Mohammed Zahir Shah

Imagining conversations on Afghanistan.

By Thomas L. Friedman

As they withdraw, coalition forces will leave behind in southern Afghanistan a slew of local security forces at odds with each other.

By Matthieu Aikins

The 40-year reign of the former king, which ended in 1973, was esteemed enough to earn him the title “father of the nation” in the current Constitution.

By Barry Bearak

To the Editor:.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, at Kabul ceremony, signs Afghanistan's new Constitution into law; document was approved by loya jirga, grand council, on January 4; former King Mohammad Zahir Shah attends signing ceremony; photo (S)

By Carlotta Gall (NYT)

New draft constitution for Afghanistan is unveiled and formally presented to former King Mohammad Zahir Shah at ceremony in Kabul; draft was drawn up over eight months by 35-member constitutional commission; will be publicized nationwide before going to 500-member grand assembly for vote in Dec; draft names country Islamic Republic of Afghanistan but there is no mention of Shariah, legal code based on Koran (M)

By Carlotta Gall

S Frederick Starr-Marin J Strmecki Op-Ed article fears elation over prospects for democracy in Afghanistan may be short-lived, despite loya jirga's election of Hamid Karzai as president; says US and UN envoys erred in pressing former King Zahir Shah, figure honored by Afghans, to withdraw himself from consideration; warns such actions convince many Afghans that loya jirga is puppet of Panjshiris and foreigners (M)

By S. Frederick Starr

Afghanistan turns page in its history as former king Mohammad Zahir Shah convenes loya jirga, traditional asssembly to choose new government; Burhanuddin Rabbani, former president and political leader of Northern Alliance, throws support to Hamid Karzai, as does king, making it likely that interim leader will remain in power; Zahir sits on dais in vast enclosed tent on grounds of Kabul Polytechnic Institute and exhorts 1,500 delegates to think about peace for their country; Yunis Qanooni gives up interior ministry so that Karzai, ethnic Pashtun, can expand government's ethnic base; photos of delegates, who include women; map (M)

By Carlotta Gall

Afghan officials and Western diplomats say that when 1,500 Afghans gather in Kabul in June to plan country's future, American-backed interim leader, Hamid Karzai, is expected to win easy victory and lead new government; Karzai is strongly backed by former king, Mohammad Zahir Shah, who recently returned to Kabul after years of exile; has also solidified his ties with several powerful leaders of Northern Alliance; Karzai photo (M)

By David Rohde

British military officials in Kabul warn that Mohammad Zahir Shah, former Afghan king who returned from exile, is under threat of assassination from killers posing as journalists; spokesman for Afghan government says government is aware of several such conspiracies, which he says is work of remaining Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters as well as other 'radical groups'; Afghan officials say they are confident they could protect former king; photo (M)

By Dexter Filkins