Security Concerns Postpone Afghan King's Return

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 25, 2002

Security Concerns Postpone Afghan King's Return

After months of preparation and high hopes, the return of Afghanistan's former king to his homeland was postponed Saturday for at least a few more weeks because of security concerns.

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After months of preparation and high hopes, the return of Afghanistan's former king to his homeland was postponed Saturday for at least a few more weeks because of security concerns.

Mohammad Zaher Shah was due to return to Kabul for the first time since his 1973 ouster on Tuesday. But the Italian government, which has maintained responsibility for Zaher Shah's security during his three decades in exile in Rome, said the time wasn't right.

Afghan interim leader Hamid Karzai insisted security in the war-ravaged country was more than adequate for the 87-year-old monarch to return, saying several high-profile events had taken place in the capital in recent weeks without any hitches.

"There is no problem with security. We were ready to go to Rome to collect the king," Karzai told a news conference Saturday. However, he said he would let the Italian government have the final say.

"We have to respect them as his host," he said.

Zaher Shah's arrival in Afghanistan had been eagerly awaited ever since U.S.-led forces ousted the Taliban last year. Repairmen were working around the clock to renovate a family-owned home for his return and international peacekeepers conducted security checks on the buildings he might visit.

The date of his return had been moved back before �� for security and other logistical concerns. But Saturday's delay �� after so many precautions had been taken �� raised questions about who was actually making the decisions about the king's fate and why.

The Italian Foreign Ministry said the decision to put off this trip was taken after consultations with the former monarch as well as key allies. But an aide to the king, Hamid Sidiq, said the decision was the Italian government's alone.

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