PARIS, March 5: On the last leg of his official visit to France last week, Afghan leader Hamid Karzai let it be known that not only does he welcome the return to Kabul of former Afghan King Mohammed Zaher Shah, but that he also plans to accompany Zahir Shah on his return trip from Rome.

“I’m planning on going to Rome on March 19 to meet with Zaher Shah, then will accompany him back to Kabul March 21 on the very same flight out of Rome.”

But, noted Mr Karzai, president of the provisional government of Afghanistan, in an interview with French daily Le Figaro: “I will be meeting with him (in Rome) in his capacity as a venerable citizen of Afghanistan, and it is with that status that he will be returning to Afghanistan.’

Mr Karzai also revealed that his priority at the moment was the creation of a national army for Afghanistan, and that he would like for his country to have a credible military presence as soon as possible, perhaps with the assistance of his French hosts.

“Only a few days ago, some of our troops began training, and by the end of April we hope to have at least 600 men available for combat.” Mr Karzai noted that President Jacques Chirac, during his day’s worth of meetings with the Afghan president, had offered to undertake the training of Afghan military, “an offer which is very important to us,” added Mr Karzai.

Mr Karzai noted, moreover, that he hoped that France would increase the size of its military presence in Afghanistan - which now stands at some 500 men - and that, above all, it accept for its military to be posted outside of Kabul.