Editing Mohammad Zahir Shah (section)

==Return to Afghanistan==
[[File:Inauguration of President Hamid Karzai in December 2004.jpg|thumb|Zahir Shah is seated at the far right during the [[oath]] ceremony of [[Hamid Karzai]] on 7 December 2004.|230x230px]]
On 18 April 2002, at the age of 87 and four months after the [[Battle of Tora Bora|end]] of [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (1996–2001)|Taliban rule]], Zahir Shah returned to Afghanistan, flown in on an [[Italian Air Force|Italian military plane]], and welcomed at Kabul's airport by [[Hamid Karzai]] and other officials.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gulfnews.com/today-history/april-18-2002-zahir-shah-returns-to-afghanistan-after-29-year-exile-1.2013011|title=April 18, 2002: Zahir Shah returns to Afghanistan after 29-year exile|website=Gulf News|date=17 April 2017 |access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> His return was widely welcomed by Afghans, and he was liked by all ethnic groups.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1099206.html|title=Afghanistan: Afghans Welcome Former King's Return|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=9 April 2008 |access-date=8 March 2019|last1=Krushelnycky |first1=Askold}}</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1936041.stm|title=No ordinary homecoming|date=17 April 2002|access-date=8 March 2019|work=BBC News}}</ref> There were proposals for a return to the monarchy –<ref name=NYTobit/> Zahir Shah himself let it be known that he would accept whatever responsibility was given him by the [[2002 loya jirga|Loya Jirga]],<ref name=Dorronsoro/> which he initiated in June 2002.<ref name=Dorronsoro>{{cite book |last=Dorronsoro |first=Gilles |title=Afghanistan: Revolution Unending, 1979–2002 |publisher=C. Hurst & Co |isbn=1-85065-683-5|page=330 |chapter=The Return to Political Fragmentation|year=2005}}</ref> However he was obliged to publicly renounce monarchical leadership at the behest of the United States. As Pakistan would not accept Zahir as king due to fears regarding his stance on the [[Durand Line]] issue; the American government knew allowing him to be restored could result in Pakistan feeling threatened to the point they may cease cooperating with the [[International Security Assistance Force|international coalition]] and potentially even resume their support for the Taliban. At the time, most delegates to the Loya Jirga were prepared to vote for Zahir Shah and block the U.S.-backed leader of the Northern Alliance, Hamid Karzai.<ref name=Dorronsoro/> While he was prepared to become chief of state Zahir 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 (honorific)|Baba]] and I prefer this title."<ref name=NYTobit/> Karzai called Zahir Shah a "symbol of unity, a very kind man" and a "fatherly figure."<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/>

Zahir Shah visited his father's tomb soon after arriving in Kabul and reportedly gasped after witnessing rocket holes and gunfire damage on the tomb caused by the civil war.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/4cdbc7216362abfc1c610384e09e48c0|title=Former Afghan King Returns to Kabul|website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

Hamid Karzai, who was favored by Zahir Shah, became president of Afghanistan after the Loya Jirga.<ref name=BBC1>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2172387.stm |title=Former Afghan king returns to palace |publisher=BBC |date=4 August 2002 |access-date=31 March 2018}}</ref> Karzai, from the Pashtun Popalzai clan, provided Zahir Shah's relatives with major jobs in the transitional government.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2005/06/06/the-man-in-the-palace|title=The Man in the Palace|first=Jon Lee|last=Anderson|date=30 May 2005|access-date=8 March 2019|magazine=The New Yorker}}</ref> Following the Loya Jirga he was given the title "Father of the Nation" by Karzai,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20020805/local/former-afghan-king-moves-into-his-old-palace.169602|title=Former Afghan king moves into his old palace|first=Allied Newspapers|last=Ltd|website=The Times|date=5 August 2002 |location=Malta|access-date=8 March 2019}}</ref> symbolizing his role in Afghanistan's history as a symbol of national unity. This title ended with his death.<ref>"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."
{{cite news|url=http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=384525&archisec=WOR&archisubsec= |title=Last King of Afghanistan dies at 92 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210732/http://www.zeenews.com/articles.asp?aid=384525&archisec=WOR&archisubsec= |archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> In August 2002 he relocated back to [[Arg (Kabul)|the Arg]], his old palace, after 29 years.<ref name=BBC1 />

In an October 2002 visit to France, Zahir Shah 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 Shah was flown from Kabul to [[New Delhi]], India, for medical treatment after complaining of an [[intestine|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.<ref name=NYTobit/> In January 2007, Zahir was reported to be seriously ill and bedridden.