PESHAWAR, Nov 21: The Council of Understanding and National Unity of Afghanistan has called for the demilitarization of Kabul to facilitate the return of former king Zahir Shah.

“A vast majority of Afghans respects the former king of Afghanistan and considers him a symbol of peace and national unity,” Cunua spokesperson Abdul Wahab Yousafzai told a press conference on Wednesday.

Many of former Mujahideen leaders, tribal elders and intellectuals attended the conference.

Mr Yousafzai maintained that Zahir Shah was the only person who could assemble Afghans on one platform to pull Afghanistan out of crisis.

Afghan academician and intellectual Prof Rasul Amin, who answered most of the questions, said that Loya Jirga must be convened inside Afghanistan.

He said that Cunua had demanded of the United Nations, Organization of Islamic Conference, United States and other countries and groups to help demilitarize Kabul, bring international peacekeepers to ensure security in all the cities, particularly in Kabul, and facilitate the return of the former king to enable him to initiate the process of convening the Loya Jirga.

He said Loya Jirga could only be convened if there was peace and tranquillity in Afghanistan.