Father of nation of Afghanistan Zahir Shah dies after illness

July 23: Former king and father of nation, Zahir Shah died at the age of 92 at his presidential palace in Kabul where he returned in 2002 after ultra-Islamic Taliban regime was ousted by the US forces in 2001.

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Zahir Shah, born in a Pashtun Barakzai dynasty of Afghanistan, commanded a great respect and love in the minds of his countrymen for himself. His rule always left his people in peace and security.

He instrumented the modernization of his country in political as well as economic fields. During his rule women received education. He also instituted democracy by conducting elections in his country and allowing freedom to press.

He was the one who founded the first modern university and expanded the cultural and economic interaction with Europe. Due to these reforms he came in conflict with religious militants.

At the age of just nineteen he took the responsibility of his country in 1933 after his father’s assassination and reigned for four decades. He witnessed the Second World War and kept his country away from the war.

He was ousted by his brother Mohammad Daoud who was opposed to his increasing links with west. While he was in Italy for his medical treatment, his cousin staged a coup deposing him from the thrown.

Since then he lived in exile for almost three decades in Italy till he returned to his war-shattered country under an agreement and remained away from politics.

alibanis termed him as an instrument in the hands of US during the last years of his life.