Zaher Shah escorted back to Afghanistan

9 caribinieri will escort King Mohammad Zaher Shah back into Afghanistan, 27 years after he was forced into exile in Rome.

Margherita Boniver, Italian Foreign Ministry spokesperson for Asia declared that after several delays and postponements that ex-King Zaher Shah is to go to Kabul on Wednesday.

“The secret services of the USA and other countries had warned the Italian government about death threats against Zaher Shah (in Afghanistan)”, declared Ms. Boniver. Three Hercules c-130 transport aircraft will travel with his entourage of 20 people, in which Prime Minister Hamid Karzai will be present.

Meanwhile, the ex-King’s residence has been provided with a missile-proof roof and he will have a permanent body of 40 bodyguards.

One of the first duties facing Zaher Shah will be the calling of the 1,500-strong meeting of the tribal leaders, the Loya Jirga, which will take place in June, and which will choose the first government, to replace the interim administration.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru