah was to remain in exile for the next 29 years.

Shah's 40 year reign, one of the longest reigns in Afghanistan's history, saw the introduction of several democratic reforms including the country's first Parliament, elections and a new Constitution. Women's rights and education were encouraged during this time with the royal family espousing liberal values. However, the economic conditions remained difficult for the majority of Afghans, which led to the bloodless coup.

The last King of Afghanistan will be buried next to his father at the royal family's burial grounds tomorrow. According to the spokesperson of the royal family, Aziz Ahmed, the funeral procession will take place tomorrow afternoon, following prayers at the Idgah mosque. The formal mourning including recitation of prayers will take place the following day. Mr Ahmed said the monarch remained alert and conscious till his end and was able to talk and recognise people. President Karzai has called on the monarch two days ago.

His eldest son, Mr Ahmed Shah Zayar who is in Virginia in the US will be returning to Afghanistan tomorrow.

Though the monarchy comes to its formal end with the death of Zahir Shah, the royal family retains an influential position in the country. During the Bonn conference of 2001, there was a concerted attempt to get the monarch reinstituted as head of state. However, opposition including from the US, led to the monarch stepping aside leaving way for President Hamid Karzai to assume power.

In recent months the royal family, most notably the monarch's grandson Mustafa Zahir, have joined hands with a number of political parties that are not part of the government to form what is being commonly seen as Afghanistan's first opposition. This includes groups marginalised by the Hamid Karzai government including the Northern Alliance.

Shah also leaves behind a legacy of institutional reforms towards a democratic Afghanistan that the country is still struggling to establish following decades of bloody warfare.

UNI