Former Afghan King to Return After Nearly 30 Years of Exile

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, March 12, 2002

Former Afghan King to Return After Nearly 30 Years of Exile

Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai will accompany his country's former king when he returns home later this month after nearly 30 years in exile, a cabinet minister said Monday.

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Interim Afghan leader Hamid Karzai will accompany his country's former king when he returns home later this month after nearly 30 years in exile, a cabinet minister said Monday.

No exact date for return of former King Mohammad Zaher Shah has been announced, but he is expected to be in Afghanistan for a March 21 spring holiday.

The holiday was banned by the Taliban regime and is making a comeback following the Taliban's ouster in the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

"Karzai will accompany the king," said Zalmai Rassoul, one of the king's closest aides until he joined the interim government recently. "He is planning to come to Rome to accompany his majesty back to Afghanistan."

Many people see the king as a potentially unifying figure and look back on his 40-year reign with nostalgia as the last stretch of peace the country enjoyed.

Rassoul said the 87-year-old king plans to remain in Afghanistan. "We've been working on a house, preparing it, arranging for security," he said.

Meanwhile, Karzai arrived Monday evening in Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin and other officials on Russian help rebuilding the Afghan military and infrastructure. They were also likely to address joint efforts in fighting drug trafficking and terrorism.

Russia, which has supported the U.S.-led anti-terror operation, has been eager to build close ties with the new Afghan government, including by helping rebuild the military.

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