Soz leads delegation to attend Ex-Afghan King's funeral

New Delhi, July 24 (UNI) A delegation led by Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz will attend the funeral of former King of Afghanistan Mohammed Zahir Shah in Kabul today.

The delegation, representing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Government and the people of India, left here in a special aircraft.

The other members of the delegation include Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan, Ambassador of India in Kabul Rakesh Sood and Mr T C A Raghavan, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs.

Official sources said the late King of Afghanistan had forged his country's relationship with India during his reign.

As a gesture to this old friend, India extended all medical treatment facilities to him when he came to Delhi in February 2004.

The delegation will call on President Hamid Karzai and offer condolences to him on behalf of the Government.

UNI