By IANS
New Delhi : India Monday conveyed its condolences to Afghanistan on the death of former king Zahir Shah, who was revered as Baba-e-Millat (father of the nation) in that country.
Minister of Water Resources and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha A. Rehman Khan will represent the government at the funeral Tuesday, the external affairs ministry said in a statement.
"As a special mark of respect, the national flag will fly at half mast at all government buildings in the capital and in our missions and posts abroad during day light hours tomorrow," the ministry said.
In their condolence messages, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee recalled the contribution of Zahir Shah to building better relations between India and Afghanistan.
The 92-year-old Zahir Shah died in the presidential palace in Kabul after prolonged illness Monday.
The former king, who ruled Afghanistan for nearly four decades till he was exiled in 1973, will be buried in a mausoleum overlooking Kabul, alongside his father.
India has pledged over $750 million to the reconstruction of war-scarred Afghanistan.