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Mohammed Zahir Shah
| Mohammed Zahir Shah محمد ظاهر شاه | |
|---|---|
| King of the God granted Kingdom of Afghanistan and its dependencies[citation needed] | |
 Portrait of Zahir Shah, 1963 | |
| King of Afghanistan | |
| Reign | 8 November 1933 – 17 July 1973 |
| Installation | 8 November 1933 |
| Predecessor | Mohammed Nadir Shah |
| Successor | Monarchy abolished (Daoud Khan as President of Afghanistan) |
| Head of House of Barakzai | |
| Reign | 8 November 1933 – 23 July 2007 |
| Predecessor | Mohammed Nadir Shah |
| Successor | Ahmad Shah Khan |
| Born | 15 October 1914[1] Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Died | 23 July 2007(2007-07-23) (aged 92) Kabul, Afghanistan |
| Burial | Maranjan Hill |
| Spouse | Humaira Begum |
| Issue | Princess Bilqis Begum Prince Muhammed Akbar Khan Crown Prince Ahmad Shah Khan Princess Maryam Begum Prince Muhammed Nadir Khan Prince Shah Mahmoud Khan Prince Muhammed Daoud Pashtunyar Khan Prince Mir Wais Khan |
| House | Musahiban |
| Father | Mohammed Nadir Shah |
| Mother | Mah Parwar Begum |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Mohammed Zahir Shah (Pashto: محمد ظاهرشاه, Persian: محمد ظاهر شاه; 15 October 1914 – 23 July 2007) was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning from 8 November 1933 until he was deposed on 17 July 1973. He expanded Afghanistan's diplotmatic relations with many countries, including with both Cold War sides.[2] In the 1950s, Zahir Shah began modernizing the country in line with Turkey. His long reign was marked by peace and stability that was lost afterwards.
While staying in Italy for medical treatment, Zahir Shah was overthrown in a surprise coup in 1973 by his cousin and former prime minister, Mohammed Daoud Khan, who established a republic. He remained in exile near Rome until 2002, returning to Afghanistan after the end of the Taliban government. He was given the title Father of the Nation, which he held until his death in 2007.[1]
Contents
1 Family background and early life
2 The last king of Afghanistan
3 Exile
4 Return to Afghanistan
5 Death
6 Family
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
Family background and early life
Zahir Shah was born on 15 October 1914, in Kabul, Afghanistan.[1] He was the son of Mohammed Nadir Shah, a senior member of the Muhamadzai Royal family and commander in chief of the Afghan army for former king Amanullah Khan. Nadir Shah assumed the throne after the execution of Habibullah Kalakani on 10 October 1929.[3] Mohammed Zahir's father, son of Sardar Mohammad Yusuf Khan, was born in Dehradun, British India, his family having been exiled after the Second Anglo-Afghan War. Nadir Shah was a descendant of Sardar Sultan Mohammed Khan Telai, half-brother of Amir Dost Mohammad Khan. His grandfather Mohammad Yahya Khan (father in law of Amir Yaqub Khan) was in charge of the negotiations with the British resulting in the Treaty of Gandamak. After the British invasion after the killing of Sir Louis Cavagnari during 1879, Yaqub Khan, Yahya Khan and his sons, Princes Mohammad Yusuf Khan and Mohammad Asef Khan, were seized by the British and transferred to the British Raj, where they remained forcibly until the two princes were invited back to Afghanistan by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan during the last year of his reign (1901). During the reign of Amir Habibullah they received the title of Companions of the King (Musahiban).
Zahir Shah was educated in a special class for princes at Habibia High School in Kabul.[4] He continued his education in France where his father had served as a diplomatic envoy, studying at the Pasteur Institute and the University of Montpellier.[5] When he returned to Afghanistan he helped his father and uncles restore order and reassert government control during a period of lawlessness in the country.[6] He was later enrolled at an Infantry School and appointed a privy counsellor. Zahir Shah served in the government positions of deputy war minister and minister of education.[4] Zahir Shah was fluent in Pashto, Persian, and French.[7]
The last king of Afghanistan
Studio photograph of Zahir Shah in military uniform, seated in a heavy, carved armchair. (1930s)
Zahir Khan was proclaimed King (Shah) on 8 November 1933 at the age of 19, after the assassination of his father Mohammed Nadir Shah. After his ascension to the throne he was given the regnal title "He who puts his trust in God, follower of the firm religion of Islam".[4] For the first thirty years he did not effectively rule, ceding power to his paternal uncles, Mohammad Hashim Khan and Shah Mahmud Khan.[8] This period fostered a growth in Afghanistan's relations with the international community as during 1934, Afghanistan joined the League of Nations while also receiving formal recognition from the United States.[9] By the end of the 1930s, agreements on foreign assistance and trade had been reached with many countries, most notably with the 'Axis powers'; Germany, Italy, and Japan.[10]
Zahir Shah provided aid, weapons and Afghan fighters to the Uighur and Kirghiz Muslim rebels who had established the First East Turkestan Republic. The aid was not capable of saving the First East Turkestan Republic, as the Afghan, Uighur and Kirghiz forces were defeated during 1934 by the Chinese Muslim 36th Division (National Revolutionary Army) commanded by General Ma Zhancang at the Battle of Kashgar and Battle of Yarkand. All the Afghan volunteers were killed by the Chinese Muslim troops, who then abolished the First East Turkestan Republic, and reestablished Chinese government control over the area.[11]
Despite close relations to the Axis powers, Zahir Shah refused to take sides during World War II and Afghanistan remained one of the few countries in the world to remain neutral. After the end of the Second World War, Zahir Shah recognised the need for the modernisation of Afghanistan and recruited a number of foreign advisers to assist with the process.[12] During this period Afghanistan's first modern university was founded.[12] During his reign a number of potential advances and reforms were derailed as a result of factionalism and political infighting.[13] He also requested financial aid from both the United States and the Soviet Union.
Zahir Shah was able to govern on his own during 1963[8] and despite the factionalism and political infighting a new constitution was introduced during 1964 which made Afghanistan a modern democratic state by introducing free elections, a parliament, civil rights, women's rights and universal suffrage.[12]
At least 5 of Afghani little Pul coins during his reign bore the Arabic title:
المتوكل على الله محمد ظاهر شاه,[14] "AlMutawakkil 'ala Allah Muhammad Zhahir Shah" which means "The leaner on Allah, Muhammad Zhahir Shah". The title "AlMutawakkil 'ala Allah", "The leaner on Allah" is taken from the Quran, Sura 8, verse 61.
By the time he returned to Afghanistan in 2002, his rule was characterized by a lengthy span of peace.[15]
Exile
In 1973, while Zahir Shah was in Italy, undergoing eye surgery and therapy for lumbago, his cousin and former Prime Minister Mohammed Daoud Khan staged a coup d'état and established a republican government. As a former prime minister, Daoud Khan had been forced to resign by Zahir Shah a decade earlier.[15] During August 1973[16], Zahir Shah abdicated rather than risk a civil war,[15] ending over 200 years of royal rule in Afghanistan.
Zahir Shah lived in exile in Italy for twenty-nine years in a villa in the affluent community of Olgiata on Via Cassia, north of Rome where he spent his time playing golf and chess, as well as tending to his garden.[6][7][17] He was prohibited from returning to Afghanistan during the late 1970s by the Soviet-assisted Communist government. In 1983 during the Soviet–Afghan War, Zahir Shah was cautiously involved with plans to develop a government in exile. Ultimately these plans failed because he could not reach a consensus with the powerful Islamist factions.[4] It has also been reported that Afghanistan, the Soviet Union and India had all tried to persuade Zahir Shah to return as chief of a neutral, possibly interim, administration in Kabul.[18]
In 1991, Zahir Shah survived an attempt on his life by a knife-wielding assassin masquerading as a Portuguese journalist.[15] After the fall of the pro-Soviet government, Zahir Shah was favored by many to return and restore the monarchy to unify the country and as he was acceptable to most factions. However these efforts were blocked mostly by Pakistan's ISI, who feared his stance on the Durand Line issue.[19] In June 1995, Zahir Shah's former envoy Sardar Wali announced at talks in Islamabad, Pakistan that Zahir Shah was willing to participate in peace talks to end the Afghan Civil War,[20] but no consensus was ever reached.
Return to Afghanistan
Zahir Shah is seated at the far right during the oath ceremony of Hamid Karzai on 7 December 2004.
