Khalilzad, diplomats admire late Zahir Shah
by Lalit K. Jha
Pajhwok Afghan News
07.27.2007
The US Ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, visited the permanent mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations to sign in the book of condolences.
Khalizad paid tribute to the "Father of the Nation" for his efforts to bring peace and stability to the war-battered country.
Offering condolences on behalf of the people of the United States, Khalilzad said he was privileged to have the opportunity to work with the late king before the fall of the Taliban as well during the post-Taliban era.
The best way to honor the former king was to "commit ourselves" to work harder towards achieving a lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan, he noted.
Besides Khalilzad, a large number of diplomats and ambassadors from various countries, including Japan, Germany, Ukraine, China and Poland, visited the Afghan mission to pay homage to the last Afghan king.
Meanwhile, top diplomats and ambassadors of over three dozen countries visited the Afghan embassy in Washington for condolence with the Afghan people and the government.
The foreign dignitaries praised the former king for his courage to return to Afghanistan soon after the fall of Taliban. He was remembered as the founder of peace and democracy in Afghanistan.
Prominent among countries whose diplomats signed in the book of condolences included Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lichtenstein, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Palestine, Pakistan, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zambia.
