Previous Post: His Highness The Aga Khan with ex King Zahir Shah in Kabul
KABUL (AFP) – Afghanistan prepared Tuesday for the funeral of its last king Mohammed Zahir Shah, as the war-torn country bids farewell to the man known as the “Father of the Nation”.
Afghans were to hold prayer ceremonies across the conflict-torn country he led for 40 years, a period of stability and calm before decades of upheaval and virtually non-stop war.
Flags were at half mast across the country as President Hamid Karzai declared three days of mourning for the late king — the last monarch to rule Afghanistan and two days of holidays for his funeral and prayer ceremonies.
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Afther the funeral Zahir Shah’s body will be taken to a hilltop mausoleum overlooking Kabul where he will be buried beside his father, king Nadir Shah who was shot dead in 1933, and his wife Homaira, who died in 2002.
The mourning country expects ministerial level guests from Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Canada and Italy, along with the Aga Khan, the billionaire spiritual leader of the world’s Ismaili Shia Muslims, officials said.
Afghan television channels have replaced their usual shows with Koranic recitations plus shows featuring analysis of the king’s life and personality.
Tributes have also come in from around the world, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon saying that the international community was grateful to him for giving up claims to the monarchy in favour of a republican government.
Ismailimail 