In April 2002, four months after the end of Taliban rule, Zahir Shah returned to Afghanistan to initiate the Loya Jirga, which met during June 2002.[21] After the end of the Taliban, there were proposals for a return to the monarchy.[15] Zahir Shah himself let it be known that he would accept whatever responsibility was given him by the Loya Jirga.[21] However he was obliged to publicly renounce monarchical leadership at the behest of the United States as many of the delegates to the Loya Jirga were prepared to vote for Zahir Shah and block the U.S.-backed Hamid Karzai.[21] While he was prepared to become chief of state he made it known that it would not necessarily be as monarch: "I will accept the responsibility of head of state if that is what the Loya Jirga demands of me, but I have no intention to restore the monarchy. I do not care about the title of king. The people call me Baba and I prefer this title."[15]
Hamid Karzai, who was favored by Zahir Shah, became president of Afghanistan after the Loya Jirga.[22] Karzai, from the Pashtun Popalzai clan, provided Zahir Shah's relatives with major jobs in the transitional government.[23] Following the Loya Jirga he was given the title "Father of the Nation" by Karzai,[24] symbolizing his role in Afghanistan's history as a symbol of national unity. This title ended with his death.[25] In August 2002 he relocated back to his old palace after 29 years.[22]
In an October 2002 visit to France, he slipped in a bathroom, bruising his ribs, and on 21 June 2003, while in France for a medical check-up, he broke his femur.
On 3 February 2004, Zahir was flown from Kabul to New Delhi, India, for medical treatment after complaining of an intestinal problem. He was hospitalized for two weeks and remained in New Delhi under observation. On 18 May 2004, he was brought to a hospital in the United Arab Emirates because of nose bleeding caused by heat.
Zahir Shah attended the 7 December 2004 swearing-in of Hamid Karzai as President of Afghanistan. During his final years, he was frail and required a microphone pinned to his collar so that his faint voice could be heard.[15] During January 2007, Zahir was reported to be seriously ill and bedridden.
Death
Tomb of Zahir Shah
On 23 July 2007, Zahir Shah passed away in the compound of the presidential palace in Kabul after prolonged illness. His death was announced on national television by President Karzai,[15][26] who said "He was the servant of his people, the friend of his people, he was a very kind person, kind hearted. He believed in the rule of the people and in human rights."[27] His funeral was held on 24 July. It began on the premises of the presidential palace, where politicians and dignitaries paid their respects; his coffin was then taken to a mosque before being moved to the royal mausoleum on Maranjan Hill in eastern Kabul.[28]
Family
He married his first cousin Humaira Begum (1918–2002) on 7 November 1931 in Kabul. They had six sons and two daughters:
| Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Their children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Spouse | ||||
| Princess Bilqis Begum | (1932-04-17) 17 April 1932 | 1951 | 'Abdu'l Wali Khan | HH Princess Humaira Begum | |
| HH Princess Wana Begum | |||||
| HH Princess Mayana Khanum | |||||
| Crown Prince Muhammed Akbar Khan | 4 August 1933 | 26 November 1942(1942-11-26) (aged 9) | |||
| Crown Prince Ahmad Shah Khan | (1934-09-23) 23 September 1934 | ||||
| Princess Maryam Begum | (1936-11-02) 2 November 1936 | ||||
| Prince Muhammed Nadir Khan | (1941-05-21) 21 May 1941 | 6 February 1964 | Lailuma Begum | HRH Prince Mustapha Zahir Khan | |
| HRH Prince Muhammad Daud Jan | |||||
| Prince Shah Mahmoud Khan | 15 November 1946 | 7 December 2002(2002-12-07) (aged 56) | 18 April 1966 | Safura Begum | HRH Princess Bilqis Khanum |
| HRH Princess Ariane Khanum | |||||
| Prince Muhammed Daoud Pashtunyar Khan | (1949-04-14) 14 April 1949 | 2 February 1973 | Fatima Begum | HRH Prince Duran Daud Khan | |
| HRH Princess Noal Khanum | |||||
| Prince Mir Wais Khan | (1957-01-07) 7 January 1957 | ||||
In January 2009 an article by Ahmad Majidyar of the American Enterprise Institute included one of his grandsons, Mustafa Zahir, on a list of fifteen possible candidates in the 2009 Afghan Presidential election.[29]
However Mostafa Zaher did not become a candidate.
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See also
- Kingdom of Afghanistan
References
^ abc Encyclopædia Britannica, "Mohammad Zahir Shah"
^ *C-SPAN: Afghan King & Queen 1963 Visit to U.S. Reel America Preview (official U.S. government video; public domain).
