Musa Shafiq, the last prime minister under King Zahir Shah, left a profound mark on Afghanistan’s modern history during his brief time in office.
His contributions included helping pass the 1964 Constitution, signing the Helmand River Water Treaty with Iran, and initiating talks with Pakistan on the Durand Line dispute.
However, following the 1973 coup led by Mohammad Daoud Khan, the monarchy was overthrown and Shafiq was imprisoned.
He spent three years behind bars.
After the communist coup of April 1978, Shafiq was re-arrested by the new regime and was executed in the early days of Noor Mohammad Taraki’s rule.
In this conversation, Sayed Ishaq Gailani — a former member of Afghanistan’s parliament and a close family friend of Musa Shafiq — shares memories of his final meeting with Shafiq and details of his execution ordered by Taraki.
In another part of the interview, Gailani also reflects on the influence of Pakistani madrassas and camps on the Taliban and their rigid, anti-women ideology.
