Afghanistan’s exiled king, Zahir Shah, who was overthrown in 1973, has called on the US to stop its bombing campaign in Afghanistan now that the Taliban is in retreat.
In a radio broadcast today, Mr Shah urged his countrymen to unite and freely choose their own destiny.
The 87-year-old is seen by many as a figure who could unify Afghanistan’s rival warlords, but he made no mention of his own role in a post-Taliban government.