^ Encyclopædia Britannica, "Afghanistan Mohammad Nader Shah (1929–33)"
^ abcd "The King of Afghanistan". Daily Telegraph. 2007-07-24. Retrieved 2008-03-18..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Mohammad Zahir Shah, 92, Last King of Afghanistan".
^ ab Judah, Tim (2001-09-23). "Profile: Mohamed Zahir Shah". The Observer. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
^ ab McCarthy, Michael (2001-09-24). "War On Terrorism: Opposition – Exiled king declares himself ready to return". The Independent. London: Look Smart: Find Articles. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-07-23.
^ ab Chesterman, Simon; Michael Ignatieff; Ramesh Chandra Thakur (2005). Making States Work: State Failure And The Crisis Of Governance. United Nations University Press. p. 400. ISBN 92-808-1107-X.
^ Jentleson, Bruce W.; Paterson, Thomas G. (1997). The American Journal of International Law. Oxford University Press: 24. ISBN 0-19-511055-2. Missing or empty|title=(help)
^ Dupree, Louis: Afghanistan, pages 477–478. Princeton University Press, 1980
^ Andrew D. W. Forbes (1986). Warlords and Muslims in Chinese Central Asia: a political history of Republican Sinkiang 1911–1949. Cambridge, England: CUP Archive. pp. 123, 303. ISBN 0-521-25514-7. Retrieved 2010-06-28.
^ abc "Profile: Ex-king Zahir Shah". BBC. 2001-10-01. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
^ Judah, Tim (2001-09-23). "Profile: Mohamed Zahir Shah". The Observer. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
^ Mercuguinness
^ abcdefgh Barry Bearak, "Former King of Afghanistan Dies at 92", The New York Times, 23 July 2007.
^ "Mohammed Zahir Shah". Britannica. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
^ Gall, Sandy (2007-07-23). "Mohammad Zahir Shah". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
^ The New York Times
^ US-Pakistan Relations: Pakistan’s Strategic Choices in the 1990s by Nasra Talat Farooq
^ Justice
^ abc Dorronsoro, Gilles. "The Return to Political Fragmentation". Afghanistan: Revolution Unending, 1979–2002. C. Hurst & Co. p. 330. ISBN 1-85065-683-5.
^ ab "Former Afghan king returns to palace". BBC. 4 August 2002. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
^ Newyorker
^ Times of Malta
^ "The late King was always fondly referred to by all Afghans, cutting across ethnic boundaries, as "Baba-e-Millat" or 'Father of the Nation', a position given to him in the country's Constitution promulgated in January 2004, about two years after the collapse of Taliban rule. The title of the 'Father of the Nation' dissolves with his death."
"Last King of Afghanistan dies at 92". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.CS1 maint: Unfit url (link)
^ "Mohammad Zahir Shah, Last Afghan King, Dies at 92"
^ Youtube
^ "Afghanistan's King Mohammad Zahir Shah Laid to Rest", Associated Press (Fox News), 24 July 2007.
^
Ahmad Majidyar (January 2009). "Afghanistan's Presidential Election". American Enterprise Institute. Archived from the original on 2009-09-18.Zaher is the grandson of the late King Muhammad Zaher Shah. He is currently head of Afghanistan’s environment preservation department and a member of the UNF. There has been speculation that the UNF will nominate Zaher as its candidate for the upcoming election. Despite being an heir to the royal family, he lacks a popular base.
^ Royal Ark
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mohammed Zahir Shah. |
- C-SPAN: Afghan King & Queen 1963 Visit to U.S. Reel America Preview (video)
Mohammad Zahir Shah at the Encyclopædia Britannica
Zahir Shah: The last king of Afghanistan, Robert Fisk, The Independent
Profile, The Observer
"Mohammed Zahir Shah collected news and commentary". The New York Times.
Mohammed Zahir Shah House of Barakzai Born: 16 October 1914 Died: 23 July 2007 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Mohammed Nadir Shah | King of Afghanistan 8 November 1933 – 17 July 1973 | Succeeded by Republic declared |
Titles in pretence | ||
Loss of title Republic declared | — TITULAR — King of Afghanistan 17 July 1973 – 23 July 2007 | Succeeded by Crown Prince Ahmad Shah |
Monarchs of Afghanistan | |
|---|---|
 Hotaki dynasty |
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| Durrani dynasty |
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| Emirate .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} (Barakzai dynasty) |
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 Kingdom |
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Authority control  |
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