Written by Bryan Daugherty, on 08-01-2007

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In a recent White House press release the President and his wife expressed their sympathy upon hearing of the death of the former King of Afghanistan Muhammad Zahir Shah. “Laura and I are saddened by the death… On behalf of the American people, we extend our condolences to Zahir Shah's family and to the people of Afghanistan.” Zahir Shah was the country’s last King who ruled over Afghanistan for four decades (1933 to 1973).

During his reign, Zahir Shah introduced various political and economic modernization programs including a democratic legislature as well as education for women. These drastic reforms sought to bring peace, stability and unity to the war-torn country however; they directly placed Zahir Shah at odds with the Taliban-like religious militants. In 1973, while undergoing eye surgery outside of the country, his cousin and former Prime Minister, Muhammad Daoud Khan staged a coup d’etat exiling him to Italy where he remained for 29 years.

During this time in exile, he paid close attention to the events that were to follow from his large villa north of Rome. In April of 1978 afghan communist loyal to the Marxists People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan descended upon the Presidential Palace in Kabul in an attempt to overthrow Dauod Khan’s Republic based National Revolutionary Party. Within a day they toppled the Presidential Guard and assassinated Dauod Khan with his family in the Presidential Palace. As a result of the Saur Revolution, the PDPA seized control and established a communist government led by Nur Muhammad Taraki.

In 1979 the Soviet Union began to occupy the country due to the growing threat of insurgents’ attempts to overthrow the government. Barred from returning to Afghanistan, the former king Zahir Shah supported the mujahidins fight against the Soviets.

During this period, the United States took advantage of the situation and began training and funding the anti-Soviet mujahidin as an opportunity to weaken its only rival. With the support of the U.S. the mujahidin guerrillas were able to slowly defeat the Soviet Union who ultimately withdrew their troops in 1989. Soon after, the mujahidin installed a new government which ultimately collapsed due to infighting and factional struggles in 1996.

At that point, the Taliban (seeker’s of knowledge) took control and instituted a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia Law. During the Taliban regime Zahir Shah still in exile, voiced his support of the Taliban. He even offered a letter of congratulations in 1998 when the Taliban managed to capture Afghanistan’s fourth largest city Mazari Sharif (Noble Shrine) located in the northern territory.

After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, many afghan’s sought to have the Zahir Shah return to the thrown and reinstall the monarchy. Upon his return to the country in April of 2002 he accepted the ceremonial position of “Father of the Nation” as he had stated that he did not care about the title of king. He supported Hamid Karzai’s bid to take lead of the country and witnessed as Karzai was sworn in on June 19th 2002 by the Loya Jirga (Great Assembly). In return for his fellow clansman’s support, President Hamid Karzai gave Zahir Shah’s family and supporters key posts in the new transitional government. Zahir Shah also attended the inauguration of Hamid Karzai in December of 2004 after he won the first democratic election in Afghanistan taking 21 out of 34 provinces and beating 22 other candidates.

Beginning with an intestinal problem in 2004, Zahir Shah’s health began to deteriorate and by his final years he became extremely frail; eventually requiring a microphone to be placed on his collar so that his voice could be heard. Finally on July 23rd 2007, the Father of Afghanistan passed away in the confines of the Presidential Palace in Kabul.

President Bush described Zahir Shah as a “monumental figure in afghan history…who encouraged Afghanistan toward democracy and stability.” Furthermore, “His presence in Afghanistan has been an important factor in its rebuilding.” Many historians however, judge the former king as being excessively ethnocentric throughout his rule by elevating his Pashtun culture and tribesman over non-Pashtun’s. Nevertheless, his rule and legacy will always be characterized as one of peace and democracy in action.

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